Survey Results: Sexual Harassment in the Dive Industry
Recent reports of dive professionals involved in sexual harassment following an incident in Mexico sparked a conversation on sexual harassment and motivated the local dive community to look deeper into policy, ethics, and codes of conduct. It also resulted in a petition for more concrete measures: a Call for Immediate Action from Scuba Agencies on Sexual Misconduct, Harassment & Abuse.
To gain a deeper understanding of the current situation regarding sexual harassment in the scuba diving industry, we conducted a global survey of scuba divers and dive professionals.
It’s certainly a hot topic because participation was fairly high, with 1066 divers taking the time to fill in the questionnaire in June & July 2025.
And it’s been a hot topic for quite some time, as we can see in a 2015 article by Jill Heinerth, Sexism: Alive and Well in Scuba Diving.
We hope the survey results presented below will help dive industry stakeholders make better informed decisions and work together to protect the members of our community from sexual harassment, making scuba diving a safer sport for all.
This dive industry study was a joint effort between Michael Menduno (InDEPTH Magazine), Tamara Adame (Cenote Girl), and Darcy Kieran (Business of Diving Institute).
Keep an eye out for an in-depth discussion on the results presented below to be penned by Tamara Adame and published in InDEPTH Magazine.
We thank the following scuba diving industry leaders for their direct support of our dive surveys initiative: Shearwater, DAN Europe, and GUE.
This post is part of our Dive Industry Compass series by the Business of Diving Institute and Darcy Kieran, author of:
Table of Contents
Terminology
This survey was about sexual harassment targeting adult men and women in the dive industry. In subsequent surveys, we may address other groups.
In the context of this survey, sexual harassment was defined as any unwanted sexual behaviour that makes someone feel upset, scared, offended, or humiliated, or is meant to make them feel that way, including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature. Both the victim and the harasser could be either a woman or a man, and the victim did not have to be of the opposite sex.
We requested feedback from all divers, not just dive professionals, and not just those who had been harassed.
In this report, ‘dive professionals‘ refer to divemasters and scuba diving instructors, while ‘scuba divers’ refer to non-dive professionals.
However, ‘tech divers’ and ‘recreational divers’ include both divers and dive professionals. In this case, we aim to compare technical diving with recreational diving.
Analysis
First, we’ll look at scuba divers and dive professionals who reported having been sexually harassed themselves at least once while participating in scuba diving activities.
Then, we’ll examine sexual harassment events observed by scuba divers and dive professionals.
YOU Were Sexually-Harassed
The following results are from respondents who reported having been sexually harassed at least once.
Sexual harassment appears to be coming mainly from male dive professionals, targeting both scuba divers and other dive professionals.
Who sexually harassed you?
(select all that apply)
What was the gender of the person sexually harassing you?
(select all that apply)
But wait a minute! Who are the people who reported having been harassed at least once in the dive industry? Well, let’s look at that.
Have you ever been sexually harassed in the dive industry?
Percentage of respondents in the following segments who answered ‘yes’:
- Overall 35%
- Dive Professionals 42% vs Scuba Divers 27%
- Tech Divers 33% vs. Recreational Divers 37%
- Women 47% vs. Men 7%
It’s no surprise that women in the dive industry are more likely to be sexually harassed than men. It’s the same in society.
However, it is interesting to note that women dive professionals are even more likely to be sexually harassed than women scuba divers.
Note of caution: we should not apply the percentage of scuba divers and dive professionals who reported having been harassed to the whole dive industry, because people who had been sexually harassed were more likely to participate in the survey.
Sexually-Harassed Divers by Geographic Region
In the comments at the end of the survey, we noted people suggesting different levels of sexual harassment by region. For instance, some participants suggested that it is less frequent in the USA, while others suggested it is more frequent in the USA. Other comments applied to other regions.
So, let’s see the percentage of respondents who declared having been sexually harassed, by geographic region.
- Overall: 35%
- Africa &Madagascar: 69%
- Middle East (excluding Egypt): 64%
- Egypt: 57%
- Eastern Europe (including Russia): 47%
- Mexico, Central America, Caribbean & Tropical Atlantic: 45%
- South Pacific, Indo-Pacific & Other Tropical Asia-Pacific Region (incl. Maldives): 44%
- Australia & New Zealand: 37%
- Canada: 37%
- Western Europe: 35%
- Japan & Other Non-Tropical Asia-Pacific Region: 33%
- United States (including AK & HI): 29%
- South America: 21%
- China, Hong Kong & Macau: [sample too small]
Sexually-Harassed Divers by Age Group
While we’re at it, let’s see the percentage of respondents who declared having been sexually harassed, by age group.
