Panhandle sees increase in female scuba divers

DESTIN, Fla. ( WMBB ) — A popular sport in the Gulf of Mexico celebrated its growing gender diversity on July 20.

More than 20 women in Destin strapped on fins and tanks for PADI’s International Women’s Dive Day. The divers cleaned up the East Jetty in Destin.

“I had a blast. I had an amazing time and everyone was so welcoming and loving. It was awesome,” said new open water diver Dawn Dillard.

Emerald Coast Scuba in Destin has held a special dive event for half a decade celebrating International Women’s Dive Day.

Shop owner Anna Schmidt has been diving for more than 40 years and has seen a big shift in the sport on the panhandle.

“I used to be about the only girl in the class and I was teaching it. So we had about a 15, maybe 20% female market share and now that number is more like 60%. So women have definitely taken over the dive industry,” Schmidt said.

Divers of all ages and experience levels spent the awareness day cleaning a popular dive site surrounded by wildlife. Each of them have different goals and reasons for joining.

“I would like to make a career out of it, you know, just so I can wake up every day and do something that I actually love instead of working as the nine to five,” Dillard said.

“I kind of just want to keep diving. I don’t really have like a plan. I don’t think I want to make it a career. It’d be cool, but probably just to keep diving,” said 1-year diver Helen Payton.” I’ve always loved the ocean and I’ve always been around it. But getting to go under and breathe underwater is just a totally different experience is like mind blowing.”

“This is an annual event every July. So absolutely packed those fins and come out and dive with us, ” Schmidt said.

PADI honors women divers each year on the third Saturday of July. 2024 marks 10 years for the event putting women in the water across the globe.

Learn more about Emerald Coast Scuba online.

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