At Women that Scuba, we’ve been speaking about sexual harassment in diving for a very long time. A current survey affirmed that that is nonetheless an enormous problem. We care deeply concerning the security and wellbeing of all divers, and sexual misconduct is one thing that extra of us should be speaking about.
We all know that sexual harassment in diving shouldn’t be taken significantly sufficient. However what occurs if you happen to truly expertise it? The place do you go to report sexual harassment in scuba diving? The reply isn’t all the time clear.
Because the world’s largest scuba diving group for ladies, experiences of harassment and assault are delivered to us frequently. Based mostly on the numerous experiences which have been bravely shared with us, listed below are our suggestions for the right way to report sexual harassment in diving.
Set off Warning: This information accommodates reference to sexual harassment and assault, which can be distressing or triggering for some readers. Please care for your self and skip this content material if that you must. Help assets are listed inside this put up.
1. Maintain your self first
For those who or somebody you realize has skilled sexual harassment, misconduct, or assault in diving:
- You aren’t alone.
- Your expertise issues.
- You should be heard and supported.
Step one to take after experiencing any kind of sexual harassment or assault is to care for your personal psychological well being. Navigating the reporting course of is usually a big psychological problem – chances are you’ll be discussing your expertise a number of instances, which may be extremely robust.
Listed here are just a few of the challenges chances are you’ll face in reporting:
- Dive companies might not be as receptive as you’ll hope. Be ready that some certification companies could prioritise their legal responsibility over your well-being.
- Cultural and authorized variations by nation can complicate responses. With diving being so worldwide – some diving at residence, many diving overseas – experiences with reporting can range massively.
This shouldn’t deter you from reporting, we simply imagine it’s vital to be aware of what chances are you’ll face when reporting. To arrange your self for these potential challenges, search assist from a trusted organisation or advocate earlier than submitting experiences. We have now included hyperlinks to international assets on the finish of this put up.
We’ve tried to incorporate as a lot info as attainable on this information, however not all recommendation can be related to each state of affairs as every state of affairs is exclusive.
2. Report back to authorities
In severe sexual assault state of affairs, native authorities needs to be your first level of contact. We imagine that survivors needs to be believed. Nevertheless, many dive companies could not take experiences of sexual assault significantly with out seeing proof that it has additionally been reported to an authority.
Native police
For those who’re in your house nation, native police ought to typically be useful. In some areas although, native police should not all the time receptive to points reported by, or about, non-locals. Some standard vacationer locations could have particular vacationer police, which may be extra receptive.
Embassies
If you’re overseas and native police or vacationer police are nonetheless not useful in accepting your report, you would additionally strive your private home nation’s embassy within the nation you might be in.
Different Authorities
Relying on the nation you had been in, there could also be different authorities which you’ll be able to report back to. For instance, if you happen to expertise an incident of sexual harassment on board a dive boat based mostly within the US, the US Coast Guard encourage experiences to be shared with them.
3. Report back to the dive company
Most main dive companies ought to have a reporting system to make sure that all of their programs are being performed safely and accurately. Reporting sexual harassment, misconduct, or assault often follows the identical route as reporting a coaching violation.
Right here’s the knowledge which is accessible concerning the reporting processes or contact particulars for a few of the main coaching companies:
PADI
Report back to PADI’s High quality Administration program. E mail your report back to [email protected]
SSI
SSI’s web site doesn’t element any reporting course of for his or her professionals. Following their Shopper Safety hyperlink solely means that you can search whether or not your dive skilled is “Energetic and Licensed”. We might counsel emailing your report back to the related SSI native Service Middle, for which contact particulars may be discovered right here.
SDI/TDI/ERDI/PFI
SDI/TDI’s Shopper Safety web page doesn’t element any reporting course of, however does share their listing of expelled and suspended professionals. We advocate emailing your report back to your native regional workplace, as listed on their web site.
BSAC
BSAC publishes rather more thorough particulars on their reporting techniques than most of the different companies. Their complete Grownup safeguarding coverage is revealed on-line in full, with priceless assets for divers to study from. All BSAC golf equipment ought to have a Membership Welfare Officer who you’ll be able to report back to inside your membership. Their Grownup safeguarding flowchart is their finest useful resource for figuring out the right plan of action. For experiences, their grownup safeguarding reporting kind may be submitted (both to the Welfare Officer or on to BSAC, relying on the result from following the flowchart).
NAUI
NAUI is one other of the extra clear companies sharing their processes, with a complete space on their web site devoted to Shopper Safety. Stories may be simply submitted by way of their easy on-line kind.
