Women Who Tech Dive Joanna Wyrebek -

Joanna Wyrebek

Women beyond diving limits

Name
Joanna Wyrebek

Country of origin
Poland

Where you live
UK

Dive club / dive center
Diving Explorers

Highest diving certifications
X-CCR Advanced Mixed Gas Diver

How was your first dive?

My first dive happened in Egypt, Red Sea. I have completed my OWD in the UK, Wraysbury. It was definitely challenging in terms of the visibility and temperature, but I instantly fell in love with the UK waters 😊

What made you transition from sport diving to technical diving?

I’ve been and still am a member of a diving club, Diving Explorers. Most of the divers from that community were already doing some advanced dives. Therefore, the transition to the tec diving has come naturally.

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

I love wrecks and mines! Most common question I get asked is why mines? Mine diving combines wreck and overhead diving in one. You get to explore the history, and for me this is the main drive in diving.

What do you consider when looking for technical diving training?

I prioritize a reliable diving agency that has a strong reputation for safety and excellence in instruction. Equally important is the instructor—someone who is highly experienced, knowledgeable and ideally tough, but fair. A demanding instructor pushes you to improve, ensuring that you develop the confidence and skills necessary for technical diving. The quality of the training directly impacts your ability to handle complex dives, so it’s crucial to make a well-informed choice.

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

Beyond the technical skills taught in formal training courses, non-technical skills are equally important. Situational awareness, teamwork, problem-solving, and mental resilience all play a crucial role in becoming a competent technical diver. Courses like the Human Factors in Diving program can be incredibly useful in developing these skills, as they help divers understand decision-making processes, risk assessment and how to communicate effectively under pressure. Technical diving isn’t just about gear and procedures—it’s about having the right mindset to handle challenging situations underwater.

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

I’ve been raised in a heavily technical, male dominated club. As one of a few female tec divers I’ve not always been a first-choice buddy to go diving with. However, I wouldn’t change it as that made me who I am. I definitely have had to work a few times harder than other male divers to prove that I can be a good, reliable and fun buddy. That made who I am today and I appreciate every single moment of my journey. I have also learned so much from my experienced buddies.

If there’s one message I could pass to women considering technical diving, I’d say : “GO FOR IT! There’ so much to explore, there’s so much to see. I do hope your journey will be tough; it should be! The reward afterwards is indescribable!

Have you faced any really difficult moments while technical diving? How did you overcome them?

Yes, of course. There will always be difficult and challenging dives. Whenever I face some unexpected circumstances throughout a dive, the first I do is very simple. Calming my mind down, controlling my breathe and sometimes even talking to myself (the loop helps😊) that I got this!

What are your next goals in technical diving?

Looking ahead, I want to focus more on cold-water, overhead diving. There is something incredibly rewarding about exploring underwater environments in more extreme conditions, where preparation and skill are absolutely essential. Additionally, I would love to have more encounters with big sea creatures. The ocean is full of incredible life, and technical diving offers unique opportunities to witness marine animals in their natural habitat. Every dive is a new adventure, and I can’t wait to see what’s next on my journey.

Do you have a dive buddy you trust completely?

I do get to dive with quite few dive buddies and I trust people I dive with to a degree. As a technical diver you’re kind of on your own. Absolutely, your parent or even a team is there to help but there’s only so much they can do. You train hard, practise your skills whenever possible to be the most sufficient and efficient when a problem occurs.