DeeperBlue.com caught up with the Women Divers Hall of Fame on the last day of DEMA Show 2018. This extensive network works to recognize, honor, promote, and connect women in the dive industry and to celebrate their myriad inspiring accomplishments.
There were 44 awards this year for a total of about US$62,000 (~54,333 Euros) disbursed to help women advance their training, their education, or their research in multiple areas of diving. Applications for next year’s scholarships begin in September 2019.
The organization fundraises year-round — you may have attended their Tuesday night fundraiser Tropical Seas — and all of the proceeds go toward the scholarships. If you stopped by their DEMA Show booth, their 2019 WDHOF calendar might have caught your eye. Featuring the profiles of your twelve newest dive heroines, it can be yours for only $15 (~13 Euros). For readers at home who want to get one for themselves or give the gift of inspiration to the lady divers in their life, it’s available on the WDHOF website.
Another great way to show your support is to become an Associate Member. The $30 (~26 Euro) annual dues helps support administration and operational costs so that all fundraising can go straight into the scholarships. It also gets you access to WDHOF newsletter, listing both in the newsletter on the online database, as well as access to unique resources and invitations to members-only events and trips. There’s even a $15 student membership for aspiring dive divas. And yes, men can be members too!
A final note on what’s new and exciting with the WDHOF is their upcoming honors at the Beneath the Sea show in March 2019. The organization itself will be recognized as an industry Legend, and Hall of Famer Cathy Church will be singled out as a Pioneer. There will also be WDHOF footage featured during the film festival. So if you find yourself in Secaucus, New Jersey that weekend, stop in and check it out!
Check out their website for more information.
