When we started Salt Aotearoa six years ago, one of the biggest reasons was to create somewhere wāhine could dive without having to worry about the people they were diving with.
Not just feeling safe in the water, but feeling safe with their instructors, on boats, and in the spaces around them.
When Salt first started, my inbox was flooded with stories from wāhine across NZ and overseas. Stories of inappropriate behaviour, coercion and situations where women felt unsafe.
So I spoke about it.
And far out, did that go down badly.
What shocked me most was that some of the strongest criticism came from other women in our own NZ freediving and spearfishing community.
Apparently, I was making our sport look bad.
To be honest, it rattled me. We never stopped doing what we set out to do, but I definitely got quieter about why we were doing it.
Fast-forward six years, and here we are. Women around the world sharing experiences that sound painfully familiar.
I love this industry. Some of the most incredible people I’ve met have been through diving. But loving something doesn’t mean pretending the ugly parts don’t exist.
And I think we need to ask some harder questions. Who are we trusting to teach people? Can students say no without pressure? What happens when someone raises a concern? Are we willing to challenge someone who’s respected in the industry?
being an incredible diver doesn’t automatically make you an incredible human.
I’m proud of what we’ve built with Salt and alongside Arataki Dive. We’re not perfect, but we’re committed to being intentional about who we work with, the expectations we set, and how we respond when something isn’t right.
To the wāhine speaking up, thank you. And to those who aren’t ready, that’s okay too. 🤍
I just hope that this time, instead of worrying about how these conversations make our sport look, we worry a little more about why they’re happening in the first place 🌊
15 days agoteigr1
Women’s bodies women’s choices. I use a pool where women’s water polo team train (men’s also). The women have team swimsuit, seems to come in full bottom or thong. I see when they are standing around and I’m walking from changing room most seem to have gone thong. I’d prefer they didn’t and had covered bottom, that’s my hang up not theirs. Athletics, beach volley ball, swimming, should be a women’s group picking kit.
18 days agole_au_matau
Wow this ia. A good read, we dive in NZ the best diving and ive never heard of this happening, thats probz because we are taught from our Parents at a young age to gather dive to provide, now we can share that with others or next generations. Its sad that this happens diving is a beautiful thing to do, brings peace joy and healing most times, but prayers for all those who have experienced this, if you dive with us you only get a good time, laughs, music and a massive feed for everyone and all friends and family. Sometimes when we dont get a good dive the conversations are great and laughs. But sending love to everyone who has been disrespected espesh our women and sisters. Bless from our crew.
21 days agohoward_benns
I think we can all agree there’s nothing sexy about a man in speedos, but yes, it’s foolish for men AND women to create and post intentional videos like that.
More posts
