On Saturday, July 20, 2019, PADI is honoring female scuba divers by hosting a Women’s Dive Day across the world. This is an annual event hosting thousands of scuba divers of all genders, ages, and experience levels for a celebration of shared adventure and passion.
In a male-dominated field where 68% of scuba divers are male and 74% of core divers (eight or more years of experience) are male, women scuba diving is something I definitely want to see increase more and more. Also, even as a new diver, I’m already feeling the thought of why don’t they make larger women’s wetsuits? That would be real cool.
Unfortunately, I live in Tennessee and am already committed to another land-locked state at the time so I was feeling a little bit of FOMO on missing out on what would be my first chance at participating in Women’s Dive Day. I wanted to participate in some way though so I thought I’d round up my favorite female scuba divers that I’ve found since getting certified.
Madison Stewart
After getting my open water certification in Costa Rica earlier this year, I became instantly obsessed. While diving still absolutely terrifies, I can’t deny that I’m hooked. I started immediately finding other divers to follow for inspiration and motivation to keep doing something I loved but was still nervous to do. I found Madison pretty quickly and fell in love with her mission.
Madison is an Australian scuba diver, filmmaker, and is on a strong-willed path to replace shark fishing with tourism via Project Hiu in Indonesia.
These trips are not just a way for you to see the shark fin trade first hand, but facilitate real change and be a part of a movement to save sharks with direct action, and at the same time engage in helping the community and the next generation. We will look for shark nurseries in the area, explore new sites, get comfortable on shark fishing boats. As well as visits to see the shark market where they fin and process sharks, you will see some of the most amazing and healthy reef. You will get to explore a part of the island barely witnessed by tourists, all from shark fishing boats.
The dates didn’t work out for me at all this year but I’m determined to make it on one next year.
Sarah, also known as Scuba Sarah, is a French Canadian and scuba instructor is making history by diving all seven continents in just five months to bring awareness to ocean conservation. Since water is everywhere and pollution is everywhere, she sees this as a great way to increase people’s awareness and passion not only for the ocean but the entire planet.
Jenn is a dear friend of mine who deserves a call out nonetheless but even more so because she, along with her husband Ed, literally coached me through my open water certification. I was in Costa Rica and they in Florida and I constantly was sending panicked messages, questions upon questions, and then elated messages after my successful open water dives.
Jenn is one part of Coleman Concierge – one of my favorite couple bloggers. They share amazing adventures for active professional adult travelers with many of these adventures being scuba diving. Jenn is an Advanced Open Water Diver who get this – was (is?) afraid of fish.
Jillian is a marine biologist, shark conservationist, the Founder of Shark Education, an author, a photographer, and last but not least – a fellow pitbull mom.
Shark Education, or Sharks 4 Kids, is creating the next generation of shark advocates through education, outreach & adventure. I find this amazing as I think, unfortunately, one of the best ways to change the planet is to start by educating children. The youth is our future literally and figuratively.
I’ve always had a thirst for knowledge and while being in the ocean and just seeing all the beautiful and shiny things would be enough, I think it’s pretty amazing to actually learn a thing or two while you’re there. Knowledge turns to passion, my friends.
That’s why I was pretty stoked to find Caitlin on Instagram. She is a research diver, a graduate of Marine Science, and an eco-conscious diver. I love how she gives the scientific name of species and dives into all sorts of details that you didn’t even know you wanted to know.
Janiel is another friend of mine and blogger over at Culture Trekking. Janiel is a fantastic storyteller, creates a Youtube video for every single blog post (you don’t know how much work that is, fo real), and inspired me during my journey towards my certification whether she realizes it or not. Living in Utah, Janiel understands the despair of being landlocked and this snippet is from her first ocean dive. I love the realness.
I had just mastered my first dive successfully with a compliment from a Master Diver that was more of the quiet type, yet he congratulated me. I was indeed proud of myself, despite the concerned looks that friends gave me when I said I wanted to do diving. The kind, but doubtful way that people often look at me because of my size – with the unsaid words of ‘difficult diver’, ‘burden’ ‘too big to fit and all the other self-depreciating, anxiety driven encounters and moments along the way the last 4-5 months of diving….I had done it, and I had not just completed it, I was SUCCESSFUL at it.
Sarah is a travel blogger at Coffee with A Slice of Life and Founder of Girls That Scuba – a little well-known group you may know – and her new website A Waste Free World dedicated to a plastic-free, zero-waste world.
Girls That Scuba is the world’s largest female scuba divers community.
Ocean is a professional scuba instructor, advanced free diver and surfer, shark and marine biologist, conservationist, and dedicates her life to observing and protecting sharks which makes her a pretty candidate for this unofficial badass female scuba divers list I’ve compiled with absolutely no authority whatsoever.
When I first started blogging six years ago, Kristin of Be My Travel Muse was one of the first blogs I followed and I’ve been following her ever since. While she doesn’t blog primarily about diving, I know scuba and freediving are some of her passions. Her photos are beautiful and her website is an excellent resource for female solo travelers, female scuba divers, and off the beaten path adventures.
A fellow scuba diver and vegan? What more could I ask for? I was excited to find Katt’s account for both of these reasons. She is also a scuba instructor, environmentalist, physicist, and podcaster. Is anyone else seeing a theme about how kickass every single person is on this list?
There are so many other female scuba divers out there that I’m sure are doing amazing things and I really want to learn more about them! I’m interested in knowing who your favorite female scuba divers are and I’d love to see a bit of diversity! I’ll be sure to update this list as I find more female scuba divers that inspire me.
So, tell me! Which female scuba divers would you add to this list?
Hi! I'm the Founder and Editor-in-Chief at Wild Hearted. I'm a Nashville unicorn (born, raised, and based), queer, vegan, and dedicated to leaving a positive impact through her life, work, and this website.
I'm also a freelance writer and creator. You can see my published work here. I've been featured by Impact Travel Alliance as a creative who is transforming travel, and by Matador Network as a vegan travel blogger you should be following on Instagram.
When I'm not writing, I'm traveling, reading a book, trying not to kill my houseplants, worshiping my dog, or having an existential crisis.
Hey Ashley! Such an inspirational blog. Yes! You are right that “percentage of female scuba divers is not that much as compared to male divers and this percentage should be increased. Keep posting!
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Hey Ashley! Such an inspirational blog. Yes! You are right that “percentage of female scuba divers is not that much as compared to male divers and this percentage should be increased. Keep posting!
sweet, continue doing what you do
Thank you so much for featuring me! I just found this post today, and am honoured to have been included!
You’re so welcome! You’re very inspiring 🙂