Celebrating PADI Women's Dive Day, Leading Female Divers in Maldives

Saturday 18th of July 2020

Celebrating PADI Women's Dive Day, Leading Female Divers in Maldives

For the past five years, divers have been coming together each July for a day of shared passion and adventure for the underwater world. On 18th July 2020, the world marks the 6th PADI Women's Dive Day, the most celebrated day of diving on the planet. To celebrate this day, let’s have a look at the leading female divers in the Maldives, who are an inspiration to the young girls dreaming of the sea.

Zoona Naseem, Maldives’ first female PADI Course Director

The second Maldivian to have attained the rank of PADI Course Director, and the country’s first female, Zoona is the owner of Moodhu Bulhaa Dive Centre in Villingili Island, just 10 minutes away from the capital, and is passionate about getting young people diving. Zoona learnt how to swim at the same time she learnt how to walk and she is determined to inspire more females in the country to follow her example.

Shaziya Saeed, diving instructor & eco-warrior

The ocean lover spends her day training young girls to dive and educating locals and tourists on how to become more eco-friendly. In 2019, Shaziya was part of a group of four women who embarked on a 100km stand-up paddleboarding journey around Baa Atoll to spread awareness about ocean health. The following October, she received the National Award in the field of diving.

Dr. Sham’aa ‘Anna’ Hameed, Dean of Faculty of Marine Studies

Dr. Sham’aa, commonly known as ‘Anna’, is the Dean of Faculty of Marine Studies in Villa College, a private educational institution in the Maldives. Hussain ‘Sendi’ Rasheed, the Maldives’ first PADI Course Director found The Villa Institute of Water Sports and Hospitality and it is now known as the Faculty of Marine Studies. The faculty was successfully led by Anna. She was also the Manager of Dive Operations at Sea Explorers Pvt. Ltd.