The Story of Ryleigh Broughton
- The Milestone: 100+ dives completed by age 14.
- The Mission: Breaking age and gender stereotypes in Melbourne’s cold waters.
- The Goal: Future Navy Clearance Diver and ocean conservation advocate.
- Favorite Find: Nudibranchs!
Ryleigh Broughton
Ryleigh Broughton from Melbourne, Australia, was a natural water baby, having loved everything to do with the water from an early age. A trip to the Great Barrier Reef sparked her interest in diving, where she watched divers equipping and made the decision to learn to dive herself, a decision she made at just nine years old. She didn’t give up on this dream, working hard to earn her Open Water certification at the age of 11 in the cold waters of Melbourne, while facing lockdowns and challenging sea conditions. She completed this certification with Diveline and quickly became their youngest diver to reach 100 dives at the age of 14.
Ryleigh is currently a Rescue Diver, aiming to get her Master Scuba Diver certification soon. She does lots of cold-water diving and is helping to break age and gender stereotypes within the industry. She says that early on, when she was just 11 and carrying all her own gear, people on the local piers would look surprised that a young, small female was going scuba diving! She loves the feeling of being underwater and is grateful to have learned to dive while she was young because she believes youth are more likely to take risks and learn new things.
From Tank Decals to the Australian Navy: A Self-Sufficient Future
Ryleigh’s parents are incredibly supportive of her diving, though they don’t dive themselves. She was gifted scuba gear for Christmas, along with a Cricut machine to make decals for her tanks. She is a very self-sufficient diver and pays for the sport by selling these decals at Diveline, thanks to owner Paul being a huge believer in youth diving!
She has big aspirations to join the Navy as an officer and be a Navy Clearance Diver. She is well on her way to this goal, having become an incredible youth diver and a member of the Australian Navy Cadets. Ryleigh even does public speaking about ocean conservation and spoke on a panel at the AMSA conference this year! Ryleigh is a diver to watch for our next generation, as she is already doing incredible work within the dive industry. When she’s not advocating for youth diving, she’s busy blowing bubbles and looking for nudibranches, her favourite underwater animal!
Written by Holly Wakely, PADI Course Director and co-owner of Blue Horizon Diving, offering group-led dive travel all over the world. www.bluehorizondiving.co.uk
FAQs
Who is Ryleigh Broughton in the scuba diving community?
Ryleigh Broughton is a prominent youth diver from Melbourne, Australia. She achieved her Open Water certification at 11 and became the youngest diver at Diveline to reach 100 dives by the age of 14. She is currently a Rescue Diver and an advocate for ocean conservation.
At what age can a child start scuba diving?
Most major diving organizations, such as PADI, allow children to start the Junior Open Water Diver course at age 10. Ryleigh Broughton began her journey at age 9 by deciding to learn and completed her certification at age 11.
What are the challenges of cold-water diving for youth?
Cold-water diving, common in locations like Melbourne, requires additional gear (like thicker wetsuits or drysuits) and involves managing more weight. Ryleigh has helped break stereotypes by proving that young, female divers can safely manage these conditions and equipment.
What is a Navy Clearance Diver?
A Navy Clearance Diver is a specialist role within the military focused on underwater repairs, mine counter-measures, and maritime security. Ryleigh Broughton aims to pursue this career after her time with the Australian Navy Cadets.
How can young divers get involved in ocean conservation?
Young divers can contribute by participating in “Dive Against Debris” events, speaking at conferences (like Ryleigh did at the AMSA conference), and educating their peers about marine life like nudibranches and coral health.
This article was originally published in Scuba Diver Magazine
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