Sri Vijaya Puram: North Bay is gearing up to welcome an all-women wave of scuba diving enthusiasts this weekend as the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, through its Department of Tourism, prepares to celebrate Women’s Dive Day on July 19. The event is being organised in collaboration with multiple local dive centres under the theme #DivingDivas, marking a focused effort to boost female participation in adventure tourism while advocating for marine conservation.
The event will be held at North Bay, in association with the North Bay Dive Club, Yogi Divers, Andaman Sea Wonders, and Dive Oceano. These dive centres will offer exclusive scuba diving experiences at special discounted rates for women, aiming to make the sport more accessible and inclusive. The initiative forms part of a broader government push to empower women in non-traditional fields and highlight their growing role in the Islands’ evolving tourism ecosystem.
Beyond the thrill of diving, the event will also serve an environmental mission. Underwater clean-up drives are scheduled at North Bay as well as at Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep. Dive teams across these sites will participate in removing underwater litter and debris from key reef zones, aligning the celebration with the principles of responsible tourism and marine biodiversity protection.
Recognising women’s contributions to the diving community is also on the agenda. During the North Bay event, the Tourism Department will felicitate pioneering women divers and instructors, as well as partnering dive centres that have supported gender-inclusive diving over the years. This symbolic gesture is expected to inspire a new generation of women divers and encourage mentorship within the local adventure tourism network.
The main event on July 19 will run from 10 am to 1 pm at North Bay. Leading the dive sessions will be a team of certified female instructors, including Sayali Ranadive (Main Dive Instructor), Gayatri (Assistant Dive Instructor) from Barefoot Scuba, and Sharmila (Additional Dive Instructor). These instructors will guide both novice and experienced divers through scheduled sessions while ensuring that safety, learning, and comfort are prioritised throughout.
Organisers have made logistical arrangements to ensure a smooth experience tailored for women participants. Dive equipment transportation, changing facilities, site setups, and other requirements will be fully managed by the partnering dive associations. The Department of Tourism has also set up a pre-registration process for interested participants through its Adventure Water Sports Cell, located at the Directorate of IP&T.
For registration or queries, divers may contact Krishna Kumar (Assistant Manager, IP&T) at 9434290132 or Alvelu Manga (Assistant Manager, AWSC) at 9474223966. Further assistance is available from Rabia Mustafa (Manager, IP&T) at 9933255364. All scuba diving enthusiasts, especially women, have been encouraged to join what promises to be a blend of sport, stewardship, and celebration.
This year’s Women’s Dive Day carries added relevance as global tourism continues to reshape itself around themes of sustainability, inclusivity, and local empowerment. By spotlighting women’s achievements in scuba diving, a domain often seen as male-dominated, the A&N Administration is not only promoting adventure tourism but also rewriting the narrative of who gets to explore beneath the surface.
As North Bay prepares for the event, anticipation is building within diving circles and beyond. For many first-time participants, it won’t just be a dive into the sea, it may well be a dive into newfound confidence, camaraderie, and cause.
