Women Who Tech Dive Dora Farkas -

Dora Farkas

Women beyond diving limits

Name
Dora Farkas

Country of origin
Hungary

Where you live
Malta

Dive club / dive center
Technical Diving Training

Highest diving certifications
TDI SDI Instructor Trainer, rEvo MOD2 instructor, Advanced Trimix instructor

How was your first dive?

On my first dive, I felt it was kind of fun, not super exciting (Moved from whitewater kayaking, diving had way less adrenalin involved). However, on my second dive, I thought maybe I should be the one in the front! And it was then that I decided to become an instructor.

What made you transition from sport diving to technical diving?

Working on Koh Tao (Thailand), teaching open water courses endlessly when one of my colleagues announced that he will start a technical diving course. I signed up, just to do something different. And I fell in love.

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

In Malta we have lots of wrecks between 30-100 (m)+ so they are my main playgrounds, but I love to visit Mexico for cave diving. I clocked more hours on my rebreather than on open circuit last year, but I still love both configurations. Right now playing with different rebreathers, just did xCCR and Sidewinder crossovers, but I will stick to my beloved rEvo.

What do you consider when looking for technical diving training?

Mainly the instructor. If I don’t feel “the vibe” I will not take the course, rather wait for the opportunity.

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

Humility, being open minded and humble. Nobody knows it all, and there are different ways to do things.

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

Being accepted in the community. This fortunately is no longer a real issue, I achieved enough not to be questioned.

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

There are many challenges, like the weight of the equipment, and unfortunately many places female divers are judged more harshly (this has changed a lot already since I started diving, which is awesome!). Furthermore, manufacturers still don’t consider female sizes (for example, I had hard time finding well-fitting, heavy rubber fins for my students with tiny foot sizes). This is also slowly changing, that’s probably why we see more women get into tech diving. Plus, seeing all girl techies around social media and dive sites probably helps too!

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

Go for it! Choose your instructor carefully, and it will be really fun!

What has been your most memorable dive so far?

This is not an easy question. Maybe one can be my first “real” deep technical dive to the HMS Stubborn in Malta. I had to borrow equipment, sort out all the logistics, but then going down in the blue and see the wreck appearing… I still get similar thrills every time.

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

Over the years I’ve had a few. Overworking against the current in depth, resulting in a CO2 hit and narcosis, getting tangled in a cave, student with buoyancy issues, etc. The most important: stay calm and keep breathing!

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

I have so many places on my bucket list! Obviously, the big guns like Truk lagoon and Galapagos and Bikini atoll. The Caves in Sulawesi are another. But to be honest, any new place or even places I have been already. Anything involving diving.

What are your next goals in technical diving?

Just reached CCR Mixed Gas instructor level. The next one may be instructor trainer for rEvo? I just want to have fun diving as much as I can.

Do you have a dive buddy you trust completely?

Yes, I am lucky. My boyfriend and partner in crime is also a technical diver, and up for all my ideas for visiting places.

What qualities do you look for in a great technical dive buddy?

To be a partner, not a liability in the water. When I teach, obviously I have high responsibility. When I dive for fun, I just want to enjoy, not to worry about the other person.