- Overall: 35%
- 1946–1954 (Boomers I): 6%
- 1955–1964 (Boomers II/Generation Jones): 11%
- 1965–1980 (Generation X): 29%
- 1981–1996 (Millennials): 47%
- 1997–2012 (Generation Z): 55%
The younger you are, the more likely you are to have declared having been sexually harassed.
How many times were you sexually harassed in the dive industry?
The average number of times respondents in the following segments reported having been sexually harassed:
- Overall 23
- Dive Professionals 39 vs. Scuba Divers 19
- Tech Divers 35 vs. Recreational Divers 11
- Women 26 vs. Men 5
Did you confront the person(s) sexually harassing you to request that they stop?
There are no significant differences between dive professionals and scuba divers. However, men are more likely to confront the person sexually harassing them.
Did you report one or more instances of your sexual harassment to the authorities?
Percentage of respondents in the following segments who answered ‘yes’:
- Overall 9%
- Dive Professionals 11% vs Scuba Divers 7%
- Tech Divers 8% vs. Recreational Divers 10%
- Women 9% vs. Men 9%
Although there are slight variations between segments, for the most part, sexual harassment events are rarely reported.
To whom did you report some of your sexual harassment?
(select all that apply)
This question was answered by those who indicated they had reported at least one instance when they had been sexually harassed.
Satisfaction with the Dive Training Agency
“IF” you reported it to a dive training agency, did the dive training agency respond in a satisfactory way (taking a responsible approach and action to investigate and act) when you reported having been sexually harassed?
Dive training agencies often have a policy of not disclosing the results of their investigations and decisions to those who have filed complaints.
We have now completed the analysis of survey results from those who have reported having been sexually harassed at least once in the scuba diving industry.
We will now look at the results regarding the witnessing of a woman being sexually harassed in the dive industry. Afterwards, we will look at the witnessing of men being harassed.
Witnessed a WOMAN Being Sexually Harassed in the Dive Industry
Have you ever witnessed sexual harassment of women in the dive industry?
Percentage of respondents in the following segments who answered ‘yes’:
- Overall 40%
- Dive Professionals 52% vs Scuba Divers 25%
- Tech Divers 44% vs. Recreational Divers 36%
- Women 42% vs. Men 34%
Women and dive professionals are more likely to have noticed sexual harassment of women in the dive industry.
The following results are from respondents who reported having noticed at least one instance of a woman being sexually harassed in the scuba diving industry.
How many times did you witness sexual harassment of women in the dive industry?
The average number of times respondents in the following segments reported having seen women being sexually harassed:
- Overall 39
- Dive Professionals 53 vs. Scuba Divers 6
- Tech Divers 62 vs. Recreational Divers 18
- Women 47 vs. Men 16
Women, dive professionals, and tech divers are more likely to have noticed sexual harassment of women in the scuba diving industry.
Who were the women you witnessed being sexually harassed?
(select all that apply)
In every group, people more regularly noticed scuba divers (non-dive professionals) being harassed, except for men, who more regularly noticed dive professionals being sexually harassed.
Who was doing the sexual harassment of women?
(select all that apply)
When people witness sexual harassment in the scuba diving industry, it is much more frequently a dive professional who is the harasser.
What was the gender of the person doing the sexual harassment of women?
(select all that apply)
I suppose there is no surprise here. The harasser is usually a man.
Otherwise, men, dive professionals, and tech divers have more regularly than other groups noticed a woman as the harasser.
Of all the times you have seen women sexually harassed, did you confront the person(s) harassing her (or them) to request that they stop?
Did you report some of the cases of sexual harassment of women that you witnessed?
Percentage of respondents in the following segments who answered ‘yes’:
- Overall 26%
- Dive Professionals 29% vs Scuba Divers 19%
- Tech Divers 27% vs. Recreational Divers 25%
- Women 27% vs. Men 26%
To whom did you report some or all of the sexual harassment of women you witnessed?
(select all that apply)
This question was answered by survey participants who indicated they had reported at least one instance when they witnessed a woman being sexually harassed in the scuba diving industry.
Satisfaction with the Dive Training Agency
“IF” you reported it to a dive training agency, did the dive training agency respond in a satisfactory way (taking a responsible approach and action to investigate and act) when you reported sexual harassment of women?
We have now completed the analysis of survey results from those who have reported having witnessed at least one instance of sexual harassment of a woman in the scuba diving industry.
We will now look at the results regarding the witnessing of a man being sexually harassed in the dive industry.
