The Women Behind the Depth: Meet the Team Powering Molchanovs

Seven women of Molchanovs share what draws them to the water, what empowers them below the surface, and the advice they carry for the next generation of divers. 

Editor Deena Lynch

Together in the water, where strength feels quiet and movement feels free, four women wear the Yanita Springsuit launched earlier this month on International Women’s Day. © Photo credit @ben.freediver.

For many freedivers, the water is more than a place; it is a feeling, a teacher, and a mirror.

While International Women’s Day is marked on March 8th, the stories and contributions of women extend far beyond a single day. This month, we celebrate the women of Molchanovs who shape our community, our culture, and our future. From leadership and operations to marketing, gear, and storytelling, each brings a unique perspective to what it means to move, work, and grow in the water.

Across different roles, backgrounds, and journeys, one thing remains constant: the water has a way of revealing who we are, and who we can become.

We asked seven women working at Molchanovs three simple questions.

Their answers remind us that freediving is not just about depth, but about connection to self, to others, and to the world beneath the surface.

Suspended between breath and blue, becoming part of the world around her. © Photo credit @ben.freediver.

Question 1: Why do you love being in the water?

There is a shared sense of stillness, healing, and presence that draws these women beneath the surface.

For Irina Veverka (General Manager), it’s the sensation of gliding, reaching neutral buoyancy and feeling “almost weightless, like gravity disappears and you dissolve into the environment.”

Amanda Tran (Head of Marketing) describes the water as a reset, something that “takes the weight of everything else and brings me back to the present.”

For Tiffanie Rios (Treasurer), it is the peace that comes with it: a space to slow down, relax, and fully arrive in the moment.

Anna Pavlikova (Gear Project Manager) speaks of harmony and those rare, magical moments when water no longer feels like resistance, but something you move with, “like a fish,” where thinking falls away and only sensation remains.

For Dorka Beke (HR Manager & Movement Communications Manager), the water is her “natural element,” a place without noise, fear, or distraction and where mind and body exist in complete unity.

For Zowie Palliaer (YouTube & Video Manager), the water is both refuge and joy. Amid the emotional demands of running an animal shelter, it becomes the one place her mind can fully rest and she adds, “also, I just freaking love diving with turtles.”

For Deena Lynch (Creative Director), the relationship with water began through healing. After being diagnosed with an autoimmune condition that affected her mobility, the water became a place to rebuild lost neural pathways. The feeling of weightlessness allowed her body to recover, restoring both movement and hope, and ultimately revealing a deep connection to freediving she now can’t live without.

Held by the water, guided by trust, we soften into ourselves. © Photo credit @deenajonze

 

Question 2: How do you feel empowered as a woman underwater?

Underwater, empowerment takes on a quieter, more internal form, one that redefines strength itself.

Irina shares that while the surface can sometimes feel uneasy, descending into the ocean brings clarity and calm. With full awareness of her surroundings, she feels a deep sense of confidence and control.

Amanda reflects on the freedom of choice and the ability to shape her own path in freediving, whether through snorkelling, spearfishing, competition, or teaching supported by the women who came before her.

Tiffanie describes empowerment as something gentle: a deep connection to breath, body, and mind, where strength is felt rather than shown.

For Anna, the water demands honesty. It challenges both physical ability and inner dialogue but in return, offers confidence and strength through every successful movement.

Dorka highlights a different kind of strength, one rooted in patience, intuition, resilience, and emotional awareness. In the water, success is not about force, but about softness and control. “The water doesn’t care about gender,” she says, and in that neutrality, there is something powerful about claiming space.

Zowie’s experience is deeply personal. Having never felt particularly athletic, freediving gives her a sense of capability and strength, proof that empowerment doesn’t have to come from being the best, but from discovering what you’re capable of.

For Deena, empowerment lies in redefining strength altogether. Underwater, it is not about force or overriding the body, but about resilience, respect, vulnerability, and mindfulness. It is here that the often underestimated quiet power of women comes fully into its own.

Irina Veverka glides through the deep blue with her Molchanovs PRO Monofin 4X Fibreglass © Provided by Irina.

Question 3: Advice to women starting freediving?

Across all voices, one message is clear: trust yourself, be patient, and stay connected to your “why.”

Irina emphasises the importance of finding the right instructor, not just someone qualified, but someone you genuinely trust. “Trust is key,” she says, and feeling safe is foundational to confidence in the water.

Amanda echoes Irina with similar advice: learn from people who make you feel safe, and listen to your body.

Tiffanie encourages curiosity, approaching freediving as a journey of self-discovery, not just performance.

Anna reminds us that the path is not easy, but those who persist will discover its magic.

Dorka offers a broader perspective: progress doesn’t need to be fast to be meaningful. Surround yourself with supportive people who celebrate your growth and hold space during challenges. Community, she says, makes all the difference not just in diving, but in becoming a stronger, more confident woman.

Zowie brings it back to intention: find your “why.” When comparison and frustration creep in, remembering why you started can anchor you and keep the experience meaningful.

Deena frames freediving as both a mental and deeply personal practice. Be patient, be gentle, and be kind to yourself. It’s not about depth or performance, but about building a relationship with your body. Even the hard days carry meaning, often becoming the lessons and healing needed to grow into the resilient woman you already are.

On land and underwater, women find strength in themselves and in each other. © Photo credit @ben.freediver

Beneath the Surface

Each of these women enters the water for her own reasons. Each finds something different beneath the surface.

And yet, their stories converge in the same place: a quiet, powerful reminder that freediving is not about proving strength, but discovering it.

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate not only the women of Molchanovs, but all women who choose to explore, to trust, and to return to themselves, one breath at a time.

Wherever you are in your journey, let the water be a place of discovery, strength, and connection. When you’re ready, begin with the Beginner Online Freediving Course or take your first breaths in the water with a Molchanovs Wave 1 course near you..

About Molchanovs:

The Molchanovs Movement comprises a global community of passionate freedivers who have access to the latest freediving education with the Molchanovs Education System, Base Training workouts, badges and challenges, and exclusive early access and discounts on Molchanovs freediving equipment. The Molchanovs Movement is the first and only freediving system to create a professional and recreational freediving community built around certification courses, quality training, and providing high-quality gear that freedivers need.