metaldector
Contributor
The question is, Is diving a sport? On the surface most of us would say, of course it is? But Ive been thinking a lot about this question and would welcome your opinions and thoughts.
Certainly scuba diving is an athletic outdoor activity but it doesnt result in a competitive score. Look at other sports, baseball, tennis, hockey, horse racing, car racing, surfing, boxing, you name it, these sports have time limits, rules, boundaries, judges, scoring, points, goals, or objectives to overcome. Diving has no judges, no scoring, no time limits, no objectives, goals or points. Five divers, nine divers, dont make a team to score against another team. Age is a factor in most sports as is physical conditioning; most athletes are over the hill by age 35. Diving has no upper age limits, fat people, thin people, skinny wimps or navy seals, all can dive if no medical issues prevent them from doing so. Even physically impaired divers participate in scuba. There is no field to play on, no sidelines, no goals, no balls, clubs, rackets, and all things that define sports. There is no rulebook. Yes, we have instruction manuals, videos, and sanctioning organizations but look at all the different equipment set-ups, and all the discussions on what is right or wrong, its not like the NFL with all the same helmets, jerseys, pants, and shoes. And think about the field of play: rivers, lakes, oceans, rock quarries, missile silos, mines, springs, pools, fresh water, salt water, cold water, warm water, deep water, shallow water not to forget diving under ice. Im a diver!, someone will say, even if they only dive occasionally. No one says, I play diving. But people in sports always say, I play baseball, (golf, football, soccer, etc.) even fishing has competitions but not diving. Where is the Superbowl of diving? Where is the National Scuba Diving Championship? So the question remains. Is diving a sport?
Certainly scuba diving is an athletic outdoor activity but it doesnt result in a competitive score. Look at other sports, baseball, tennis, hockey, horse racing, car racing, surfing, boxing, you name it, these sports have time limits, rules, boundaries, judges, scoring, points, goals, or objectives to overcome. Diving has no judges, no scoring, no time limits, no objectives, goals or points. Five divers, nine divers, dont make a team to score against another team. Age is a factor in most sports as is physical conditioning; most athletes are over the hill by age 35. Diving has no upper age limits, fat people, thin people, skinny wimps or navy seals, all can dive if no medical issues prevent them from doing so. Even physically impaired divers participate in scuba. There is no field to play on, no sidelines, no goals, no balls, clubs, rackets, and all things that define sports. There is no rulebook. Yes, we have instruction manuals, videos, and sanctioning organizations but look at all the different equipment set-ups, and all the discussions on what is right or wrong, its not like the NFL with all the same helmets, jerseys, pants, and shoes. And think about the field of play: rivers, lakes, oceans, rock quarries, missile silos, mines, springs, pools, fresh water, salt water, cold water, warm water, deep water, shallow water not to forget diving under ice. Im a diver!, someone will say, even if they only dive occasionally. No one says, I play diving. But people in sports always say, I play baseball, (golf, football, soccer, etc.) even fishing has competitions but not diving. Where is the Superbowl of diving? Where is the National Scuba Diving Championship? So the question remains. Is diving a sport?
