Stories from Nursing with SDI Instructor Nancy Huntington-Grahn -

Stories from Nursing with SDI Instructor Nancy Huntington-Grahn

How does a nurse find diving as a hobby?

Out from behind the stethoscope in into the depths …

My name is Nancy Huntington-Grahn, I am a board-certified Registered Nurse and an SDI Instructor Trainer #18847. Recently, I was asked, “How does a nurse find diving as a hobby?”

Upon reflecting, my nursing career has spanned over 30 years, spending decades in both adult and neonatal intensive care units. I have dedicated my life’s work to caring for extremely critical patients whose every breath sometimes hung in the throws between life or death. An ICU nurses’ split-second decision-making ability was a crucial skillset to have and often made the difference between surviving and thriving as a valued team member in the ICU.

Balancing stress and sustained mental agility are commonplace in my work setting. Living in a fast-paced society, coupled with a very stressful career, it almost became acceptable to embrace stress due to work and personal obligations. The effects of stress on the body over time can be debilitating. As a clinician, I understood early on the importance of finding a conduit for work and personal life balance.

My love and passion for the water

I have been drawn to water as far back as I can remember; i.e., spending my summers life guarding and I was a competitive swim team member from high school through college. It made sense to put a lid on my work-related stressors and take my first breath underwater as a means of cultivating work-life balance.

My first breath took place in Nassau, Bahamas on a discover scuba experience several decades ago. In short, I WAS HOOKED! Fast forward to December 2024 and my most recent breath underwater was teaching a confined water class in an 85-degree heated pool. Scuba diving and sharing my passion for educating others about the underwater wonders are a very importance part of my life.

If we were able to put every scuba diver worldwide into a room and quantify the collective stress in that room, the result would be mind boggling to say the least. Chronic stress can catapult your body into a “fight or flight response” meaning your brain responds by either defending itself or simply running away. Your brain’s response to stress is driven by your sympathetic nervous system. A cascade of hormones is released prompting you to “fight or run away.”

How to spot stress

Without you even knowing, your body is constantly assessing what is going on around you and calculating various options on how you can survive in any given event. Stress manifests in a variety of ways:

Increased heart rate and increased blood pressure
Dilated pupils (so more light is let in, and you can see better)
Generalized tension (due to stress hormones circulating throughout the body)
Difficulty focusing, restlessness
Insomnia leading to overall fatigue

Scuba diving can have an absolutely positive impact on your mind and body in a number of ways. In my experience, the sport could possibly be considered one of the most perfect options for someone looking to improve their well-being.

Calming your stress and anxiety

As a diver, I know there is a calming effect of the underwater environment. Being relaxed can reduce the respiratory rate, lower blood pressure overall and decrease the heart rate over time, promoting a sense of relaxation. Additionally, the focus and mental clarity required during a dive can help individuals distract their minds from anxious thoughts and worries that manifest as everyday stressors.

Feeling stressed? Grab a cylinder, your buddies and submerge knowing you are creating a sense of overall well-being and calm unlike no other sport.

Cheers to your health & happy diving!

Nurse Nancy Huntington-Grahn is a quarterly contributor to SDI International offering a unique perspective on health, well-being and the underwater world.

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