Diving woman

Strolling between the stands of diving equipment exhibitors at the Baltictech 2010 conference, my attention was drawn to the stand with books on diving, and in particular to Dorota Łeweć’s guide “Diving Woman”. As a woman and recent diver, I was very curious to read this book.

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The author, in an incredibly light and pleasant way for the reader, touches on the important and a little overlooked subject of gender difference, psychological and physiological conditions of divers. For me, this position enters the sphere of a kind of taboo and touches on many important and seemingly trivial topics. From equipment not adjusted to the physiology of women (it is difficult not to mention the typical male appearance and configuration, although manufacturers have already started to notice the needs of women in this area, dear ladies, there is light at the end of the tunnel!), the physical problems associated with carrying heavy equipment, through the serious problems, such as discrimination against women and negation of their skills, especially at higher levels of training. The author thus puts the proverbial ‘stick in the anthill’ in the domestic diving world. Dorota herself is a CMAS P3 qualified diver and objectively and factually describes the problems and adversities she had to face, proving what she is capable of. She writes about herself that she is a typical woman, likes comfort, clean sanitation, does not like to carry loads, does not pretend that she is the same as the male divers, knows her strengths and weaknesses .

The author reminds us that not so long ago, diving was a typically male sport, and there are still very few female instructors. For me, an interesting addition was the presentation of several female divers, at a time when the sport was generally seen as a typically male area of physical activity. Dorota points out that diving is also for women aged 40+ and there are no contraindications to start this wonderful adventure at any age, which we often do not know or forget about, putting up seemingly insurmountable barriers. Does it really have to be that way? As an example I mention Leni Riefenstahl, who in the 1970s lied about her age (she was born in 1902!) in order to obtain a diving licence and start her adventure with underwater photography. To want is to be able to say, Leni died at the age of 101, actively living to the end of her days.

In her book, Ms Dorota makes the bold claim of creating dive bases run by women and for women. Are they really needed? Each of us must answer this question for ourselves. I know that I am waiting impatiently for the website www.nurkowaniekobiet.pl to be launched, because any form of motivating women to live an active life will meet with my support.

I recommend “A DIVING WOMAN” not only to women. Gentlemen, it is really worth reading this book, which I appreciate for its sense of humour and openness, and according to the idea that “women are from Venus, and men from Mars” look with a kinder eye on a fellow diver/diver/diving partner (and again, diver is a masculine gender), who again has a problem with transferring the cylinder.