International Women’s day – 8th March
Not your normal club news but I thought it worth writing about.
When we think of divers and innovators in diving the classic names are Jacques Cousteau, Hans Hass, Bob Hollis, Jean-Michel Cousteau, John Cronin, Ralph Erickson to name but a few. It is very rare that the list includes women’s names and this is a great shame as they have driven diving forward and improved our enjoyment and knowledge of diving in many different ways.
Indeed part of my enjoyment of diving relates to the trips that I have been on with some of the clubs female stalwarts and, as a club, we have all benefitted from their input, enthusiasm and knowledge. I have learnt so much from Jen, Anne, Debbie, Paula, Kath etc (sorry if I haven’t named you) and many of the most most enjoyable dives I have had are with my good friend Elaine.
To start with it’s worth recognising that BSACs current CEO is Mary Tetley and she has been driving the organisation forward for the last few years, seeing it through Covid and updating the organisation.
More to the point women have been at the front of diving since it’s inception.
To celebrate them I have listed, just a few of those involved, below. (The link is to the Women Divers Hall of Fame site for that particular person).
- Simone Melchior Cousteau was part of the team that tested the Cousteau-Gagnan prototype regulators, and as a free diver she witnessed Jacques on his first underwater excursion WDHOF
- Lotte Hass was the first underwater model and one of the first female underwater photographers. WDHOF
- Honor Frost was a scholar, explorer, author, and underwater archaeologist. As early as 1959, she pioneered recording methods and photography on submerged shipwreck and harbour sites. WDHOF
- Sylvia Earle is a marine biologist, lecturer, consultant, author (including Sea Change & Wild Deep), former Chief Scientist at NOAA, and founder and chairman of Deep Ocean Exploration & Research. WDHOF
- Liz Taylor has been involved with DOER Marine from its inception, becoming President in 1994. The company designs/builds submersibles and other subsea systems. WDHOF
- Wendy Benchley has worked with fierce determination to protect our oceans – and sharks in particular – through the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards, serving in a number of organizations including WildAid, Shark Savers , Ocean Champions, and Blue Frontier. WDHOF
For a more complete list follow this link Women Divers Hall of Fame (wdhof.org)
As I said, it is worth noting that our club and the sport we all love and enjoy owes a lot to the many women who have been involved over the years.
