International Women's Day ... in rebreather
- Nadeige Lenczner
- Mar 8
- 5 min read
March 8 is International Women's Day, and we want to highlight some of our female divers ... in rebreathers. And yes, you can be a diver and a rebreather diver. It's not reserved for men. We present to you 3 experiences through the eyes of 3 women.
Nathalie Boumendil
TRITON diver and recently on the NEPTUN, who loves to travel.
Why did you switch to the TRITON rebreather?
At the time, I was diving with a heavy back-mounted machine, but it was the most common on the market. Switching to 100% rebreather? A puzzle at that time. I love diving to discover new places, explore, and go on adventures. Not easy with a 30 kg machine.
And then, I saw more and more people, starting with two of my instructors, with this front-mounted rebreather we called a Triton. 7 kg in travel mode. 12 kg ready to dive. Don't die stupidly, so I'm trying. Doubtful at first. And there. Revelation. This is MY machine. It is pleasant to breathe, easy to maneuver, and sturdy enough to accompany me in depth. It is lightweight enough to travel with me.
What do you like about the TRITON rebreather?
The Triton is mechanical. And I love it. I remain in control of the machine; I have to stay vigilant... It forces me to develop the right reflexes and to truly understand the machine.
2022: I buy my first rebreather. I dive with a mechanical machine, but I no longer dive mechanically! And the more I understand my Triton, the more I love it.
And the more I understand my Triton, the more I love it.
A message to convey?
Ah! I have a special message for the girls!
Diving with a rebreather isn't just a guy thing. No. False belief. You can have a sequined swimsuit and dive with a rebreather. You can have a collection of 192 pairs of stilettos (oops!) and dive in a rebreather. One can love pink, enjoy shopping, practice classical dance, and still dive using a rebreather.
So if you ever come across a Marcel who tells you, "Forget it, young lady, it's not for you," run away and contact me.
In this field, I have only had amazing instructors, passionate and far from the clichés, fortunately often false, of the arrogant and macho tech diver. Zero trace of misogyny.
For that, and for sharing their expertise with me, I thank each of them. I express my sincere gratitude from the depths of my heart.
Agnieszka Bloch,
TRITON diver and training supervisor at FL-Team under the IANTD training agency.
You were a rebreather diver, why did you switch to the TRITON rebreather?
I started diving CCR in 2012.
Back then, I was using the most popular unit of that time. The “classic” choice. Solid, electronic, widely respected "suitcase" on my back. It was the standard. And it was good for that time.
Years passed… And then I saw Triton. And honestly? It was love at first sight. Small. Light. Finally—my size. 😉
For the first time, I didn’t feel like I was wearing equipment designed for someone who is going to walk on the Moon. 😉 It felt compact, close to the body, balanced. And yet it offers exactly the same possibilities as the big machines. Don’t let the size fool you 😉.
What do you like about the TRITON rebreather?
What I really fell in love with was the mechanical philosophy. No hidden background corrections. No quiet electronics “taking care of things.” You are aware of your gas. You monitor your loop. You stay engaged. And I like that. It makes you sharp, present, and it builds real awareness instead of easily addictive comfort.
It is possible to dive Triton with any kind of BCD. But my absolute favorite way is with a sidemount one. There is something about that configuration that just works. It feels streamlined, elegant, technical, and light. No bulk. No unnecessary weight. It feels serious, comfortable, and powerful—without being oversized.
Then comes the practical part—and girls, this matters…
Assembly, disassembly, testing—a few clicks and it is done.
Cleaning—easy.
Storage—uncomplicated.
And travel? Cabin luggage. I haven’t flown with it yet—but knowing I CAN take it with me in the cabin instead of trusting airport baggage handling? That’s a different level of peace of mind.
How deep do you use the TRITON?
And then, at the end of last year, came the crowning moment. Full trimix course. 100 meters. On Triton.
That was the confirmation that small does not mean limited. Mechanical does not mean basic. Compact does not mean less capable.
Sometimes the smallest machines carry the biggest experiences .
Lara Munoz
Woman of the world, TRITON diver, and head of the IANTD Middle East training agency.
What do you like about the TRITON recycler?
What I love most about the Triton is, without a doubt, its size and the ease—and safety—of assembly. It is so well designed that it’s almost impossible to put it together incorrectly; the parts simply won’t fit if they’re not in the right position. For me, that means real peace of mind even before getting into the water. It is also much quicker and simpler to assemble than other units I’ve tried. It’s not just about convenience—it's about efficiency and clarity in every step. The size and weight are minimal for a rebreather, and that makes a huge difference.
Underwater, how do you experience your dives with the TRITON?
Underwater, it is extremely hydrodynamic. You barely feel any difference in freedom of movement compared to diving open circuit. You almost forget you are wearing it. And precisely because it is so light, there is another safety aspect that I really value: it would be almost impossible to enter the water with an empty canister because the weight difference would be immediately noticeable. From my point of view, that adds an extra layer of passive safety to the system.
As a worldly woman, what does TRITON bring you?
Out of the water, as a woman—and being honest, without extraordinary physical strength—it is the only unit I have tried so far that does not strain my back when I have to move or transport it by myself. That autonomy changes the whole experience. Not depending on anyone to manage your own equipment feels empowering. And when it comes to traveling, which is a fundamental part of my life, it is simply perfect. I always carry it as hand luggage, like a backpack. I never have issues at security checks, and, most importantly, I know the unit travels with me and does not suffer any damage. It is practical, compact, and truly designed for a life on the move. I often compare it to the evolution from desktop computers to laptops. For me, the Triton represents exactly that: the intelligent, lightweight, and adaptable evolution of technology that used to be much bulkier. It is freedom in a compact form.
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