Women & Diving – PADI Women’s Dive Day
July 18:
The Day That
Changed Diving
Every year, thousands of women around the world enter the water together. Here’s why July 18 matters – and what it means to dive in Korea.
Origin Story
July 18, 2015:
A Date That Changed Everything
In 2015, NB Divers wrote a simple question: “July 18th – what day is it?” At the time, the answer was brand new. It was the very first PADI Women’s Dive Day – a global event that would grow into the most celebrated single day in the recreational diving calendar.
PADI launched Women’s Dive Day to close a gap that had persisted for decades. Women made up fewer than 35% of PADI certifications worldwide. The diving world was, by any measure, a man’s world. The goal was simple: change that.
Eleven years later, the results speak for themselves. Women now represent nearly 40% of all recreational divers worldwide, and female certifications are growing faster than men’s. One day helped flip the tide.
“Diving is our culture – and culture belongs to everyone. That’s why Women’s Dive Day has always mattered to us at NB Divers.”
Why It Matters
The Ocean Doesn’t
Have a Gender Gap.
Diving Once Did.
For most of scuba diving’s history, the sport skewed heavily male – in marketing, in instruction, and in culture. Equipment was designed for men’s bodies. Dive briefings defaulted to male pronouns. Professional roles, especially at the instructor and Course Director level, were overwhelmingly held by men.
PADI Women’s Dive Day began to challenge that. Not with a manifesto – but with an invitation. Come dive with us. Bring a friend. Meet other women who already love the ocean. See what you’ve been missing.
The Numbers Are Moving
Since 2015, the gender gap in recreational diving has narrowed by nearly five percentage points – representing over 250,000 additional women entering the sport. Female Divemaster certifications now account for over 30% of all DM certs issued annually. The water is more welcoming than it’s ever been.
Still Work to Do
At the professional level, women remain underrepresented. Only about 15% of PADI Course Directors are women. That number needs to change – and it changes one instructor, one divemaster, one Open Water student at a time. Every woman who gets certified brings us closer to an ocean community that reflects everyone who loves it.
“We don’t teach diving as a sport. We teach it as a skill, a mindset, a way of experiencing the world. That philosophy has no gender.”
– Charlie Jung, PADI Course Director, NB Divers
Korea & Women Divers
Korea Has Always
Known What Women
Can Do Underwater
Long before PADI existed – long before scuba equipment was invented – the women of Jeju Island were already doing what took the rest of the world decades to recognize: diving as a way of life.
The haenyeo (해녀), or “sea women,” are Jeju’s legendary free-divers. For centuries, they’ve held their breath and descended to harvest abalone, sea cucumber, and urchin from Korea’s cold coastal waters – without tanks, without BCDs, without computers. Some haenyeo continue diving into their 70s and 80s. In 2016, UNESCO recognized haenyeo culture as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Korea’s relationship with female diving isn’t a new trend. It’s woven into the culture. PADI Women’s Dive Day simply gives modern divers a chance to honor that tradition – with equipment this time.
Women’s Diving in Seoul and Beyond
Today, Korea offers exceptional conditions for women who want to learn scuba diving or advance their skills. Seoul’s indoor training facilities – including NB Divers’ deep pool – allow year-round certification regardless of weather. The East Sea (동해) and Jeju Island offer boat diving, drift diving, and cold-water certification dives that build real-world skill fast.
Expats and international visitors in Seoul will find that NB Divers teaches all courses in English. Women’s Dive Day events are open to beginners and experienced divers alike – whether you’re completing your first pool session or your hundredth open-water dive.
If you’re ready to start diving in Korea, there’s never been a better time – or a better reason.
How to Participate
How to Celebrate
Women’s Dive Day
in Korea
Women’s Dive Day is held every third Saturday of July. In 2026, that’s July 18. At NB Divers in Seoul, we mark the day in a few ways:
1. Get Your PADI Certification
The best way to celebrate is to take the first step. A PADI Open Water course at NB Divers takes approximately 3–4 days and includes theory, pool training, and real ocean dives. We teach in English and Korean, and our small-group format ensures personal attention from a PADI Course Director.
2. Dive with a Community
Already certified? Join us for a guided dive in Korean waters. The East Sea in summer offers visibility up to 10–15 metres, comfortable 18–22°C water temperatures, and dramatic underwater terrain. No experience is too little or too much.
