As a new year approaches, many divers—beginners and veterans alike—look for fresh ways to deepen their skills, explore new destinations, and reconnect with the underwater world. Setting clear scuba diving goals for 2026 can elevate your confidence, safety, and enjoyment both above and below the surface.
Whether you're preparing for bucket-list dives or aiming to become a more skilled and environmentally responsible diver, here are the top diving goals to set for 2026.
1. Refresh or Advance Your Scuba Diving Skills
Even experienced divers benefit from brushing up on their technique. Make 2026 the year you:
Take a refresher course
If it’s been more than a year since your last dive, a refresher helps rebuild confidence, ensure safety, and sharpen essential skills.
Level up your certifications
Consider progressing to:
- Advanced Open Water Diver to improve navigation, deep diving and confidence.
- Rescue Diver to become a more prepared and aware dive buddy.
- Divemaster if you’re thinking about professional training.
Skill advancement reinforces safety and opens more dive opportunities around the world.
2. Perfect Your Buoyancy Control
One of the most valuable goals for any scuba diving enthusiast is achieving near-effortless buoyancy. Mastery brings major benefits:
- Reduced air consumption
- Better positioning for photography
- Minimal environmental impact
- More comfort and control underwater
Commit to practising buoyancy in various environments and conditions. A Peak Performance Buoyancy course can be transformational.
3. Expand Your Underwater Photography Skills
Underwater photography continues to grow as a key part of the scuba diving lifestyle. If you’ve been wanting to capture your underwater memories with more precision and beauty, make 2026 the year you:
- Experiment with different lighting setups
- Learn composition techniques specific to marine environments
- Upgrade your camera or housing
- Try shooting both macro and wide-angle subjects
Sharpening these skills allows you to document your dives like a pro.
4. Plan a Dream Dive Trip
Nothing motivates divers like planning a big trip. In 2026, set a goal to explore a new and challenging destination. Popular choices include:
- Raja Ampat (Indonesia) – biodiversity paradise
- The Red Sea (Egypt & Jordan) – warm waters, dramatic reefs
- The Great Barrier Reef (Australia) – bucket-list icon
- Cenotes (Mexico) – crystal-clear cave systems
- Maldives – perfect for sharks, mantas, and luxury experiences
Choose a destination that aligns with your skill level and interests—but don’t be afraid to push yourself a little further.
5. Strengthen Your Fitness for Scuba Diving
Diving isn’t just about technique; it’s also about stamina and health. Improve your comfort and safety underwater by setting goals like:
- Increasing cardiovascular endurance
- Building leg strength for finning
- Enhancing flexibility for better equipment handling
- Practising breath control exercises to improve air efficiency
Diving-specific fitness makes every underwater experience smoother and more enjoyable.
6. Commit to Eco-Friendly Diving Practices
The ocean needs responsible divers now more than ever. In 2026, adopt or reinforce habits such as:
Using reef-safe sunscreen
- Practising perfect buoyancy to avoid coral contact
- Participating in clean-up dives
- Supporting sustainable dive operators
- Reducing single-use plastics when travelling
Eco-minded scuba diving not only protects underwater ecosystems but also deepens your connection to the ocean.
7. Explore a New Type of Diving
If you want to take your diving to the next level, try something entirely new:
- Technical Diving
- For divers seeking depth, decompression training, or advanced equipment knowledge.
- Freediving
- Improves breath control, awareness, and hydrodynamics—excellent cross-training for scuba divers.
- Night or Wreck Diving
- Discover a different side of familiar sites or explore history resting on the ocean floor.
Stretching your boundaries keeps diving exciting and helps you grow as an underwater explorer.
8. Log and Track Every Dive
In an age of digital tools, tracking your scuba diving progress is easier than ever. Set a 2026 goal to:
- Log every dive with notes on conditions, air consumption, buoyancy, gear setup, and wildlife sightings
- Analyze patterns to improve air management and technique
- Keep a digital backup using a dive log app or computer integration
- The more you record, the more informed (and safer) your future dives become.
9. Upgrade Your Scuba Diving Gear
2026 is a great year to evaluate your equipment needs, especially if you’re diving more frequently. Consider investing in:
- A newer dive computer with enhanced tracking and safety features
- A well-fitted wetsuit or drysuit for your preferred environments
- Lightweight travel-friendly gear
- High-performance fins or masks for better efficiency
- A better underwater camera setup
Reliable gear boosts performance, comfort, and confidence underwater.
Make 2026 Your Best Scuba Diving Year Yet
Setting intentional scuba diving goals gives your underwater adventures direction, purpose, and excitement. Whether you're expanding your skills, travelling to new sites, protecting marine life, or simply becoming a more well-rounded diver, each goal brings you closer to the best version of yourself—above and below the surface.