Not only does Hollywood love to use Scuba diving in movies like The Abyss, Open Water, Into the Blue, and many other films and TV shows, Hollywood celebrities themselves can't seem to get enough of the sport. Maybe it's because of the refreshing absence of paparazzi; as Tiger Woods says, "The fish don't know who I am"; or, it could be because diving provides a great workout that is much more enjoyable than hitting the gym along with dozens of other sweaty individuals all vying for the chance to grab the treadmill as soon as you get off. Whatever the case may be, as a diver, you definitely have a hobby in common with some of the brightest stars of stage and screen.
Celebrities and Diving
Whether they learned to dive to play a specific role, or whether diving is simply a sport they enjoy, there are a number of celebs who swear by diving as a great way to stay fit while enjoying fun and relaxation. Tom Cruise, Nikki Taylor, Sandra Bullock, Lauren Hutton, William Shatner, and Patrick Stewart all love diving.
While Aerosmith's Joe Perry grew up near the ocean and is part of a family that loves to dive, Sandra Bullock took up diving to face her fear of being underwater. Today, she enjoys the peace the silent blue world offers. Jason Statham, who starred in Transporter 2 recalls his first diving experience with laughter today, but when he took his first dive and the instructor pulled off his mask in a dark underwater cave just to assess his response, he was very frightened.
No matter what their experience though, scuba diving celebrities agree that diving is a workout that can't be beat. Jessica Alba, Nina Dobrev, Katie Holmes, and other celebs enjoy the tightening and toning effects diving has on the body's muscles.
Not only do you get a full body workout when you dive, with both cardio and strength training benefits, you also improve your resting metabolism rate and often improve your breathing. While you're moving through the water, you are in constant motion - even when you're simply maintaining neutral buoyancy. The muscles in your shoulders, thighs, and core all benefit from the tiny motions you are probably not even aware that you are making.
It is not uncommon for the average-sized woman to burn more than 500 calories during a 30-45 minute dive; if you're a larger person, you will burn even more calories; and, if you're diving in cold water, you'll expend even more energy just to maintain your body temperature.
More than Just a Workout
As James Cameron and many other celebrities who love to dive can attest, diving is a workout that doesn't feel like one; the fact that your body is buoyant underwater, paired with the sheer weightless feeling you experience, and combined with the magical effect being immersed in a strange universe full of incredible underwater creatures, means you're not even aware that you are expending much of an effort while diving, in most cases. Sure, you've got to fight the current sometimes; but, where else can you explore shipwrecks and reefs while getting in your daily dose of exercise?
If you think stars look fit and healthy because they have opportunities others do not have, it's time to think again; after all, any certified diver can take the opportunity to enjoy the magic of the underwater environment while getting a workout favored by celebrities.