HI CC!
I am going to be applying to colleges soon!! I was wondering if colleges consider scuba diving a sport?
I love scuba diving. I started around 9th grade and got my certification with NAUI in 10th grade. It took so much time and so many lessons. I can legally scuba dive anywhere.
I was wondering if this would look good on an application or is it only considered a hobby because my school doesn’t have a scuba diving team.
I thought it would be a unique sport, like archery. THANK YOU EVERYONE!
(Btw I also play varsity tennis and I’m going to be varsity captain next year)
It’s an extracurricular, but yeah, it’s pretty cool, esp. since you have certification, etc.
I agree, it is a good and interesting EC.
Your scuba diving is an EC like any other sport but unique. I do not think it will have much impact on your applications.
It’s a unique extracurricular, sure, but make sure that it doesn’t come off as entitled as scuba diving is “unique” because a) you have to be by large bodies of water to do it, and b) it’s pretty expensive to do regularly. Also, do you dive regularly or did you just get a certification?
You said that your school doesn’t have a scuba diving team, but is there any other way you’ve shown leadership or initiative in this activity? For example, I’ve gotten my RD with PADI, have done some marine conservation work, and am in the process of becoming a dive leader with my (non-school) club. Tangential activities can help AdComs see how you “give back” or contribute to a community and give it meaning besides being just another sport.
@QuirkyClarkie ya its pretty expensive, I live on west coast California :x
Oh well the thing is, I love scuba diving but I don’t do it regularly. I don’t have the money to do it regularly esp. Since I’m saving for college. I’m not a huge aquaholic, so should I put it on my application?
@Gumbymom oh because I want to be a stem major.
I have good grades and a 2400 sat. Will this set me apart from the other stem applicants? Even the tiniest bit?
May 6th you were “aiming for a 2400,” May 14th you had a 2380, and now you have a 2400?
4 is correct, be careful of the entitled feeling. Especially as Tennis is not something usually learned while playing with your friends. Also, are you varsity or are you also a 3 star or above in Tennis? You can mention scuba especially if you can tie it in to community service or even talk about how you worked bagging groceries to pay for your scuba lessons and save for college. Assuming you did that. Just make sure your application does not come off as my wonderful life of leisure
@bodangles I have multiple personality disorder. Jk
My scores are hypothetical because if I said, “I plan to get a _____” everyone would laugh at me. 
=))
@SaphireNY To be honest, I’m not a spectacular tennis player. I’ve played some tournaments, but not major ones.
The main reason I am line 1 varsity captain, is bc my team honestly sucks.
I wouldn’t call myself bad, since I win a most of my matches, but I’m no where near a reqruited athlete
Btw scuba is not a leisure activity. I’m extremely scared of swimming let alone 60 ft under sealevel. I sucked it up BC I thought it would be fun and would be a good opportunity. Granted, I’m still terrified, but I’ve definitely become less scared
More people will laugh at you when you lie, IMO.
So you do not have an SAT. Are you actually SCUBA-certified? In this post you say you were certified (past tense) in 10th grade, but a month ago you were supposedly a freshman.
Honestly, unless you tie it in, scuba will come off like skiing. A nice activity but a little entitled. Not the worse thing, there are plenty of entitled people applying and you are who you are. You may even be able to write your essay about overcoming your fear (may or may not work) of water. Although you will have to come up with a good reason as to why you went this route beyond it looks good.
However, I know someone who would be considered entitled but she also earns money giving ski lessons (really does not need it) and volunteers with the ski patrol weekly during the season. So what might be considered an entitled leisure activity shows that she is responsible and that an organization is letting her represent them on the mountain and putting people’s lives in her hand.
@SaphireNY great advice thank you so much
@bodangles I actually am certified thank you very much. Yes again as I have mentioned I am being hypothetical BC when I said my goals, I got some pretty rude responses
@bodangles I believe I also made one for a sibling who is currently in college
If we are believing the post where you admitted that you had no SAT, you are a current freshman / rising sophomore. When did you get certified? Can’t have been 10th grade, as stated in this post, because you (according to the May 6th version of the truth) are not in 10th grade yet. What’s the lie?
Scuba diving is a nice activity. It shows you have some interests and ability to achieve…something. It tells them how you have spent some of your time. I’m not sure it says much about what kind of a college student you will make.
It does stand out in that adcoms may remember you as “the scuba diver”. Sometimes that helps…other times, it might not.
It could work for an applicant declaring an undying passion for marine biology.
Well, Bodangles is on the issue of accurately representing yourself here; I’ll warn you CC isn’t keen on kids who hop around to speculate and leave mixed details and the feeling they’re being dishonest. It ends up just toying with us. And it suggests you aren’t forming an understanding.
So, you want to put down scuba, why? You think it will impress that you did it? But the reality is you’re scared of swimming. Look at QuirkyClarkie’s post. What good has come of this? You don’t do it regularly, aren’t an aquaholic, can’t mention any tie-in, etc. And, even if you were interested in marine bio (OP isn’t,) it’s not just about getting a cert and then retreating.
YOU have to figure out what about this will impress an adcom. You have to figure out what picture you are presenting them.
"on the issue of accurately representing yourself here; I’ll warn you CC isn’t keen on kids who hop around to speculate and leave mixed details and the feeling they’re being dishonest. It ends up just toying with us. And it suggests you aren’t forming an understanding.
So, you want to put down scuba, why? You think it will impress that you did it? But the reality is you’re scared of swimming. Look at QuirkyClarkie’s post. What good has come of this? You don’t do it regularly, aren’t an aquaholic, can’t mention any tie-in, etc. And, even if you were interested in marine bio (OP isn’t,) it’s not just about getting a cert and then retreating.
YOU have to figure out what about this will impress an adcom. You have to figure out what picture you are presenting them."
@lookingforward, I think this is spot on.
Colleges want diverse applicants with a wide set of interests and passions who can bring different skills to their campuses. Having activities that stand out is great, IF they represent genuine passions. If they are just a list of superficial activities without a focus, they don’t do much. Scuba training for someone interested in oceanography or marine conservation is a great skill, especially if they can tie it in to other activities. A scuba certificate for someone who doesn’t do it and isn’t that keen on water-related activities doesn’t do much.
The issue of honest is also an important one, both for this forum and for Adcoms.