Witnessed a MAN Being Sexually Harassed in the Dive Industry
Have you ever witnessed sexual harassment of men in the dive industry?
Percentage of respondents in the following segments who answered ‘yes’:
- Overall 10%
- Dive Professionals 16% vs Scuba Divers 3%
- Tech Divers 15% vs. Recreational Divers 5%
- Women 7% vs. Men 16%
Four times more people (40% of respondents) witnessed women being sexually harassed in the scuba diving industry, as presented earlier in this report, than people witnessing men being harassed (10%).
The following results are from respondents who reported having noticed at least one instance of a man being sexually harassed in the scuba diving industry.
How many times did you witness sexual harassment of men in the dive industry?
The average number of times respondents in the following segments reported having seen men being sexually harassed:
- Overall 5
- Dive Professionals 6 vs. Scuba Divers 2
- Tech Divers 6 vs. Recreational Divers 4
- Women 6 vs. Men 4
People witnessed women being sexually harassed in the scuba diving industry almost 8 times more (39), as presented earlier in this report, than the number of times they witnessed a man being harassed (5).
Who were the men you witnessed being sexually harassed?
(select all that apply)
Who was doing the sexual harassment of men?
(select all that apply)
While it was mostly dive professionals who were seen harassing women, in the case of men, it appears to be more frequently scuba divers (non-dive professionals).
What was the gender of the person doing the sexual harassment of men?
(select all that apply)
While it was almost exclusively men sexually harassing women, in the case of men, both genders were reported as harassers, even though women were more frequently than men identified as harassers of men.
Of all the times you have seen men sexually harassed, did you confront the person(s) harassing her (or them) to request that they stop?
Did you report some of the cases of sexual harassment of men that you witnessed?
Percentage of respondents in the following segments who answered ‘yes’:
- Overall 19%
- Dive Professionals 19% vs Scuba Divers 18%
- Tech Divers 20% vs. Recreational Divers 17%
- Women 19% vs. Men 18%
To whom did you report some or all of the sexual harassment of men you witnessed?
(select all that apply)
This question was answered by survey participants who indicated they had reported at least one instance when they witnessed a man being sexually harassed in the scuba diving industry.
Satisfaction with the Dive Training Agency
“IF” you reported it to a dive training agency, did the dive training agency respond in a satisfactory way (taking a responsible approach and action to investigate and act) when you reported sexual harassment of men?
We have now completed the analysis of survey results from those who have reported having witnessed at least one instance of sexual harassment of a man in the scuba diving industry.
Policies, Standards & Codes of Conduct
Does your dive training agency have policies, standards, or codes of conduct related to sexual harassment?
This question was asked of people who identified as dive professionals.
- Yes: 54%
- No: 10%
- I don’t know: 36%
Does the dive business you work for have policies, standards, or codes of conduct related to sexual harassment?
This question was asked of dive professionals who indicated that they worked for a dive business.
- Yes: 52%
- No: 20%
- I don’t know: 28%
Comments by Survey Respondents
Survey participants were asked to “please share any additional thoughts you have on sexual harassment or assault in the dive industry: the current situation, the causes, and the solutions.”
Comments by Women — Dive Professionals
Additional thoughts by female dive professionals are available here (PDF). 96 comments.
Comments by Women — Scuba Divers
Additional thoughts by female scuba divers (non-dive professionals) are available here (PDF). 72 comments.
Comments by Men — Dive Professionals
Additional thoughts by male dive professionals are available here (PDF). 40 comments.
Comments by Men — Scuba Divers
Additional thoughts by male scuba divers (non-dive professionals) are available here (PDF). 15 comments.
Who Participated in This Survey on Sexual Harassment in the Scuba Diving Industry?
Dive professionals: 54% of respondents were dive professionals.
Employed: 32% of dive professionals indicated that they work for a dive business.
Tech diving: 41% of survey respondents were tech divers.
Gender: Sixty-nine percent of survey respondents were women, and 31% were men.
Age group (year of birth):
- 1946–1954 (Boomers I): 2%
- 1955–1964 (Boomers II/Generation Jones): 12%
- 1965–1980 (Generation X): 38%
- 1981–1996 (Millennials): 39%
- 1997–2012 (Generation Z): 9%
Country of residence:
- USA (including Alaska & Hawaii): 36%
- Western Europe: 30%
- Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, Tropical Atlantic: 10%
- Australia & New Zealand: 6%
- South Pacific, Indo-Pacific, Other Tropical Asia-Pacific Region (incl. Maldives): 5%
- Canada: 5%
- Other locations: 8%
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