PADI Women’s Dive Day Bali

Posted on July 17, 2026July 19, 2026 by Annabel Thomas

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PADI Women's Dive Day: Celebrating Women in Diving

What Is PADI Women's Dive Day?

Every July, divers around the world celebrate PADI Women’s Dive Day, a special event that encourages more women to explore the underwater world through scuba diving. It is not only a day to celebrate women in diving, but also an opportunity to inspire more people to experience scuba diving for the first time. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced diver, everyone is welcome to join the celebration and enjoy the ocean together.

Since its launch by PADI in 2015, PADI Women’s Dive Day has grown into a global celebration, with thousands of divers taking part every year. Dive Centres around the world organise fun dives, Discover Scuba Diving experiences, specialty courses and other activities that bring the diving community together.

More Women Are Exploring the Ocean

Over the years, more women have become part of the diving community. Today, women work as Divemasters, Instructors, underwater photographers, marine biologists and ocean conservationists. They continue to inspire others by sharing their passion for the ocean and encouraging more people to discover the underwater world.

PADI Women’s Dive Day is also a wonderful opportunity to meet new dive buddies, build confidence underwater and create unforgettable memories. It is not about how many dives you have completed or what certification you hold. Instead, it is about enjoying the experience, supporting one another and sharing a love for the ocean.

Celebrate Women's Dive Day in Bali

Bali is a wonderful place to celebrate PADI Women’s Dive Day. With dive sites suitable for every level of experience, beautiful coral reefs and diverse marine life, there is always something exciting to discover beneath the surface. Whether you enjoy a relaxed dive in Tulamben, explore the colourful reefs of Padangbai or experience the incredible marine life around Nusa Penida, every dive offers something unique.

At AquaMarine Diving – Bali, we welcome divers of all experience levels to celebrate PADI Women’s Dive Day together. Most importantly, the day reminds us that diving is for everyone. It is an opportunity to celebrate the growing community of women in diving, encourage more people to explore the ocean and create unforgettable memories underwater. Sometimes, all it takes is one dive to discover a lifelong passion for the ocean.

PADI Discover Scuba Diving

By Annisa, AMD-B’s 2026 Divemaster Internship

Walking Shark

Posted on July 10, 2026July 12, 2026 by Annabel Thomas

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Walking Shark: Pioneers of Coral Reefs

Walking shark, also known as epaulette sharks (from the genus Hemiscyllium), are a group of small, reef-dwelling sharks with the remarkable ability to “walk” using their pectoral and pelvic fins. Growing to around 1 metre (3.3 feet) in length, they are relatively small and pose no threat to humans. Their common name comes from the distinctive oval-shaped markings behind their pectoral fins, which resemble military epaulettes.

Although they are capable swimmers, walking sharks are most often seen moving across the seabed. They use their fins to “walk” over coral rubble, through narrow reef crevices and across shallow tidal pools. This unusual form of movement allows them to hunt in places that many other predators cannot reach, including intertidal areas and waters with very low oxygen levels.

How do they walk?

Walking sharks use their paired fins like limbs, moving them alternately in a way that resembles the gait of a land animal. This is more than an unusual behaviour; it is an important adaptation that helps them survive. During low tide, they can move across exposed reef flats and shallow pools to search for food or return to deeper water.

Their movement may be slow, but it is highly effective. Walking allows them to explore every corner of the reef, reaching prey hidden among corals and rocks. Their diet includes crustaceans, worms and small fish that shelter in tight spaces. Staying close to the reef also helps them avoid larger predators that patrol open water.

Pioneers of coral reef survival

Walking sharks are remarkable examples of resilience and adaptation. They can tolerate warm tidal pools and water with very low oxygen levels, making them well suited to some of the reef’s most challenging environments. Scientists believe these adaptations could provide valuable insights into how marine species respond to changing climates and habitats.

They are also among the youngest known shark groups in evolutionary terms. Research suggests that walking sharks began diverging from their closest relatives around 9 million years ago, making them an important example of relatively recent evolution and speciation.

Conservation and future research

Despite their resilience, walking sharks are still vulnerable to the threats affecting coral reefs worldwide. Habitat loss, pollution and climate change all place pressure on the reefs they depend on. Protecting healthy coral reef ecosystems is essential not only for walking sharks but also for the countless marine species that share their habitat.

Researchers continue to study walking shark to better understand their biology, behaviour and ecological role. Their unique adaptations may provide valuable clues about how marine life can cope with environmental change, highlighting the importance of conserving these extraordinary reef inhabitants.

By Alfari, AMD-B’s 2025 Divemaster Intern

Safety Stops and Surface Intervals

Posted on July 3, 2026July 3, 2026 by Annabel Thomas

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Safety Stops and Surface Intervals: Why They Matter for Every Diver

Scuba diving allows us to explore an incredible underwater world, but every dive also comes with physiological changes that our bodies need time to adapt to. Two of the simplest yet most important diving practices, safety stops and surface intervals, help reduce stress on your body and contribute to safer diving.

Whether you’re a newly certified diver or someone with hundreds of logged dives, understanding why these practices matter will make you a smarter and safer diver.

What Is a Safety Stop

A safety stop is a voluntary stop made near the end of a dive, typically at 5 metres (15 feet) for 3 minutes, before surfacing. Although recreational dives that stay within no-decompression limits don’t require mandatory decompression stops, a safety stop provides extra time for your body to eliminate excess dissolved nitrogen. Think of it as giving your body a little extra margin of safety before returning to the surface.

Why Does a Safety Stop Matter

During a dive, increased pressure causes your body to absorb nitrogen from the breathing gas. As you ascend, that nitrogen needs to leave your body gradually. A safety stop helps by:
– Allowing more nitrogen to be released slowly.
– Reducing the stress of ascending directly to the surface.
– Encouraging better buoyancy control.
– Giving divers a chance to check their surroundings before surfacing near boats or in rough surface conditions.

While it’s not a guarantee against decompression sickness (DCS), making a safety stop is a simple habit that adds an extra layer of safety to every dive.

What Is a Surface Interval

A surface interval is the time you spend out of the water between dives. During this period, your body continues releasing the nitrogen absorbed during the previous dive. The longer the interval, the more nitrogen your body eliminates before the next dive. Your dive computer continuously tracks this process and uses it to calculate your no-decompression limits for subsequent dives.

Why Are Surface Intervals Important

Many divers enjoy completing two or even three dives in a day. Without enough recovery time between dives, residual nitrogen accumulates, reducing the amount of bottom time available on later dives. Proper surface intervals help to:
– Lower residual nitrogen levels.
– Increase safety for repetitive dives.
– Reduce fatigue between dives.
– Allow time to rehydrate, enjoy a light snack and prepare your equipment.

Remember, diving isn’t a race. A relaxed break between dives often makes the next dive more enjoyable.

Great divers aren’t defined by how deep they go or how long they stay underwater—they’re recognised by the safe habits they practise on every dive. A 3-minute safety stop and a proper surface interval may seem like small parts of the dive, but they play a significant role in helping your body recover and preparing you for your next underwater adventure.

Experience safe diving from your very first dive with PADI Discover Scuba Diving.

PADI Discover Scuba Diving

By Nanda, AMD-B’s 2026 Divemaster Internship