For the 11th year straight, PADI®, the world’s largest scuba diving organisation, is calling on their 6,600 Dive Centres + Resorts and 128,000 Professionals around the globe to join them in hosting local events for the annual PADI Women’s Dive Day that sets the standard for gender inclusivity in scuba diving on 19 July 2025.

Over the past decade, PADI Dive Centres and Instructors have created a powerful movement that has inspired more women of all ages to discover the transformative power of diving. More than 1,500 events in over 100 countries have encouraged scuba divers, freedivers, and mermaids to come together to continue their dive education, plant new coral nurseries, perform beach and underwater cleanups, set a world record for the longest underwater female human chain, fundraise for breast cancer research and local women’s shelters, and take their first breaths underwater as the newest PADI Divers.

“Since launching in 2015, PADI’s Women in Diving initiative has been a catalyst for the dive community to break down barriers and empower divers of all genders, ages, races, backgrounds, and abilities to explore and protect the ocean,” says Kristin Valette Wirth, Chief Brand and Membership Officer for PADI Worldwide. “Women are being celebrated for their achievements in ocean exploration, marine conservation, education, visual arts, science, technology, technical diving, and social leadership. They are driving a collective movement that empowers women of all ages to elevate their voices, lead with purpose, and inspire others to explore, protect, and celebrate the ocean.”​

Before PADI Women’s Dive Day began, female certifications made up under 35% of total yearly PADI Certifications. As of 2025, they have grown to make up nearly 40% of total certifications – closing the gender gap in diving at all levels.

PADI is encouraging members to plan their own events and register them as soon as possible, inviting their communities, both divers and non-divers alike, to participate in a PADI Women’s Dive Day event on 19 July 2025. These events will be promoted on the PADI Women’s Dive Day Event  Locator – allowing people to easily find events within their own community.

“We invite the global PADI Membership to continue with setting the standard for gender inclusivity in ocean exploration by celebrating diversity in diving, empowering female divers, fostering connections, and inspiring ocean exploration,” continues Valette Wirth. “PADI Women’s Dive Day provides PADI Members a unique opportunity to connect with your local community, motivate new students to take their first breath underwater, entice divers to earn their next certification, or simply give a reason to connect with the ocean and each other.”

To register a PADI Women’s Dive Day event, visit padi.com/women/hostanevent.

About PADI 

PADI^® (Professional Association of Diving Instructors^®) is the largest purpose-driven diving organisation with a global network of 6,600 dive centres and resorts, 128,000 professional members and more than 30 million certified divers to date. Committed to our blue planet, PADI makes the wonder of the underwater world accessible to all, empowering people around the world to experience, explore and take meaningful action, as Ocean Torchbearers^TM, to protect the world beneath the surface. For over 50 years, PADI is undeniably The Way the World Learns to Dive^®, setting the standard for the highest quality dive training, underwater safety and conservation initiatives while evolving the sport of diving into a passionate lifestyle. For divers by divers, PADI is obsessed with transforming lives and, with its global foundation, PADI AWARE^TM, creating positive ocean change. Seek Adventure. Save the Ocean.^SM

www.padi.com