On March 29, six new members joined the 197 who have already been inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame, which recognizes women divers who’ve made outstanding contributions to exploration and enjoyment of the underwater world. Women Divers Hall of Fame promotes opportunities for women — and men — in diving through scholarships, internships and mentorships.

Barbara Allen

Volunteer, California Surf Museum

A lifeguard in high school and college, Barbara Allen completed a four-month diving course in Los Angeles in 1957, then worked for a local dive shop. “I figured they wanted me there to encourage the girlfriends and wives of the guys learning how to dive,” Allen said. “I think I gave those women confidence.”

In the early 1960s, Allen moved to San Diego, where she worked at the Diving Locker and became involved with the San Diego Underwater Photographic Society. Then, she said, she “got lucky” and was offered a job at the Westinghouse Ocean Research Lab, working in its underwater photo lab.

On joining the hall of fame, Allen said: “It’s quite an honor and I’m looking forward to it. Water people are some of the best people in the world.”

Kristine Barsky

Marine biologist, California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Kristine Barsky visited the ocean often as a child in northern California. While studying to be a marine biologist in 1972, she received a scuba course as a birthday present from her mother.

“I think water is an equalizer,” Barsky said, now a senior marine biologist in charge of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife lobster fishery management plan. “Women do well in the ocean. If you’re a competent diver, people don’t look at whether you’re male or female. In the water, in black suits and fins, you can’t tell men and women apart anyway.”

The hall of fame provides an important forum, she said. “Even though I haven’t noticed prejudice, women are not a majority in the diving world and have to try harder to be equal.”

Emma Hickerson

Research Coordinator, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Growing up in Sydney, Australia, Emma Hickerson always felt drawn to the ocean but first put her head underwater as an undergraduate at Texas A&M University, where she trained as a diver in 1990.

In 1997, Hickerson became research coordinator for the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, where she has supervised more than 5,000 research dives.

“I’ve been given a lot of opportunities to do a lot of different things with scuba diving,” Hickerson said. “It has been challenging juggling family life and being away from my daughter for extended periods of time. On the other hand, I think she thinks it is cool that her mum does these things.” Hickerson is “humbled” by the honor of joining the hall of fame. “The level of experience and talent there is quite mind-boggling.”

Jayne Jenkins

Photographer/consultant, Catlin Seaview Survey

Jayne Jenkins grew up on beaches in the United Kingdom, listening to her sailor father’s tales of the Galapagos Islands and other far-off places.

“When I first tried to learn to dive in 1970, it was challenging being a female trying to enter a male world. But when I moved to Australia in 1973, at age 19, they encouraged women,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins worked as a safety diver and researcher for underwater film and photographic expeditions, and mentored others through the Our World Underwater Scholarship Society. Her current work involves recording the world’s oceans in high-resolution, 360-degree panoramic vision.

“Being inducted into the hall of fame is quite unbelievable to me,” Jenkins said. “I admire the work it does for up-and-coming youth. It is also an honor to be the third Australian member.”

Deidre Sullivan

Director, Marine Advanced Technology Education Center

Deidre Sullivan got certified in college and traveled around the world, teaching scuba in the early 1980s. “I could find a job instantly, as places realized a woman instructor could encourage more women to take scuba lessons,” Sullivan said.

As director of the world’s largest diving program for teenagers on Catalina Island, she aimed for a staff of at least one-third women in order to provide role models.

Today, she researches emerging needs for marine technologies in the workforce and works with universities to help them meet those needs. She also continues to work hard to make men and women aware of the opportunities and encourage all to participate.

“There are a lot of very accomplished women in the hall of fame,” Sullivan said, “and I’m honored to be one of them.”

Tamara Thomsen

Maritime archeologist, Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin has more individual shipwrecks listed on the national historic register than any other state, and Tamara Thomsen nominated 34 of those 52 sites.

Originally from Maryland, Thomsen came to Wisconsin for college and took diving for course credit. After receiving a masters in genetics, she assisted a geologist sampling biofilm in flooded mines, did volunteer work at the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, and participated in research on submerged Mayan sites in Mexico.

“I spend so much time with my nose to the grindstone, but sometimes I sit up and say, ‘This is pretty cool,’” Thomsen said. “It takes a lot of work and a lot of luck to continue working underwater in a job I love. I feel very fortunate to be recognized by the hall of fame.”

To learn more about the WDHOF, visit wdhof.org