We are listening
We are listening
Over the past weeks, women across freediving, scuba diving and ocean travel have spoken publicly about harassment and assault. Many of the accounts describe people in positions of power: instructors, expedition leaders, business owners — people who held someone’s training, work or safety in their hands.
We believe them. And we are grateful for the courage it takes to speak, often at real personal and professional cost.
This is not new
Those of us who work in diving have heard versions of these stories for years. A 2025 industry survey by the Business of Diving Institute, InDEPTH and Cenote Girl found that nearly half of the women who responded had experienced sexual harassment in the dive industry — and that fewer than one in ten of those harassed reported it to the authorities. What has changed is that people are no longer staying quiet.
We have written before about making diving a place where everyone belongs [link to earlier inclusion posts]. Inclusion means little if people are not safe.
Diving runs on trust
Few activities ask for as much trust as diving. Students trust instructors with their breathing. Guests trust guides in open water, far from shore. Young professionals trust the people offering them their first job, their next certification, a place on the boat. When that trust is abused, it harms the person involved — and it damages the whole community.
Education is needed
Codes and statements are not enough on their own. Real change needs education.
Every instructor, divemaster, guide, trip leader and operator should understand power dynamics, consent and professional boundaries — including during skills, equipment checks, shared accommodation and the social life around diving. And everyone in a position of responsibility should know how to respond when someone speaks up: listen first, take it seriously, protect the person reporting, and escalate properly.
Today, that knowledge is too often missing, or left to chance. It should be part of how dive professionals are trained, just like dive safety.
Starting with ourselves
We are building the digital infrastructure for the diving industry. We take that responsibility seriously, and we want to be clear about what we are doing, not just what we believe:
- Our own Code of Conduct. We have published a Code of Conduct that applies to everyone who works with or represents Millibar.io in the office, online, at events, on dive trips and during field work.
- A way to speak up. Concerns about anyone connected to Millibar.io can be sent to abuse@millibar.io. Reports are handled confidentially, with no retaliation for reporting in good faith.
- Listening to the community. We want to hear from divers and dive professionals — especially women — about what would actually help. Our inbox is open.
We will share more when we have something concrete to show, and not before. To everyone who has spoken: we hear you. To everyone who hasn’t yet: we are listening.
If you need support
If you have experienced or witnessed harm, you can report it to the training agency or brand involved.
• Find local support — NO MORE Global Directory
https://nomoredirectory.org/
• Share your experiences — Women in Ocean Science survey on harassment in wildlife and eco-tourism
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/wos-ecotour
• Girls That Scuba — community experiences and ways to address sexual harassment in diving
https://www.girlsthatscuba.com/scuba-sexual-harassment/
The Millibar.io Team
