The author (second from left) is often one part of capable dive team, fortunate to venture where few women or men have ever been
a personal story that really spoke to me. Although she is an incredibly strong and capable explorer and educator, she was a little nervous about speaking up. She shared a moment in an IDC Staff Instructor update that was a watershed moment for many participants. “During one session, a Staff
Instructor was presenting ‘Low Pressure Hose Disconnect/Connect’ to the group… At the end of debriefing, he said something like, ‘This can be a little difficult to do especially for you women.’ James Morgan, PADI Vice President, our group leader, thanked him for his presentation and asked for feedback before he dismissed us. “Immediately I felt something
happen inside. There was little time to process let alone respond. And respond how?? I began to examine my feelings and was quickly able to ‘name’ them. Should I speak up to James Morgan and all the other Staff Instructors who were towering above me in the shallow end of the pool? Would they think I was being sexist or a man hater? Would they think I was weak? Would they completely dismiss my words? My feelings? I cautiously raised my hand hoping James wouldn’t see it. He did and all
Tis is a sport where an adventure shared can create a lifelong bond, regardless of age or gender
eyes were looking down at me… “Please be mindful of your
audience.” I began. “When you indicated that women especially would have trouble with this I immediately felt weak and not capable of success with this skill or any other. It’s not a strength skill - it is one of technique. Set your students up with success instead of implying failure. They will perform how they are set up to.” Morgan did not just thank her
for her feedback but applauded her enlightened comments. It was a good learning situation for everyone involved. Sexism is not always intentional. Sometimes people don’t even realize what they have said or how it might make someone feel. With gentle correction and an open mind we can all improve gender-biased language to make it more inclusive and as Power indicates, uplift people to perform their very best. After a fair and balanced review of 2015 diving equipment catalogs
compared to those produced by the same companies in Marjorie Bank’s time in the 1990s, I discovered that while I still feel women are objectified and sexualized in many diving advertisements, there has been an enormous improvement. More often I found that manufacturers were trying to strike a balance. Diving can be sexy without being sexualized. The very act of breathing underwater is exciting. Travel, adventure and exotic destinations are stimulating. Observing rare and endangered species is a privilege few will ever experience. Exploring remote wrecks and inner space is simply exhilarating. The button Marjorie Bank pinned on
my shirt has long been discarded, but her legacy remains. Let’s celebrate the individuals in our
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community for excellence. Let’s enjoy travel and underwater experiences in a way that lifts all participants. If we wanted to be highly competitive, we would have picked another sport. This is a sport where an adventure shared can create a lifelong bond, regardless of age or gender. We are all fortunate to venture
where few women or men have ever been.
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