Diving is one of the most popular activities among travelers. The U.S. alone hosts around 3 million scuba diving enthusiasts every year. Divers eagerly explore the underwater world and travel to see various habitats and unique aquatic creatures.
However, this is not the only activity you can do while dive traveling. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to learn a new language and expand your knowledge about local cultures and traditions.
To help bring this idea to life, we’ve prepared a few tips on how to learn a new language while dive traveling.
Let’s dive in!
1. Get Your Basic Knowledge of a Foreign Language
Before you embark on your journey, you need to prepare, both for your diving experiences and language lessons.
It’s important to do cultural research to understand the peculiarities of the country or region you’re going to. Some cultures have very strict taboos, which you should learn about beforehand if you don’t want to embarrass yourself.
Besides, some peoples are fixated on the purism of the languages they speak. That’s why some Spanish-speaking countries frown upon foreigners who order things in English. So, if you’re going to Cancun for scuba diving, learn a few basic Spanish words and phrases to express your basic needs. This knowledge will also help you start a conversation with your instructor.
However, don’t try to stuff your head with too many foreign words. It’s enough to know how to ask questions and express your needs. If you don’t understand something, you will always have a chance to ask for an explanation.
2. Read Scuba Diving Blogs in a Foreign Language
Since you’re going abroad for a specific activity, you might benefit from learning the vocabulary related to diving in the language of a region you’re about to visit. This way, you’ll have an easier time establishing a rapport with your instructor.
So, if you’re going for scuba diving in Norway, find a Norwegian-speaking blog to learn the diving vocabulary in this language. While you’re at it, search this blog for the top diving spots around the country.
3. Book Your Diving Lessons in a Foreign Language Right Away
If you’ve done your homework and feel confident about your knowledge, go ahead and book yourself diving lessons in the local language right away.
During a class, make sure you have your trusty phrasebook or a dictionary to quickly translate unknown terms. Before the class, you can also ask for the book with instructions translated into your native language.
4. Ask the Instructor to Teach In the Local Language
The resorts and locations with scuba diving activities usually offer these experiences in English. However, if your goal is to learn a new language, it’s better to get yourself lessons in this language. This way, you’ll fully immerse yourself in a new culture.
If you don’t feel confident enough to get lessons only in a foreign language, ask for an instructor who understands and speaks English. Then, you’ll be able to ask for a translation or an additional explanation if you don’t understand something.
5. Befriend Your Diving Buddies
Usually, when you’re done with your diving activity, you part ways with the instructor and everyone else and go on to your next diving experience. But if you want to learn a new language, you should take this opportunity to build connections.
So, use your diving lessons to bond with your instructor and other people participating in this activity. Form a group and hang out together after the diving lessons are over. For instance, you can invite everyone in your diving group for dinner as a thank you for an amazing experience.
Such connections will serve you well if you want to keep practicing the foreign language after returning home. Besides, it’s an excellent opportunity to build friendships around the world.
Submerge into a New Language and Culture
Dive traveling is not just about diving experiences. It’s also about learning a new language and culture, which is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many people.
Even though you might not see diving as an opportunity to learn a new language right away, it’s absolutely possible. All you have to do is get a basic knowledge of the culture and language of the location you’re going to. You can easily do it by reading blogs in this language.
Once you are at the location, book yourself diving lessons in the foreign language right away. It would be great if your instructor explained everything just in this language. But if you don’t feel comfortable enough, ask for someone who understands English.
Also, use your diving activities to build long-lasting connections. This way, you’ll form new friendships, which is an awesome opportunity to both return to this location in the future and keep practicing the foreign language after you leave.
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About the Author:
Ryan is a passionate writer who likes sharing his thoughts and experience with the readers. Currently, he works as a digital marketing specialist; you can check here. He likes everything related to traveling and new countries.
