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PADI is calling on its worldwide membership to register events celebrating the 10th anniversary of International Women’s Dive Day, set to take place this year on 20 July. The agency is also encouraging women divers to use the day as an opportunity to further their education.
‘Ten years ago, PADI Women’s Dive Day began as a simple idea – encourage more women to go scuba diving,’ said Katie Thompson, Senior Director of Environment & Sustainability for PADI Worldwide. ‘For over a decade now, passionate PADI dive operators across the globe have collectively planned memorable educational and inspiring events that change lives and positively impact dive communities.’
Since the first PADI Women’s Dive Day in 2015, thousands of events have taken place across more than 100 countries, including the planting of new coral nurseries, beach and underwater clean-ups, breaking the world record for the longest underwater human chain, and fundraising for breast cancer research and local women’s shelters.
Many women also experience scuba diving for the first time on Women’s Dive Day. The training agency says the event has become so successful that certification growth for women has now outpaced that of men – with women making up 40 per cent of all yearly certifications compared to around 30 per cent prior to 2015.
PADI says it is encouraging its members to plan events for 20 July and register them with the agency as soon as possible, so that they can be promoted on the PADI Women’s Dive Day Activities Locator. The agency is also encouraging women divers to further their education at the same time, with a particular focus on its Rescue Diver certification.
‘Females of all ages will take their first breath underwater this July, perhaps fulfilling a dream or overcoming a personal or physical challenge,’ said Thompson. ‘Now, with a decade of inspiring female scuba divers, we’re also looking forward to empowering more women to continue their education and earn their PADI Rescue Diver certification this year.
‘Women’s Dive Day will continue to invite more people in and create confident and capable divers who can share their love of diving and be stewards for the ocean.’
Dive centres and professionals wanting to register a Women’s Dive Day event can do so at padi.com/women/hostanevent.
