Ask anyone in the global watersports community what the fastest growing watersport on the planet currently is, and you’re most likely going to be told time and again that it’s stand up paddleboarding.
While few can question the meteoric rise of the hybrid board sport that was born on the island of Maui, I’m here to offer another opinion as to one watersport that just might be sneaking its way towards the top of the popularity podium. What’s more, there’s probably a good chance that you’ve never even heard of it until now.
First introduced to the islands of Maui and St. John in 1988, SNUBA is an underwater recreational activity that aims to take the diver “beyond snorkeling”. Little more than a 20 foot long rubber hose that leads to a tank full of compressed air on the surface, SNUBA is able to provide divers with the sensation of weightlessness and solitude that’s experienced while SCUBA diving without having to deal with all of the heavy gear and certification courses.
Since its inception over 20 years ago, not only have more than 5 million people in resort areas across the globe successfully completed a SNUBA dive, but there has yet to be a report of a serious dive injury related to SNUBA. This impeccable safety record combined with the aforementioned ease of the activity have made SNUBA the fastest growing resort activity across the globe, and potentially help it make a case for the world’s fastest growing watersport as a whole.
Exponentially gaining popularity by the year, SNUBA operators can now be found in 22 different countries with tours running throughout Hawaii, Japan, Mexico, Fiji, Thailand, Australia, and all throughout the Caribbean island chain.