Women Who Tech Dive Sarah Heil-Brenny -

Sarah Heil-Brenny

Women beyond diving limits

Name
Sarah Heil-Brenny

Country of origin
Korea

Where you live
Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Dive club / dive center
Blue Life

Highest diving certifications
Full Cave

How was your first dive?

My first time underwater was in a pool during my open water course. I was filled with anxiety, laughs and fear. My instructor was so patient and very calm even when I had a near panic attack taking my first breath with a regulator underwater.

What made you transition from sport diving to technical diving?

A year into recreational diving, I became fascinated and a bit obsessive about cenotes here in Playa. I would dive them two to three times a week and I couldn’t get enough of these fresh-water sinkholes. The instructors at my local dive shop suggested I should look into becoming cave certified so I could see more of these cenotes. I asked a lot of divers about what I needed to do before I made that change. I dived those cenotes and perfected the frog kick. I then began the slow process of becoming a technical diver.

What type of technical diving do you enjoy the most, and what draws you to it?

Cave diving is my preferred environment currently. The darkness, geology, level of skills and level of concentration on each dive is what draws me to these caves. The idea of swimming in caves that few people will ever have access to makes this type of diving unique. I often tell people it is like swimming through thousands, if not millions, of years old museums. Sometimes words cannot describe the beauty of these caves.

What do you consider when looking for technical diving training?

The first thing I look for is an instructor that teaches in the way I learn best. I talk with the instructor on how they run a course to make sure it’s a good fit to how I learn best. I ask others for recommendations and listen to the good and not so good reviews from other divers about the instructor and then the dive shop.

Besides formal training, what other skills do you think are essential for technical diving?

Other skills I have found helpful is the idea of constantly willing to learn, evolve and practice. I appreciate talking with other tec divers to hear about their views, skills and ideas. I have learned so much by having those conversations online, in person or in diving groups. I acknowledge there are many viewpoints about tec diving and not all of them are right for me and that is ok. I have learned to evolve the way I do certain skills so they are functional for the way I dive. I have learned how to manage skills differently with various instructors and then adapted those skills in a way that makes sense to me. Keeping in mind safety and protocols, of course. Lastly, I practice skills over and over and consider each dive as a lesson. This has allowed me to become efficient underwater but also a safer diver.

What challenges have you faced as a woman in technical diving?

The biggest struggle is just finding more women to cave dive with. I’m always so excited when I get to dive with other women because there is a sense of connection that I don’t get with my male counterparts. Honestly, I love seeing more women get into tec diving.

Why do you think technical diving is still a male-dominated sport?

In cave diving especially, I think it is because the perception of this type of diving as dangerous. I would even guess it has to do with the financial aspects of this sport as this type of diving is expensive in gear and trainings.

What message or advice would you give to other women considering technical diving?

I would tell them “You are a strong woman and you deserve the challenge and sense of success that comes with doing hard things.”

What has been your most memorable dive so far?

My favorite dive and cave has always been Palomita. This cave is tight, silty and has restrictions that make you think before you go through them. I had to work up to this cave because it is considered an advanced cave dive. When I first dived it successfully, I was proud of how far I have come from a panicked diver to a cave diver. When I think about this cave, I often remark on how this cave teaches lessons everytime I dive it.

What places in the world would you love to dive in, and why?

I hope to dive Bikini Atoll for the challenge and beauty of those shipwrecks. This coming year, I hope to challenge myself and dive in different environments, with different groups of divers and learning new skills.

What are your next goals in technical diving?

I hope to become cave DPV certified in the next year.

Do you have a dive buddy you trust completely?

I have several dive buddies in my life. Hugo is not only my cave instructor, dive buddy but a friend. Oscar and I have been diving together for a year and I appreciate we share the same SAC rate, style of diving. These two have seen my progress in tec diving. They know how to support but challenge me as needed. I trust them underwater because their character above water is undeniable.