Today, an old friend walked back through the doors at Scubaversity. He used to practically live at the dive centre, but I have not seen him in a while.
As we caught up, he admitted something that made me reflect immediately,
“I’m worried. I used to be able to do everything without thinking. Now I feel like I’ve forgotten. What if I look stupid? What if I kit up wrong? What if everyone can tell I’m rusty? I used to feel like a hero… now I feel like a zero.”
Is this not maybe a quiet truth many of us face, not just in diving, but in life and in our careers.
We step away from something — whether it’s diving, a professional skill, a leadership role, or even a passion project — and when we finally think about returning, our ego gets in the way. That little voice whispers: “I’ll look silly. I’ve forgotten too much. Everyone will notice.”
In reality is it ever as bad as we fear.
Once you take that first step — or in diving’s case, that first drop into the water — your body, your mind, and your instincts remember. You realise you haven’t lost as much as you thought. In fact, you wonder why you waited so long to return.
Here’s what diving reminds me of — and what applies just as much in business as it does underwater:
• Silence heals. In diving, the quiet is more powerful than hours of meditation. In work, creating space to think does the same.
• Community matters. Divers lean on their buddies. Professionals thrive when they lean on networks and mentors.
• Confidence can be rediscovered. Skills don’t disappear — they just need refreshing. And with each small win, your self-belief comes rushing back.
Life has seasons. Sometimes we’re all-in, and sometimes life pulls us away — with work, family, health, or new priorities. That doesn’t mean we’ve lost who we were; it just means we need a nudge to return.
So whether your “dive gear” is literally sitting in the garage or metaphorically gathering dust in your career, maybe it’s time. Dust it off. Step back in. Say yes to rediscovering what once made you feel alive.
After all, once a diver… always a diver.
And once a leader, creator, or innovator — always one too.
What’s your version of diving? What’s the skill, passion, or role you’ve been holding back from because of fear of looking rusty?