Women in Navy Diving -

50 Years of Women in Navy Diving

Hear their stories at DEMA 2025 at their Roundtable Discussion, November 11^th at 2:00-2:50pm

By Bobbie Scholley, Captain(retired), US Navy

On March 14, 1975, Donna Tobias, a 22-year-old from Southern California, graduated from the US Navy Second Class Dive School, becoming the first woman deep-sea diver in the Navy. This milestone occurred in the broader context of legislative and institutional changes following Congress’s passage of the Equal Rights Amendment in 1972 and initiatives under Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Chief of Naval Operations, from 1970 to 1974. Admiral Zumwalt’s Z-grams facilitated significant policy shifts within the Navy, creating new opportunities and marking the beginning of a decades-long transition that led to the eventual lifting of combat exclusion laws. These reforms enabled women to qualify for any military role and specifically opened doors for women to pursue careers as Navy divers.

Initially, only a small number of women entered the diving program after Tobias, and for several years, their assignments were limited to shore-based commands. In 1978, policy changes allowed women to serve aboard auxiliary vessels, enabling female divers to work at sea on repair and salvage ships such as the USS Safeguard (ARS 50), which was designed to accommodate mixed-gender crews. Although women remained underrepresented in the program, achieving an at-sea assignment became a primary goal and career advantage for female divers. Women quickly demonstrated their competence alongside their male peers.

Since 1975, women have participated in every Navy diving community except Naval Special Warfare (NSW). Female service members have served as diving and salvage officers, enlisted fleet divers, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians, Undersea Medical Officers, Diving Medical Technicians, Civil Engineer Corps Diving Officers, Underwater Construction Team Divers, and Engineering Duty Officer Divers. They have held leadership positions from Master Diver to Commanding Officer, and across ranks from Seaman and Ensign to Master Chief and Admiral. In 2016, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter opened all combat roles to women, including NSW specialties, although no woman has yet completed NSW training; however, it’s just a matter of time before this changes.

Screening and graduation requirements for Navy diving communities are rigorous and based on mission needs, without distinction between male and female candidates. Women who earn these qualifications do so by meeting the same demanding standards as their male counterparts, often overcoming additional challenges such as ill-fitting equipment, particularly in earlier years.

Despite making up less than 2% of all Navy divers—including slightly over 2% when excluding Naval Special Warfare—historical evidence indicates that women perform at least as well as men in these roles, if not better. The individuals mentioned here represent just a small fraction of more than 300 women who have graduated from Navy dive schools since 1975, including trailblazers like Kati Garner, who completed Scuba School in 1973. Their achievements have paved the way for future generations, reflecting dedication, perseverance, and commitment to advancing opportunities for women in naval service.

Join us in Orlando, Florida at DEMA 2025 on Tuesday, November 11 from 2:00-2:50pm for an amazing opportunity to hear from a roundtable of trailblazing veteran women Navy divers as they share their personal journeys beneath the surface. From the challenges they faced breaking barriers, to the triumphs of service and exploration, you’ll get a candid look at both the good and the bad of life in one of the most demanding professions in the world. Their stories will inspire, educate, and honor the legacy of women who paved the way in Military diving. Save your seat at this amazing roundtable presentation by visiting the SDI DEMA website or by clicking here.