Shark cage diving has long been thought of as a “man’s sport” yet over the last decade on America’s Shark Boat women have started to take over and are now showing the shark world exactly how it’s done. Shark diving women in particular are not only showing us all what an amazing place our underwater world is, but are making a difference to our oceans and the sharks that live it in. Who said shark divers had to be men?

Women Shark Divers at Guadalupe Island

At Guadalupe Island America’s Shark Boat created a cage diving operation that caters to men and women. Shark cage diving is a sport that is often thought to be dangerous or appealing just to men, but we have seen an influx of women within the last decade at Guadalupe. Women love to shark dive. If you’re a man or a woman confronting our fears, exploring new adventures and stepping out of our comfort zone is liberating and, when face to face with a great white shark, almost addictive. And further, women have created all-women dive clubs to encourage others to join in the sport, forming friendships and communities along the way.

Women in Shark Diving 

One of our favorite female shark divers is Julia Hartl in Hawaii. Certified and experienced PADI instructor and dive master, and certified OneOceanDiving professional shark safety diver and researcher, Julia also studied marine vertebrates and conservation biology before working seasonally as the veteran boat crew and research assistant aboard RV Searcher in the northwestern Hawaiian islands. Her intent is to inspire appreciation for sharks by connecting citizen and scientists to understand that their niche on our planet is essential to the health of the ocean and that sharks do not see people as a prey item or listen to the Jaws soundtrack for fun.

New for 2018 Women Lead Shark Adventures

We have two expedition dates that are women only cage diving adventures this year. Lead by woman shark conservation and diving leaders these trips will be precedent setting, informative and powerful. Women are smashing down the doors to participate in action sports like shark cage diving. They are challenging the masculine tradition and creating new opportunities in the shark diving space. While shark diving may seem like a different beast from traditional action sports, America’s Shark Boat welcomes inroads made in all male dominated sport arenas, change is happening to shark diving and we welcome it!.

Let’s go shark diving!