Women all over the world are embarking on new adventures. Today, we celebrate those who are venturing into the quiet world beneath the surface. July 20, 2024, PADI Women’s Dive DayThe holiday was established by the Professional Diving Instructors Association and celebrates female divers, freedivers, ocean lovers and industry professionals.
“This year’s Women’s Dive Day will inspire more people to take their first breath underwater and help develop more confident, capable divers who can share their love of diving and be stewards of the ocean through continuing diver education,” said Katie Thompson, senior director of environment and sustainability, PADI Worldwide. “Like Sandals and their incredible team, PADI dive instructors, dive centers and resorts around the world are making this movement their own.” Today, women of all ages are diving in greater numbers than ever before.“
Join us and these five ocean-savvy women as we dive beyond the waves into a world of colorful coral, sparkling creatures, impressive wildlife, and otherworldly formations waiting to be discovered and worthy of protection.
Pia Nirandhara: Author, travel writer, film producer and underwater photographer
Peer’s love of the ocean began as a child growing up on the shores of Thailand. By age 15, she had become Thailand’s first English-language author, penning a children’s book that inspires the next generation of ocean lovers. Now, as a California-based underwater photographer, PADI AmbassaDiver, film producer, and travel writer, she uses images and words to awaken the sense of adventure and curiosity that lies within each of us.
Photo: Pia Niirandara prepares her camera before a dive near Sandals Royal Curacao.
“The ocean and stories have been a constant connection throughout my life. Growing up in Thailand gave me a deep respect for the relationship coastal communities have with the ocean. There is a huge human element to our relationship with the water that goes beyond pretty photography.” To protect the ocean, we must first encourage others to care for it.“
Her talent for telling stories through photography has earned her the 2023 Ocean Storytelling Photography Grant from the Save Our Seas Foundation. As an advocate for solo female travel, she has visited more than 100 countries across seven continents, including a recent visit to Sandals Royal Curacao. Just minutes from the resort’s shores, Pia captured Curacao’s unique underwater drop-off wall-like structures, experienced an abundance of both soft and hard coral species, encountered sea turtles, and was greeted by a pod of dolphins.
Photo by Pia Niirandala: Turtle encounter off the coast of Curacao.
Tiffany Duong: Journalist, Storyteller and Ocean Advocate
Tiffany is a Florida Keys-based journalist whose life-changing scuba diving experience led her to make the courageous decision to leave a successful career in renewable energy law to pursue her passion for working for the ocean and planet.
Photo: Tiffany Duong explores a sunken plane in Jamaica.
“Now, as an explorer, storyteller and speaker, I protect the environments, people and wildlife most at risk In today’s world and way of life, I tell their stories and inspire them to take action on their behalf. At the end of the day, I have a deep and genuine desire to make the world a better place.”
Tiffany’s love of the ocean and writing has taken her all over the world, including to the vibrant Caribbean islands of Jamaica and Grenada where she explored the Caribbean’s only underwater sculpture park, swam with wild dolphins off the coast of Negril, Jamaica, and helped propagate coral fragments with the Sandals Foundation. Next to Sandals Resort and a PADI certified dive center.
Photo by Tiffany Duong: A pod of dolphins in Negril, Jamaica.
Angela Jones: PhD Student, Marine Biologist, PROTEUS Intern
Angela is a PhD student studying starfish in the northeastern U.S. Her strong interest in animals led her to pursue a degree in biology, and scuba diving has become an important part of her career.
Photo: Angela Jones just before a dive near Sandals Royal Curacao.
Angela, a marine biologist, is also an intern with PROTEUS™, the world’s most advanced multi-purpose underwater habitat. The research center will be based in Curaçao, which is why she traveled to the Dutch Caribbean island with the Sandals Royal Curaçao dive team and the PROTEUS™ science team to tour the potential site.
Photo: Angela Jones explores the depths of Curacao’s coast.
“There are so many ways to enjoy scuba diving, but if you’re interested in getting involved in the science element, look for community and citizen science programs,” says Angela. Sandals resort guests can take citizen science programs like a coral restoration certification and invasive lionfish removal course at the resort’s on-site PADI-certified dive center. Give your guests a chance to influence you Contribute to keeping our oceans healthy while you’re on holiday.
Emma Casagrande: Photographer, Shark Diver, and Mother
Emma Casagrande is a talented underwater photographer, an intrepid shark diver, and a mother of two who has traveled the world with her husband, Andy Casagrande. Her love of travel and the ocean inspired her to share adventures with her kids. Developing the next generation of conservationists.
Photo: Emma Casagrande helps the Beaches Negril team remove invasive lionfish.
On a recent trip Beach NegrilEmma’s son celebrated his 10th birthday with his PADI Open Water certification and her 8-year-old daughter achieved PADI Seal Team certification. The family can’t wait to return to Beaches soon to dive together and see the world through the ocean.
Pictured: Emma Casagrande and her son Ace Casagrande before their first dive together in Negril, Jamaica.
Shanissa Nestor, Sandals St. Lucian PADI Certified Dive Instructor
Shanissa is a PADI certified dive instructor at Sandals Grande St. Lucian. Born and raised on an island, the ocean has always been a part of Shanissa’s life, but now it plays a bigger role in her career.
Photo: Shanissa Nestor at Sandals Grande St. Lucian.
“Scuba diving changed my life. It gave me a career I wouldn’t change“It has given me the opportunity to dive in the Caribbean, grow professionally, help young people build their careers, and even encourage reef and coral conservation,” says Shanissa. “Scuba diving means everything to me: passion, drive, education, and the ability to do what I love.”
Photo: Shanissa Nestor prepares the tank for a dive.
Guests can also dive with Shanissa at Sandals Grande St. Lucian through the resort’s all-inclusive dive program or help restore the reef at a coral restoration site near the resort.
“This event is The most celebrated diving day on earthIt will change lives and inspire more people to seek adventure and save the ocean together,” said Katie Thompson, Sandals Resorts and Beach Resort Sandals and Beaches invites all guests and scuba divers into the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean region, and certified guests can expect state-of-the-art equipment, custom-built Newton Dive Boats, and scuba diving with PADI certified dive instructors and dive masters.
For guests interested in learning to scuba dive, Sandals and Beaches offers Discover Scuba, an introductory course to the underwater sport, as well as a range of scuba certification courses, from PADI Open Water to deep sea diver and specialisations such as underwater photography.
