Every year, PADI Women’s Dive Day unites the global diving community to celebrate women in diving. On July 19th, 2025, the Scuba Dive Online team will mark PADI Women’s Dive Day 2025 by highlighting environmental efforts and female leadership in ocean conservation.
PADI Women’s Dive Day 2025 is more than diving. It celebrates empowerment, leadership, and the achievements of women divers worldwide. Women break barriers and set records, from marine biologists to conservation instructors. Their passion drives marine science and inspires others to protect the ocean.
There are many remarkable women paving the way and continuing to inspire our Scuba Dive Online team. Environmental champions past and present. Sylvia Earle is 89 and still a pioneering oceanographer, opened doors for female conservationists worldwide. Valerie Taylor, also 89, is an Australian icon known for groundbreaking shark research and tireless marine protection. More recently, Cristina Mittermeier, renowned marine photographer and conservationist, uses striking imagery to advocate for ocean and marine life conservation.
The Scuba Dive Online team proudly features award-winning female PADI Course Directors and instructors. These women teach PADI AWARE courses, lead coral restoration, run beach clean-ups, and inspire ocean ambassadors.
Meet some of our inspiring women:
Monique Richards
Monique Richards, a UK-born PADI Course Director, has worked in the dive industry across the globe since 2003. She teaches PADI IDCs, is the Scuba Dive Online, hybrid IDC programme developer and teaches the online classroom section in person. When she is diving, Monique conducts coral monitoring projects and regular underwater clean-ups. Monique’s mission is to create passionate ocean advocates.
Natalie Hunt
Natalie Hunt from Australia has 24 years of professional level experience. A Platinum PADI Course Director, she also teaches mangrove conservation, loves technical diving, and includes the PADI adaptive techniques course with every IDC. Natalie’s work at Scuba Dive Online’s partner centre, Assava Dive Resort, Koh Tao, empowers both beginners and professionals. Plus, Natalie has received awards for her environmental activities. She is a true inspiration.
Julia Alberione
Julia Alberione, Argentina-born, co-owns Davy Jones Locker, Koh Tao. A technical diving expert, Julia promotes female inclusion in advanced diving and mentors women in CCR and deep diving. When Julia is not running the dive centre or searching for ship wrecks, she runs regular environmental activites. These include leading students and staff on underwater clean-up dives for the PADI Dive Against Debris specialty.
Heidi Rijsdijk
Heidi Rijsdijk from the Netherlands left marketing for a diving career in 2019. Now a Course Director, Heidi teaches with enthusiasm, organises conservation activities, and leads PADI Mermaid programmes at our partner centre, Assava Dive Resort. Additionally, Heidi conducts weekly beach clean-ups on Koh Tao and teaches the PADI AWARE courses to her pro level candidates.
Victoria Cole and Ivana Inglesina
Victoria Cole and Ivana Inglesina, both Platinum Course Directors, co-run the all female led Scuba Dive Online partner centre, Infinity2Diving in Tulum, Mexico. They teach cave diving, technical diving, and PADI Mermaid courses, while promoting female leadership underwater. Spending so much time underwater, they both include environmental activities with all their courses, inspiring students to become advocates for marine conservation and sustainability.
Fernanda Paiva
PADI Course Director Fernanda Paiva, based at Roatan Divers in Honduras, focuses on shark conservation and coral restoration. She teaches the PADI AWARE Shark Conservation course and involves students and IDC candidates in hands-on projects like coral nursery care, shark monitoring, and local marine initiatives, inspiring future dive professionals to protect our oceans.
On PADI Women’s Dive Day 2025, dive centres worldwide will host coral planting, underwater clean-ups, and conservation dives. These events promote ocean health, community, and female empowerment.
To join a PADI IDC with these incredible women or to celebrate PADI Women’s Dive Day 2025, contact the Scuba Dive Online team.
