The Women Divers Hall of Fame has a two-part mission:
to recognize women divers who have made outstanding contributions to the exploration, understanding,safety and enjoyment of our underwater world; and
to support the underwater world and its associated careers by promoting opportunities in diving through grants, scholarships, internships, and mentoring as well as a worldwide network of industry contacts.
It is the second part of this mission of promoting opportunities in diving which qualified WDHOF to be recognized as a DEMA Diving Community Champion:
- Since 2002, WDHOF® has awarded over a half million dollars to 471 individuals through its scholarship and training grant program. In 2022, 46 scholarships and training grants were awarded in the amount of $69,750 to individuals who are passionate about our water planet.
- This year, WDHOF held Zoom Mentor Sessions with inspirational and accomplished WDHOF Members as panelists. These panels achieved a true global outreach, with over 75 Associates attending from as far as Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Australia, Turkey, and Papua New Guinea, as well as Canada and the United States. Topics included Marine Biology and Conservation, Tech Diving, Careers Behind (and in front of) the Lens, Careers in Diving Physiology and Dive Medicine, Preparing for Graduate School, and Careers in Aquatic Science, and Exploration.
- A special group of women veterans, working with the National Park Service, also participated in a mentor session with WDHOF panel members from the east coast, the west coast, and the Bahamas. Also, a WDHOF veteran dived with the group and mentored them throughout the week-long project.
- WDHOF holds fundraisers to support its scholarships and training grants, significantly through WDHOF dive trips, where members as well as the diving community can interact while supporting the scholarship and training grant program.
- WDHOF also raises awareness through a vibrant webpage (https://www.wdhof.org), a very active public Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/wdhof) and other social media platforms.
WDHOF has developed robust Core Values which the organization promotes via its publicity literature, website and other outlets:
Vision Statement:
- Establish WDHOF as the preeminent organization for recognizing the international accomplishments of women divers and empowering the next generation of ocean and waters systems advocates.
- Enrich the narrative of diving history, focusing on noteworthy contributions made by women divers since the inception of underwater diving.
- Encourage, enable, and actively support future generations of divers to explore, promote and protect our planet’s aquatic environment.
- Ensure we represent a diverse group of pioneers, innovators, and record holders who significantly contribute to our knowledge, skill, comprehension, safety and enjoyment of the underwater environment.
- Expand our outreach with scholarships and training grants to cultivate generations of diverse individuals who fervently enjoy and protect our planet’s water.
Ethics Statement:
All Members shall be women of good standing and of excellent moral and ethical standards as a condition of nomination, selection, and continued affiliation.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement:
WDHOF strives to cultivate an organization based on mutual respect,encouragement, mentorship, tolerance, and open-mindedness, thereby engenderinga welcoming environment for all.
Our bylaws have always stated that induction is open to accomplished women divers without regard to race, creed, color, age, religion, or sexual orientation.
WDHOF is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in terms of ideas and the people that form our organization. Our organization includes inducted Members as well as Associates and the people we support through our various programs.
There are currently 254 members in the Hall, hailing from 30 U.S. U.S. and Territories, and 22 countries worldwide.