Growing up watching ocean documentaries, Rachel developed a deep fascination with the sea’s diversity and mystery. In middle school, she learned more about the ocean and discovered that the largest animal in the world is the blue whale, which is truly enormous. She often imagined swimming alongside them one day, witnessing their grandeur up close and feeling overwhelmed by their presence.
After graduating from university, a diving experience in Thailand solidified her love for scuba diving and sparked her determination to explore the uncharted and mysterious underwater world. It was her very first dive. She recalls, “After the dive, I told myself that I absolutely had to return to Hong Kong and get my diving license. So, with my first paycheck from my first job, I immediately used it to pay for my diving certification.”
Meeting a Great Teacher Inspires Continuous Improvement
On her diving journey, Rachel was fortunate to meet a wonderful diving instructor who became a role model in her pursuit of her dreams. With his encouragement, she discovered her passion for sharing her diving experiences, which inspired her to consider becoming a Divemaster. She mentioned, “He gave me many opportunities to follow him, observe his teaching methods, and even share some diving tips with my fellow divers. As a result, I realized how much I enjoy sharing this activity with others. So, I set some goals, the first of which was to obtain my Dive Master certification.” Soon after, she and her partner, who is also a diving instructor, founded DivefamHK to share their diving experiences and pass on their passion to others.
The Challenge of Time Management
Rachel works as a social worker and has recently become a new mom in her 20s, as well as a prospective diving instructor candidate. Time management has become her biggest challenge. She said, “The original two- to three-month instructor development course was extended to four months due to the pandemic.” The diving instructor development courses in Hong Kong typically last two to three months and are designed for office workers who can attend evening classes during the week and go out for training on weekends.
As her exam approached, she even rented a hotel room to focus on her studies, making the difficult decision to temporarily leave her daughter to concentrate on her preparation. Despite the challenges, Rachel recalls this experience as both fulfilling and rewarding. One of the challenges of becoming a scuba diving instructor is that “in addition to practical diving skills, we need to learn a lot of theoretical knowledge. We must master how to assess students, understand their needs, and even manage the role of an instructor. Additionally, there are more scientific topics to cover since diving involves issues related to water pressure, which leads to many theories in chemistry, biology, and physics. Therefore, this aspect of learning is also very important.”
The Changing Proportion of Women in Scuba Diving
Scuba diving originally emerged for military purposes and was predominantly male-dominated. However, over the past decade, the status of women in this field has gradually risen, with many bravely challenging themselves, embracing their sun-kissed skin and athletic physiques. Today, the presence of women in the diving community is increasingly common. Rachel points out that many of her students are women, including those who come to classes alone and even full-time mothers.
She shares her views on women learning to dive and even becoming diving instructors: “Many people think of scuba diving as an activity that involves exposure to the elements, hard labor, and heavy equipment, which can lead to getting tan, so they believe it’s not suitable for women. But I think as society continues to break down traditional images of women, there is more space for women to push their boundaries. Just like any girl can lift tanks and have a sun-kissed complexion—being fair and delicate doesn’t automatically equal beauty.”
By day, Rachel is dedicated to her full-time job, and in the evenings, she spends time with her daughter. Once her daughter falls asleep, she finally has her “me time.” Despite her limited schedule, she always finds ways to make the most of small pockets of time to learn and improve her diving knowledge. She emphasizes the importance of setting aside time for oneself to explore new skills or activities, which helps recharge and not lose sight of one’s life ambitions.
Becoming a diving instructor has brought her immense happiness: “My office every day is the ocean, and that sense of freedom makes me incredibly happy.” She is able to guide her students professionally, helping them gradually explore the underwater world. Although the costs associated with diving can be high, she firmly believes that it is all worthwhile.
Women Can Confidently Master Diving Equipment
Rachel recalls her first experience wearing a full set of diving gear for shore diving, remembering the heavy feeling vividly. However, as she gained more experience, she gradually adapted to the weight. Boat diving is even more convenient; you simply gear up on the boat and leap off the back. Diving requires a certain level of physical fitness, and Rachel recommends pairing it with regular exercise to enhance one’s strength. This not only makes it easier to carry equipment but also helps prevent injuries, making the diving experience more enjoyable.
Protecting the Ocean Will Ultimately Reward Us
Rachel founded DivefamHK to raise awareness among Hong Kong residents about the rich marine resources in the area, reminding everyone that this concrete jungle is also a coastal city. Through diving, she hopes to inspire more people to love and protect our oceans. She believes that by caring for the sea, it will ultimately reward us with its endless beauty and wonders.
Recently, Rachel has developed a special fondness for porcupinefish. This spiny pufferfish has an adorable, smiling expression when it’s not inflated. While diving off the coast of the Philippines, she had a delightful encounter with a porcupinefish that not only showed no fear of humans but also swam alongside her for a while. Rachel joked that this magical encounter felt like playing with an ocean pet, making it an unforgettable and fun experience.
She sees diving as a gateway to another world. In addition to loving Hong Kong, we need to recognize the rich underwater resources it has to offer. She wants to let more people know that the waters of Hong Kong are not polluted but rather clear, and she encourages everyone to cherish and protect our oceans. She believes that once you experience the ocean, it will give back to you.
Hong Kong’s biodiversity accounts for about 26% of China’s total. While Hong Kong may be just a small dot on the map of China, its underwater ecosystem is incredibly diverse. Thus, the underwater ecology of Hong Kong is truly beautiful.
Source : @divefamhk、@raccc.w