From a list of 20 “extreme sports”, scuba diving is the one that people would most like to try but don’t – because they worry not only about the risks but about showing themselves up.
That’s the conclusion of a survey of 2,000 adults in the UK carried out by cycling sportswear company Endura, part of Pentland Brands. Scuba’s nearest competitors on the list of sports people want to try but feel inhibited about sampling are skydiving, surfing, paragliding and horse-riding. Endura's own main concern, mountain-biking, lies further down the list.
In the survey, which might be worthy of note for training agencies, 52% of respondents admitted to being poor at pushing themselves out of their comfort zones.
One in three said they were scared of getting into a new sport because they didn’t want to embarrass themselves, while as many as four in 10 believed that they were “too old” to be a beginner.
More than a third (35%) said that concerns about hurting themselves got in the way of trying out anything new and exciting. This led to four in 10 wishing they had retained the “no fear” attitude of their younger selves, but they felt that their social anxiety around trying new things had grown worse as they had grown older.
Around 31% believe that it’s easiest to try a new sport for those under 18, with 34% of parents saying that their children are more willing to take risks than they had been.
Social anxieties
The other sports were listed in descending order as rock-climbing, snowboarding, hang-gliding, sailing, windsurfing, whitewater rafting, mountain-biking, martial arts, motocross, cross-country skiing, skateboarding, ice-surfing, ice-climbing, bouldering and BASE-jumping.
Lack of familiarity with what is involved could explain the placing of some of the lower entries – and why a pastime such as freediving is not represented. And the effect of the sports' relative costs is not reflected in the findings.
“The reason trying something new can be so daunting is often rooted in social anxieties – worries about not fitting in, lacking the right gear, or feeling too old or inexperienced,“ commented senior NHS psychologist Dr Abdi Mohamed.
“These anxieties can create significant barriers, making it difficult for individuals to take that first step towards new experiences. By adopting a positive mindset, the feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt can be significantly reduced.
“Overcoming the fear of the unknown is a critical step in building self-confidence, allowing individuals to embrace new challenges with a sense of belonging. This journey not only fosters personal growth but also opens the door to a more fulfilling and active lifestyle.”
The research was carried out independently for Endura by OnePoll.com
Also on Divernet: THE ELEPHANT IN THE POOL, THE DIVER BUOYANCY CHALLENGE, DIVE LIKE A PRO: SHORE-DIVING, WOMEN IN DIVING: ‘WE’VE SEEN THE TIDE TURN’
