The "ScubaFlex: ACT for Scuba Divers" protocol brings Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with scuba diving. Crafted by Laura and a few stranded scuba divers in response to pandemic-era challenges, the guide provides a comprehensive introduction to all ACT processes through the lens of scuba diving, with a focus on achieving psychological flexibility. Each session of the program, enriched by participant feedback and insights, explores a unique aspect of ACT, embodying a playful reinvention of the hexaflex. The protocol delivers a structured yet adaptable approach, encouraging ACT practitioners to infuse their expertise into the program and align it with their participants' needs. From values and mindfulness to defusion and committed action, every topic is addressed in the context of the diving experience.
We are deeply grateful to the ScubaFlex participants for their involvement and to the wider ACT community for their original exercises and practices. This manual is not just a resource, but an invitation to dive deeper into self-understanding and psychological flexibility, above and below the water's surface. Our heartfelt thanks to all who have joined us on this journey.
If you are interested in participating in a group, details are available on fittodive.org. If you would like to run the group yourself, and have appropriate qualifications and experience, the protocol is freely available. An outcome measure is included below. This is the VAMS for Ice Hockey, adapted to VAMS for Scuba Diving. If you would like to carry out research of the protocol's effectiveness, please get in touch!