Every July, the diving world pauses to celebrate the women who have made the ocean their own. This year, Nova Maldives marks Women's Dive Day with a three-day programme from 17 to 19 July 2026, brought to life by Zoona Naseem, the first Maldivian woman to qualify as a PADI Course Director, alongside Jenna Lehocki, the resort's resident marine biologist.
Despite making up nearly 40% of divers worldwide, women still account for just 20% of PADI Pros, a gap that a 2025 peer-reviewed study attributes in part to the male-centric portrayal of the sport, with constraints that foster stigma and self-doubt that continue to create barriers for women at every level – a pattern that Nova is determined to help change.
True to Nova's belief that the ocean belongs to everyone, the weekend will draw together resort guests and a group of participants from the neighbouring Dhangethi community for a shared journey into the water. Guests and participants can embark on guided Discover Scuba dives and open water exploration led by Zoona, and an intimate fireside discussion joined by Jenna, where tales of the reef flow freely as the currents of the sea.
"Growing up in the Maldives, the ocean was always there, but a seat at the table was not. I hope that every woman who enters the water this July leaves knowing that it was always hers to claim," said Zoona.
"There is something about the ocean that has always belonged to women. Its depth, its quiet power, its ability to hold everything at once. Women's Dive Day is a celebration of every woman who has ever felt called to the water," said Abdulla Aboobakur, General Manager of Nova Maldives.
Nestled on a natural island within the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA), the largest marine biodiversity reserve in the region, Nova has 35 dive sites on its doorstep, with whale sharks and manta rays a quiet, year-round presence in the waters beyond its shore.
Join Nova Maldives for Women's Dive Day from £301/night in a villa on Full Board Plus basis. Visit nova-maldives.com to find out more.
