Women Divers Hall of Fame Scholarships and Grants

The article, “Upper Keys Celebrates Women’s Dive Day,” published during the summer, highlighted women in the scuba community, and it’s time for another major annual occurrence for women who are or want to be part of this exciting world.

The Women Divers Hall of Fame 2027 Scholarship and Training Grant Program applications are now open until November 30, 2026. Awards will be announced in February 2027 and made in March 2027. Training or projects must be completed by August 31, 2028, and all applications are made online through www.wdhof.org.

These scholarships and grants cover a range of opportunities. Nine categories of scholarships are offered this year in fields that include marine conservation, marine biology, underwater archaeology, sea turtle conservation, climate change adaptation and mitigation, oceans and human health, extreme environment human physiology, and journalism, graphic arts, photography and videography.

They are intended to support independent research, fieldwork and conservation or restoration activities, as specified in the individual scholarship descriptions.

Advanced Dive Training Grants, valued at $1,500 each unless otherwise specified, are also available to certified divers who wish to advance their skills through internationally recognized scuba diving programs.

Applicants must be certified at the open-water diver level or above by an internationally recognized dive certification agency. Training must culminate in certification from a recognized diver-training agency.

The organization also offers specialized opportunities, including the Amelia Behrens-Furniss Memorial Hardhat or Commercial Dive Training Grant. This $1,500 award is available to certified women divers seeking further training in hardhat or commercial diving. Applicants should be enrolled in or attending a commercial dive school.

Established in 2002, the scholarship and grant program has awarded more than $1 million to almost 800 individuals.

As a way of background, the Women Divers Hall of Fame was founded in 1999 with a two-fold mission: to recognize women divers who have made outstanding contributions to the exploration, understanding, safety and enjoyment of the underwater world, and to support diving careers through scholarships, grants, internships, mentoring and industry connections.

Its inaugural roster in 2000 included 72 honorees whose achievements represented a wide range of diving professions and interests.

Over the years, the organization has continued recognizing women in marine science, underwater archaeology, medicine, exploration, conservation, photography, diving education, commercial diving and numerous other fields.

Among local women inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame are Dr. Sally Bauer, president and co-founder of the History of Diving Museum in Islamorada; Autumn Blum, founder of Stream2Sea and its line of reef-safe products; and Christy Pattengill-Semmens, Ph.D., of Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) in Key Largo.

The scholarships and training grants can provide the first step toward a new career or create opportunities for someone already working as a scuba professional to advance or expand their qualifications.

To learn more about the scholarships, grants and accomplished members of the Women Divers Hall of Fame, visit www.wdhof.org or email info@wdhof.org.