Underwater Meditation Is Taking Wellness Travel to New Depths

It was the fourth day of my Great Barrier Reef getaway, and my frustration had neared its crescendo.

For years, I’d fantasized about diving this world wonder. In June 2025, I made it happen. My accommodation, Lizard Island Resort, a remote property on the reef’s northern fringes, put me right near the path of the dwarf minke whale migration.

To reach the cetaceans, and other showstoppers like human-sized potato grouper, travelers typically take a scenic ride from Lizard Island to the outer reef. Yet four days of incessant wind meant we couldn’t swim more than a stone’s throw from shore.

While I’d known this was a possibility—island weather is always unpredictable—I let the angst get the best of me. On that final shore dive, though, I made a pact with myself. Instead of bemoaning what I couldn’t see, I’d use my time below the surface to hone two important scuba skills: buoyancy and breathwork. Within minutes of the practice, I felt the tension ease, and I left that trip with a new appreciation for the power of underwater meditation—a routine that’s gaining traction across the wellness world.

Now, the mental health benefits of diving aren’t new to scuba enthusiasts. The sport pairs key elements of mindfulness—controlled breathing, no technology, and bodily awareness—with the myriad benefits of the sea.

The Blue Mind Theory suggests that simply being near water fosters a semi-meditative state. Dipping below the surface can take this to the next level. “The hydrostatic pressure [of being in water] is similar to a weighted blanket or gentle compression,” says Chloe Markham, a yoga teacher and coach based in the UK. The mammalian dive reflex, a physiological response that helps us preserve oxygen when we’re submerged, may also contribute. “When you put your head in water, especially around the nose area…your heart rate will naturally slow and your blood pressure stabilizes.”

Deep, diaphragmatic breathing, like the kind required for scuba diving, can also activate the vagus nerve, which helps minimize stress, according to an article from the Yale School of Medicine. Plus time beneath the sea provides a rare chance to escape the world’s hustle and bustle. “We can’t hear as well, perhaps we can’t see quite as clearly, and we can’t have our devices,” says Markham. “That downshift from hyper-arousal, and breath awareness, are both bonuses.”

My foray into underwater meditation was accidental, and an antidote to a frustrating string of poor weather—but destinations around the world are now crafting experiences to help travelers find calm under the waves.