This post is in collaboration with PADI. As always, all opinions are my own. Scuba diving images provided courtesy of PADI.
In celebration of the fourth-annual Women’s Dive Day on July 21, I’ve partnered with PADI (The Professional Association of Diving Instructors) to inspire you all – men and women – to give scuba diving a try! PADI is aiming to decrease the gender gap in the historically a male-driven sport by encouraging more women around the world to become divers and get certified. Did you know women only make up about 35% of scuba certifications per year? Let’s change the status quo! For PADI Women’s Dive Day this year, they will be hosting hundreds of different events worldwide for divers of every level and ability – from diving with whale sharks in the Maldives to exploring shipwrecks in Florida! You can find the full list of events HERE.
Becoming a certified scuba diver is something that has always been on my bucket list but I just haven’t gotten the opportunity to do it yet. All of the snorkeling I did during my cruise of the Galapagos last January has inspired me to let go of my fears of open water and aim to get certified by next summer. Baby sea lions swimming around me, seeing a shark in the water with me for the first time, snorkeling in a bay of sea turtles, and having a flock of penguins go right past me underwater are all experiences I had snorkeling in the Galapagos – and I can only imagine how much better it will get once I’ve been certified to dive and can really immerse myself in the underwater world.
So, with that said, here’s 5 reasons why everybody should try scuba diving and get certified!
1. See the world from a new perspective – Most of Planet Earth is covered in water, so no matter how much traveling you do, you’ll be missing out on a lot if you never explore what’s under the surface. For those seeking adventure, there’s no better one than diving down to explore the underneath. And did I mention the amazing underwater photography opportunities? It’s simply magical.
2. Get up close with wildlife and nature – You’ll have the chance to get up close and personal with all sorts of nature, from beautiful coral reefs and schools of fish to whale sharks and manta rays. Why go on safari on land when you can go on a sea safari?
3. Find a new community – The diving community is very social, so stretch your horizons and come meet new people who share the same passion for travel and adventure that you do. PADI Dive Centers and Resorts make it easy to plan trips with fellow divers or just meet up and exchange tips and tricks. In fact, PADI is the world’s largest scuba diver training organization in the world with more than 6,500 dive centers and resorts and 135,000 PADI Professionals worldwide.
4. Be an advocate for our planet – Diving leads to a stronger sense of connection between yourself and the ocean. Through scuba diving, you can be inspired and inspire others about the importance of preserving our oceans and wildlife and how everyone can make a difference to help the planet.
5. Feel accomplished and discover a new strength – Diving can be a challenging skill to learn, but the payoff is worth it. In the end, the experience will be worth any challenges you may face, and you’ll become a stronger person for it.
I hope these reasons have intrigued you about diving and that you feel empowered to get certified in the future – or this week for PADI Women’s Dive Day – and ultimately change the status quo! This time next year you could be doing a night dive with manta rays or swimming with whale sharks!
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