As the diving community approaches International Women’s Day on March 8, global training agency PADI is spotlighting the growing role of women in shaping the future of scuba diving and ocean exploration.
The organisation says its Women in Diving initiative, launched a decade ago, has helped close the gender gap in the sport while bringing greater visibility to female instructors, conservation leaders and industry professionals.
Today, women represent a significant and growing part of the global diving community, both underwater and within leadership roles across the industry.
A Decade of Change in Diving
According to data released by PADI, the past ten years have seen measurable shifts in participation.
Since the Women in Diving initiative began, the gender gap in recreational diving has narrowed by nearly five percent, which the organisation says represents more than 250,000 additional women entering the sport.
Women now account for close to 40 percent of all recreational-level certifications worldwide.
The growth is particularly visible at the entry level, where female divers represent around 41 percent of new certifications. PADI reports that the gender gap among new divers has narrowed by nearly three percent over the past decade.
Momentum has also been reflected in the professional pipeline. The organisation reports that the gender gap among new professionals has decreased by almost 13 percent, with women accounting for 30.6 percent of PADI Divemaster certifications in 2024.
Women in Leadership Across the Industry
PADI is also highlighting several female leaders whose work has helped shape the organisation and the wider diving community.
Among them is Kristin Valette Wirth, PADI’s Chief Brand and Membership Officer. After discovering diving in Monterey, she has logged thousands of dives across more than 25 countries during a 30-year career in the industry.
During that time, she helped drive initiatives such as the PADI Eco Center program, the organisation’s Adaptive Diving program and the Conservation Action Portal, initiatives aimed at expanding access to diving while strengthening environmental stewardship.
PADI also recognised legendary oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, who in 2025 became the organisation’s first Emeritus AmbassaDiver. A former NOAA Chief Scientist and founder of Mission Blue, Earle has spent thousands of hours underwater advocating for ocean protection worldwide.
Another notable figure is Jessica Pita, PADI’s first blind AmbassaDiver. Her achievements highlight efforts to expand accessibility in diving and demonstrate how adaptive training can make underwater exploration possible for more people.
Cultural Milestones in the Global Dive Community
In Oman, instructor Ehdaa Al-Barwani has been recognised as a pioneer in encouraging more women to pursue professional diving careers.
After earning her Divemaster certification in 2018, she became the country’s first female PADI instructor and has since promoted women-only dive courses through the dive centre Aura Divers.
Her work also connects diving with environmental awareness, encouraging new divers to adopt conservation practices and advocate for ocean protection.
Women Driving Conservation Efforts
Marine conservationist Francesca Trotman, founder of Love The Oceans, works with coastal communities in Mozambique to improve fisheries management and protect marine ecosystems.
In Costa Rica, instructor Carola Ramírez founded Unidos por los Tiburones, a coalition uniting more than 90 organisations advocating for shark conservation. Her work helped mobilise public support that ultimately persuaded a major supermarket chain to stop selling shark meat.
Well-known shark diver and educator Cristina Zenato, a PADI Course Director based in the Bahamas, continues to combine education and conservation while mentoring the next generation of divers.
Other figures recognised include India Black, a PADI AmbassaDiver and marine conservation advocate who has participated in global turtle conservation projects, and Marteyne van Well, the creator of the Maldives Underwater Initiative, a collaborative conservation programme focused on protecting the ecosystems surrounding Six Senses Laamu resort.
Wildlife scientist Jillian Taylor is also among those highlighted, combining diving with research into North Atlantic ecosystems while studying seabird species such as the Atlantic puffin.
A Changing Face of Diving
While the diving industry historically skewed male, PADI says the continued growth of female participation is reshaping both the culture and leadership of the sport.
With more women entering the industry as instructors, researchers and conservationists, the organisation believes the next decade of diving will be defined by broader representation and new perspectives on ocean stewardship.
As International Women’s Day approaches, the message from across the dive community is clear: the future of diving is increasingly being shaped by women both above and below the surface.
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