RAID
RAID doesn’t share any info on their reporting processes, however does share their expelled members. Their Regional Workplaces are listed with particular person contacts, so experiences needs to be directed there.
GUE
GUE’s method to High quality Administration is revealed of their requirements, that are obtainable to view on-line. Stories may be directed to [email protected].
Data to incorporate in a report
When sharing your expertise, you’ll need to embody the next particulars in your report back to the dive company:
- Dive teacher identify and dive store identify
- Date and placement of the incident
- Description of your expertise
- The way it made you are feeling
- Request to the company for particulars on their subsequent steps
Here’s a template which can be useful in forming your report.
Topic: High quality Assurance Concern Relating to Skilled Misconduct
Expensive [PADI/SDI/Other Training Agency] High quality Administration Staff,
I’m writing to formally report an incident involving [Instructor Name, Dive Center Name if known] that occurred on [Date, Location if applicable].
I skilled [briefly describe the behaviour — e.g., sexual harassment, inappropriate comments, unwanted physical contact] whereas taking part in a dive exercise organised or instructed by this particular person.
This behaviour made me [feelings such as, feel unsafe, disrespected, violated]. I imagine it breaches your Code of Ethics and undermines the professionalism of your instructors.
I’m requesting that this incident be formally reviewed and that you just advise me on the following steps for decision and assist.
Confidentiality and trauma-informed communication can be appreciated as you proceed.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Optional: Contact email or phone]
4. Proceed to hunt assist
Once you’re going by the method of reporting this expertise, which is more likely to have been traumatic to you, it’s vital that you just proceed to care for your self. Be sure to’re nonetheless searching for assist all through the method. This may appear like:
- Sharing your story with pals, household, and trusted individuals inside your dive group
- Remedy classes with a trauma-informed skilled who might help you’re employed by your feelings
- Getting assist from free assets, such because the helplines and assets listed under
The Women that Scuba Fb Group
Many ladies select to return to us and share their tales with the Women that Scuba group. We’re so grateful that we’ve created such a secure house that folks really feel that they’ll convey these tales to us, with the information that they are going to be supported and heard by their fellow members.
Nevertheless, we need to be clear about our Fb Group guidelines. We don’t approve posts that identify people, or posts which embody detailed accounts of sexual harassment or assault. That is not as a result of we don’t imagine survivors. It’s as a result of we’re a predominantly volunteer-run group and never knowledgeable, trauma-informed or authorized authority.
We have now a accountability to keep away from posts that might end in defamation claims or the retraumatisation of others. Ethically, we have now to guard each the security of our members and the integrity of the house. Sexual harassment or assault is an extremely severe problem that deserves to be dealt with by skilled professionals who’ve the assets, accountability constructions, and authorized authority to take acceptable motion.
We are going to proceed to welcome posts that are searching for solidarity, steering or group, however we’re not able to share detailed accounts. We all know this may really feel irritating and even like we’re ignoring the problem. However the reality is, we need to ensure that tales and experiences are dealt with by the correct individuals – these with the coaching, energy, and assets to behave.
That’s why we created this information. We hope that this can assist level individuals in the direction of skilled assist and official reporting channels, whether or not that’s by a dive coaching company, a survivor advocacy organisation, or a authorized route in your nation.
Non-diving assist assets
Here’s a listing of assets which can be useful in searching for assist after experiencing sexual harassment, misconduct, or assault. Please notice that none of those are dive-specific, however could also be useful in coping with the feelings that may come up after these experiences.
Worldwide Help
- WAVE Community – A complete listing of helplines and shelters throughout 46 nations.
- TST Assets – Useful resource library for navigating many feelings and experiences after sexual assault.
- Chayn – A worldwide nonprofit creating open-source assets for survivors, in a number of languages.
- Hollaback! – Worldwide volunteer-run motion to finish harassment in public areas and on-line. Affords assist, in addition to bystander coaching and self-advocacy guides.
United Kingdom
United States
Canada
Australia
- 1800RESPECT – Nationwide sexual assault, home and household violence service.
- Full Cease Australia – Affords trauma counseling and office schooling.
New Zealand
South Africa
India
- iCall – TISS – Free, confidential psychological well being and violence assist helpline.
- Sayfty – Volunteer initiative offering authorized steering and a web-based survivors’ toolkit.
Malaysia
What else can we do?
Even if you happen to haven’t skilled sexual harassment in diving, the truth that it occurs is plain. We have to hold speaking about it.
A current petition has referred to as for dive coaching companies to take rather more accountability and motion in defending divers from sexual hurt. We extremely encourage all divers to signal this petition for the safety of all divers and the general security of our trade.
