The Women Divers Hall of Fame is known for celebrating women who have shaped the underwater world. But its 2027 scholarship and training-grant programme carries an important message: many opportunities are open to women, men and non-binary applicants alike.

If you are planning to learn to dive, develop your skills or pursue marine research, the application window is now open. Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time (11:00 pm Central European Time).

Founded in 1999, the Women Divers Hall of Fame (WDHOF) recognises women whose work has advanced diving in science and medicine, commercial and military diving, arts and media, exploration, education, safety and conservation.

Its work goes beyond recognition. WDHOF also supports the next generation of divers, researchers and ocean advocates through mentorship and funding. Since 2002, it has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships and grants. For 2027, the programme includes 19 scholarships and training grants, worth more than $100,000 in total.

For the diving community, this matters because funding can remove a practical barrier: the cost of initial certification, advanced education, fieldwork or graduate research. It can also offer a route into a network of people working across marine science, conservation, exploration and dive education.

Several awards explicitly welcome women, men and non-binary applicants. Eligibility differs by opportunity, and applicants can submit one application per cycle.

Plus up to 20 additional basic or advanced dive training grants, open to all, funded by donations to WDHOF.

Some awards remain reserved for women, including commercial and hardhat diving, underwater archaeology, sea-turtle conservation and graduate marine conservation. But the list of gender-inclusive opportunities is substantial.

The best starting point is the online eligibility questionnaire, which matches applicants with the awards they qualify for.

• Applications open: 1 October 2026
• Deadline: 30 November 2026, 5:00 pm Eastern Time / 11:00 pm Central European Time
• Award announcements: Mid-February 2027
• Funds disbursed: March 2027
• Recommendations: Two letters are required, and late letters are not accepted
• Application limit: One scholarship or one training grant per cycle
• Use of funds: Awards must be used by 31 August 2028 and cannot cover costs incurred before March 2027

Ask referees early and give them a clear briefing, including your proposed project or training plan and the deadline. Recommenders have a mysterious talent for vanishing in late November.

Everything happens online, beginning with an eligibility questionnaire that matches your profile with the awards for which you qualify:

1. On or after October 1, head to the WDHOF grants portal.
2. Register and complete the eligibility questionnaire.
3. Review your matches, select the opportunity that best fits your plans and submit your application.

Maybe you have been thinking about learning to dive for years. Maybe you are ready for more advanced training, or you have a research idea that deserves the chance to become a real project. Wherever you are starting from, don’t assume this opportunity isn’t for you. The name on the door says “Women”, but the welcome mat is out for divers of every kind.