3. Level Up Your Skills
Women’s Dive Day is a perfect prompt to move from Open Water to Advanced Open Water, or from Rescue Diver toward Divemaster. NB Divers has helped dozens of women reach professional level – some starting with zero swimming experience.
“The dive industry grows when more people feel welcome. Women’s Dive Day is one day – but the invitation is open every day of the year.”
Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked
Questions
What is PADI Women’s Dive Day?
PADI Women’s Dive Day is an annual global event held every third Saturday in July, designed to celebrate female divers, close the gender gap in recreational diving, and encourage more women to experience the underwater world. It was first held on July 18, 2015, and has since grown into the most widely celebrated single day in the scuba diving calendar, with events in over 183 countries.
When is PADI Women’s Dive Day 2026?
PADI Women’s Dive Day 2026 falls on Saturday, July 18, 2026 – marking the 12th year of the event. The 2026 theme is “Celebrate Community. Create Change.” NB Divers Seoul participates annually and welcomes all women divers, from complete beginners to experienced instructors.
Do you have to be a woman to join Women’s Dive Day events?
Women’s Dive Day events are primarily focused on celebrating and encouraging female divers. Most PADI dive centers, including NB Divers, welcome dive partners of any gender who are supporting women in the water. The spirit of the day is inclusivity – showing that diving is for everyone, with a special spotlight on women who might not have considered the sport before.
Is Korea a good place to learn scuba diving?
Yes – Korea is an excellent place to learn scuba diving, and it’s significantly underrated. Seoul has deep indoor training pools ideal for year-round certification. The East Sea (동해) offers cold, clear water with rocky terrain and impressive marine life. Jeju Island provides warm summer diving with boat dive access to deep walls and coral. For women specifically, Korea’s haenyeo tradition gives the ocean a uniquely feminine cultural dimension not found elsewhere.
Can tourists and expats get PADI certified in Korea?
Absolutely. NB Divers in Seoul offers full PADI certification courses (Open Water through Divemaster) in English, making it accessible for international residents and visitors. PADI certifications earned in Korea are globally recognised and valid anywhere in the world. The process takes 3–4 days for a standard Open Water course and can often be scheduled around a work week or short trip.
Do dive schools in Korea teach in English?
Not all dive schools in Korea teach in English, but NB Divers does – fully. All theory materials, pool sessions, and open-water briefings are conducted in English for international students. Charlie Jung, NB Divers’ PADI Course Director, has over a decade of experience teaching divers from more than 20 countries. If you’re an expat in Seoul or a tourist visiting Korea, NB Divers is specifically set up to serve you.
Is scuba diving safe and suitable for women?
Scuba diving is fully suitable for women and has no meaningful gender-based barriers. Equipment is now manufactured in women’s specific sizes and cuts. Buoyancy is largely determined by technique, not physical strength – meaning skill development levels the playing field quickly. Women often have advantages in precision, air consumption efficiency, and comfort with unfamiliar environments. Many of the best technical divers in the world are women.
Who are the haenyeo, and what do they have to do with scuba diving?
The haenyeo (해녀) are the traditional female free-divers of Jeju Island, South Korea. For centuries they’ve dived to depths of up to 20 metres on a single breath to harvest shellfish and seaweed. They hold UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status. While haenyeo use freediving rather than scuba, their tradition underscores Korea’s deep cultural connection between women and the ocean. Modern PADI Women’s Dive Day events honour that legacy.
Which country is best to learn scuba diving – Korea, Thailand, or the Philippines?
Each country offers different advantages. Thailand and the Philippines offer warm tropical water and high visibility year-round, making them popular for budget certifications. Korea offers something different: rigorous cold-water training that produces genuinely skilled divers, a Course Director-led teaching standard that’s rare in Southeast Asia, and indoor facilities for theory and pool work regardless of season. Divers who certify in Korea are typically well-prepared for diving anywhere in the world – the conditions demand real competence.
How do I sign up to celebrate Women’s Dive Day at NB Divers?
Simply reach out through our enquiry page and mention Women’s Dive Day. Whether you’re a complete beginner wanting to try scuba for the first time, a certified diver looking for a dive buddy, or an instructor considering a professional pathway – we’ll find the right program for you. NB Divers welcomes all levels. Diving is our culture, and you’re invited.
Ready to Dive?
Women’s Dive Day is every July 18. But the ocean is open every day.
Start your PADI journey at NB Divers Seoul – in English, at your pace.
