Second-Annual PADI Women's Dive Day Aims to Strengthen and Grow Female Diver Community

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif., June 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- From Florida to Belgium, thousands of divers around the world will take part in scuba diving events held in celebration of the second-annual PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Women's Dive Day, on Saturday, July 16. In an effort to narrow the gender gap, PADI Members, industry icons and recreational divers – both male and female alike – will join forces at more than 300 events scheduled in over 50 countries around the globe.

"Last summer's inaugural Women's Dive Day proved to be a historic day for diving and women overall. We are thrilled to continue the celebration and the empowerment of women this year as we seek to strengthen and grow the female diver community," says Kristin Valette, chief marketing and business development officer, PADI Worldwide. "Recent studies show that woman account for only 35 percent of open water divers and just 23 percent of divers in continuing education courses. By coming together as an industry to celebrate women in diving, PADI hopes to cultivate the female diver community, attract new women to the sports of scuba diving and freediving, and motivate existing female divers to get back in the water and continue their dive training."

The 2015 launch of the organization's "Women in Diving" campaign resulted in an increase in PADI certifications among females. While female divers account for a disproportionate share of the dive community, many women involved in the sport are launching and participating in impactful initiatives to create further awareness for diving and larger ocean conservation efforts. Among the examples of individuals who are making a big impact on this sport are ten notable female divers who are leading the 2014-2018 Sedna Epic Expedition, which will translate its findings regarding the issue of disappearing sea ice into educational and awareness programs on climate change. Additionally, Jennifer Idol, another renowned female dive enthusiast, recently became the first woman on record to dive all 50 states to showcase the need to protect local waters.

Here are just a few examples of PADI Women's Dive Day events that give veteran divers and first-timers good reason to take the plunge:

• Great Lakes, Michigan—Team Sedna will host a "Big 5 Dive Event" where they'll dive all five of the Great Lakes in 24 hours
• Kamuela, Hawaii—Enjoy a deluxe dive boat experience complete with local foods, sparkling beverages and a two-tank morning dive
• Lutwyche, Australia—Explore the underwater world like never before with a night dive during high tide
• Juprelle, Belgium—All women are invited to enjoy a free Discover Scuba^® Diving experience
• Davie, Florida—Learn about marine conservation from a PADI Course Director and end the day with a famous shark dive
• Larnaca, Cyprus—Advanced divers can explore the Zenobia Wreck while new divers can enjoy the abundance of marine sea life
• Hurghada, Red Sea, Egypt—Embark on a female-only boat trip to dive two extraordinary sites in the Red Sea

For more information on Women's Dive Day and to find an event near you, visit padi.com/women-dive. While the focus of the event is women and their accomplishments, anyone from all levels of diving are encouraged to take part and dive together on the same day. Get involved and raise awareness for women in diving through #PADIWOMEN.

About PADI
Celebrating 50 years of growth and success, PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the world's largest recreational diver training organization. With more than 6,300 dive centers and resorts and 136,000 PADI Professionals worldwide dedicated to introducing new divers to the thrill of scuba diving and enhancing the skills of experienced divers, PADI is the way the world learns to dive. Having issued nearly 25 million certifications since inception, PADI makes underwater exploration and adventure accessible to the public while maintaining the highest industry standards for dive training, safety and customer service. Committed to the conservation and preservation of our ocean, with every diver certification issued PADI also creates a growing number of ocean ambassadors to help defend and preserve the marine environment for generations to come. For more information, visit www.padi.com.  

Contact: Paige Thornley
Havas Formula
(619) 234-0345
[email protected]

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