Mariyam Firusha

Born and raised in Maldives, the water country, Mariyam is a freediver and the first and only female Scuba Diving instructor from her island…so far. She discovered her passion for diving after a PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience, but it was a female instructor in her Open Water Diver course who inspired her to pursue a diving career. Within 6 months she left her 5-year role working in a company Call Center and became a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. She says, “What I love most is to introduce people into diving. That first experience is going to decide whether an ocean loving scuba diver is born or not. My first scuba diving experience changed my life, and I want to do that for the others as well. Country like Maldives which is surrounded by the ocean, sadly very little percentage of women are working in diving career. I want to share my story and be someone who inspire Maldivian women to pursue diving as a career. The ocean is magical. It’s our job to protect it.“

• PADI Elite Instructor 50 in 2021
• PADI Elite Instructor 100 in 2022
• PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
• Featured on local Television Program Mivaguthu-Career Change
• PADI Specialty Instructor
• PADI Open Water Diver to OWSI (0 to hero)