PADI Women’s Dive Day
PADI Women’s Dive Day took place this year on July 18th. This is a tradition which started back in 2015 and is now in its’ sixth year. It was launched to bring together divers of all genders, ages, and levels of dive experience to create a global community. Over the years, it has turned into the largest single day of diving on the planet! In addition, the various organized events have evolved into having conservation causes at their heart. In doing so, all divers have an opportunity to be involved and to help give something back to the ocean.
Resort Bonaire
This year, Dive Friends Bonaire chose to offer something to the community of Bonaire. We decided to give women on the island, who had never dived before, the opportunity to experience diving in the swimming pool on the beautiful Resort Bonaire.
Due to Covid-19 social restrictions, the event was organized in a way that made sure all staff and participants were appropriately distanced and following guidelines.
Introduction
After sign-in, the equipment was set up on poolside. A brief introduction to the physics of diving was given by the instructors and then it was time to get into the pool! Several of the women that signed up were Bonairians or had been living on Bonaire for a long period of time, but had always been afraid to try diving, so this really was a momentous occasion for them.
Pool time!
The instructors started by getting the ladies to stand in the shallow end, put their regulators in their mouths and to put their faces in the water and just breathe. Once they were comfortable with this, they did the same but this time either floating or swimming on the surface. Everyone was very excited to go underwater and dive, so they did not waste any time getting down there! The result…. everyone was thrilled and most of them are now planning to do their Open Water Courses and become real divers.
PADI Women’s Dive Day 2021
The seventh edition of Women’s Dive Day will take place on 17 July in 2021. Put the date in your diary and come along to join in with Dive Friends Bonaire.
By: Sarah Cann