11 Years of Women’s Dive Day
On July 19th, 2025 the diving community celebrated the 11th annual PADI Women’s Dive Day, a tradition created to honor women in diving and support PADI’s mission to unite and empower “divers of all genders, ages, races, backgrounds, and abilities to confidently explore and protect the ocean.” Since its launch in 2015, PADI Women’s Dive Day has become the largest single-day dive event in the world, uniting thousands of divers in over 100 countries.
At SeaKeepers headquarters, we marked the occasion with a Dive Against Debris cleanup alongside Sea Experience dive shop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Armed with mesh collection bags, our staff and volunteer divers descended on dive sites Hog Heaven and The Caves to remove trash from the seafloor. Just a mile offshore of a major city, these reefs often collect debris tossed off boats and swept out from beaches, including cargo straps, glass bottles, aluminum cans, and fishing debris such as lines, hooks and lures. This Women’s Dive Day, our team removed over 12.5 pounds of trash, and celebrated women in diving with raffles and goody bags back on board.
Celebrating an Icon: Dr. Sylvia Earle
A month later, the world turned its attention to an icon: Dr. Sylvia Earle, who celebrated her 90th birthday August 30th, 2025. Known as “Her Deepness” Dr. Earle is a trailblazing diver, marine scientist and oceanographer who opened doors to women in marine exploration. She earned her PhD from Duke University in 1966, where her dissertation recording algae species in the Gulf of Mexico made her the first person to use scuba gear to document marine life. Dr. Earle paved the way for women in traditionally male spaces on her research expeditions with the National Science Foundation and led the all female team in the U.S. Navy’s Tektite II Project, living in a habitat 50 feet underwater for two weeks. Dr. Earle earned the world record for the deepest untethered sea walk in 1979, exploring the sea floor 381 meters under the surface for over two hours in a diving suit. In 1990, she became the first woman to be appointed Chief Scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where she oversaw the protection of U.S. Oceans.
The list of Dr. Sylvia Earle’s achievements is endless, and her legacy continues to inspire women around the world as she has not slowed in making her mark in ocean conservation initiatives. In fact, SeaKeepers was lucky to welcome Dr. Sylvia Earle to join SeaKeepers’ Scientific Advisory Board in 2004 to identify where vessel support is needed in oceanographic research.
The Future of Marine Conservation is Diverse
Celebrating Dr. Sylvia Earle’s birthday alongside Women’s Dive Day reminds us why representation matters. Female visibility in traditionally male-dominated fields shows the next generation that careers in marine science are not only possible, but vital. Encouraging people of all identities to pursue their passions, push boundaries, and rethink the impossible is essential, as the fate of our ocean depends on innovation, courage, and the voices of those willing to lead.
References:
- Brandman, Mariana. “Sylvia Earle.” National Women’s History Museum. 2021. www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/sylvia-earle
- Dive community set to celebrate 10th anniversary of Padi Women’s Dive Day. DiveNewswire. (2024, May 7). https://www.divenewswire.com/dive-community-set-to-celebrate-10th-anniversary-of-padi-womens-dive-day/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Guinness World Records. (2020, September 20). Deepest Untethered Sea Walk (female). https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/630558-deepest-untethered-sea-walk
- History. The International SeaKeepers Society. (2025, August 20). https://www.seakeepers.org/about-us/our-mission/
- Women’s Dive Day. PADI. (n.d.). https://www.padi.com/women