Women make up 30 percent of certificated scuba divers in Turkey, board member says

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

Of around 200,000 certificated scuba divers in Turkey, only 30 percent are women, Turkish Underwater Sports Federation Scuba Diving Board Member Engin Kondul has said. 

Kondul said it is mostly university students and working women above the age of 30 who are able to engage actively in scuba diving.

“Even if a woman is interested in diving sports, if her husband does not like it she often chooses to stay away from it. Among others, if a woman likes diving and takes part in it she often cannot devote time to it because of her husband,” she added.

“There is research showing that many women often only take part in sports they like once they separate from their spouses,” Kondul said.

“If the man likes diving sports but their spouse does not like it then this is also sometimes a problem. When a spouse is out scuba diving, their partner has to sit all day in the boat. Only when both sides like the sport does a problem not arise,” he added.