If you love scuba diving but you haven't been in a few years, it can be no mean feat getting back in the water again, but now there's hope for those of you who are keen to reignite your passion.

Scuba diving offers utterly unique experiences amongst the serenity and sublime silence of the underwater world

Diving holiday specialist Regaldive has reported a surge in enquiries from ‘lapsed divers’ – qualified scuba divers who haven’t sampled the delights of the deep in years and want to get back into the delightful hobby.

Scuba diving offers utterly unique experiences; amid the serenity and sublime silence of the underwater world, there are breathtaking coral gardens, weird, wonderful and colourful shoals of small fish, large wrecks mysteriously embedded in the sand, and sharks and dolphins that will thrillingly swim beside you.

Whether you're old or young, this is an extremely healthy outdoor pursuit, and one that’s suitable for a wide age group. Plus, there are scuba-diving resorts offered all around the world, as must of your typical holiday destinations offer scuba trips for next to nothing.

However, if you are already a qualified diver and want to dip your toe in the sea of life again, now is the time to rebuild your confidence and gently coax yourself back to the depths at a suitable pace.

If you haven’t dived for 6-12 months, you’ll probably need to do a form of check dive, which is usually free or a 'Scuba Review' including a reminder of the theory and equipment, and a supervised open water dive. This ‘renews’ the qualification as long as the log book is stamped.

The best way to re-acquaint yourself with diving is simply to spend time with like-minded people – regardless of how many dives, qualifications and gadgets they have but if you are teamed with a diving partner who you don't gel with then make sure you speak to your dive guide. People dive for many different reasons and at times mismatches can occur.

One of the best places to get back into the swing of scuba diving is Bonaire – the home of diving freedom. Thanks to gently sloping shores, great diving is accessible just metres from this Caribbean island’s golden beaches – making it uncomplicated and stress-free. Bonaire’s 90 dive sites offer great visibility; and divers are also highly likely to see seahorses, the island’s emblem.” With 20 years’ proven experience in arranging diving holidays, Regaldive is understandably the first port of call for many divers seeking a return to the water.

FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison