Superwomen
A personal reflection of the Coral Catch Conference, Gili Air, October 4-6, 2025
85 brave women took a breath, told their inner voices to be quiet, booked a ticket – and stepped out into the unknown.
Since the 1950s many societies have proclaimed that a woman’s place was at home – men being the sole providers. Homemaker was a sought-after position.
How fortunate was one who was given the opportunity to be a mother and a wife.
While that stereotype started to change by the end of the decade, many women were still quite content working in traditionally feminised professions like nursing and teaching. While some had started working in STEM fields during the wars in the 1920s, this didn’t catch on properly until the 1970s.
Women, the weaker sex, were not appropriate for science, technology, and engineering. Them with their emotions, empathy, and overthinking tendencies – just wouldn’t succeed.
But many women did.
Many women did long before men did, yet were never allowed to claim recognition for the incredible accomplishments they achieved.
The stereotypes that followed still exist today in many places around the world. Women are still banished to the kitchen, told to stay home and care for the children, and have their wings clipped to remain as the ‘happy homemaker.’
Lessons from Nature
Gender is definitely not a limiting factor in the animal world. Matriarchs power so many animal families in the natural world. Why should it then be any different in the human one? We are all animals anyway. We are all nature in different forms.
But our human society has long said otherwise.
Women and the Ocean
Women were always seen as too weak to be near the ocean. It’s scary, it’s dark, it’s mysterious. A loving parent’s worst nightmare – having their precious daughter exploring the unknown depths of the blue.
Not only are women shunned from being around the ocean, they’re handicapped because of this distance. Almost six in ten men (57%) say they can swim, but only one in three women (32%) say they can. While women are meant to fetch water for the household, clean and bathe in the water, they’re constantly at risk of drowning.
But a few women challenged the narrative.
In Eastern countries, matriarchs of the family were bravely jumping into the depths of the ocean to provide for their families. Japan’s Ama, translated as ‘sea women,’ are renowned for their ability to dive on a single breath to harvest a variety of seafood. It is even said that women are better suited for this type of harvesting work due to their enhanced breath-holding capacity and superior resistance to cold. Many of these women continue diving late into their 80s.
They’re not the only ones.
In Jeju Island of Korea, Haenyeo, or ‘Sea Women,’ have been recognised by UNESCO for their prowess and cultural heritage in holding their breath to collect abalone, octopus, and seaweed. Then there are the Bajau women in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
All around the world: oyster-farming women in West Africa, Chinchorro fishers in Chile, mariscadorasin Portugal and Galicia.
The first female diver recorded was Simone Melchior Cousteau. This wife of Jacques Cousteau was not only active on the all-male crew’s diving expeditions, but also played the part of mother and mediator to the crew on land.
She paved the way for many like her.
A Gathering of Superwomen
Some of them arrived at the Coral Catch Conference in Gili Air.
A calming statue of the Buddha draped with orange flowers greets you – wishing you peace, calming your racing mind, as you climb up the stairs – following your feet toward the giggly, excited sounds coming from the floor above.
Dreamcatchers and leaf garlands dance in the open bamboo windows. Hues of pinks dot the conference audience attire. You’re welcomed with a name tag hung around your neck – a keychain carved from wood, engraved with your name, a batik fabric hand fan, and a smile – beaming with pride and honour. Your heart starts beating at a normal rate.
You are safe here.
85 of them came together to share stories of their love and dedication for the ocean. Almost 100 females who had long before broken the barriers of women not being allowed in STEM fields. Women who now stand as professionals. Superwomen who broke through, stood their ground, and now are blazing the way forward for the sake of our ocean and the sake of our species despite all society’s nay sayings.
From professionals in coral disease to community engagement to science communication – they were present – on this tiny island in Indonesia.
The vibe was electric. Literally.
The currents of energy bouncing around the room could be seen.
Maybe even from space.
A conference made by females, for females.
The first of its kind in Indonesia.
The Coral Catch Sisterhood
The Coral Catch Scholarship gives Indonesian women a chance to challenge their own narrative. Stepping away from traditional gender prejudices, they’re presented with nine weeks of carrying tanks, welding metal, diving in the ocean, and empowerment.
Awardees also receive a recommendation letter to help them on their way. Now that the bricks have been laid, it is up to each individual superwoman to find her unique path.
But their paths, though unique, will now never be walked alone. Every step they take is in the shadow of a role model who came before them. Every step they take leaves a footprint that a junior will step into.
Now, part of a bigger, global community – the Coral Catch sisterhood of superwomen.
A constellation of the bigger blanket of women superstars.
“Sisterhood is a very powerful force. A force that allows us to drop the mask. To feel loved and accepted. It whispers, you are enough, exactly as you are. In sisterhood we build a big enough table to fit all of us.” – Rose Huizenga, Founder of Coral Catch
Strength in Sisterhood
There is a special kind of energy that emanates from a group of women being together. One unmatched. Apart from the buzzing vibrations, the misty eyes around the room as stories were shared is another characteristic, uniquely female. Empathising. Compassionate. Nurturing.
Eyes filled and hearts fluttered at every story shared of women put on the back-burner for being born a certain way. For women around the world who were told they couldn’t do it, or that they didn’t belong, just because of their gender.
“Strength is not coming from being a boy or a girl, it is coming from being brave enough to be yourself. The ocean doesn’t care if you’re a boy or a girl. It only cares if you’re willing to protect it.” – Rose Huizenga
Strength.
While males may be physically stronger, time has shown repeatedly that there is an inner strength that exists in females that no male can beat. Strength by being caring, being gentle, by showing up for each other, and having each other’s back.
Females carry families, babies, and break down barriers that society has put up for us – thick brick walls have been crumbling around the world over the centuries because of a woman’s special strength.
Celebrating Female Firsts
The first 40 Indonesian women to graduate from the Coral Catch 9-week Superwoman Programme join the ranks of many female firsts. First woman to vote. First Black woman to sit in the front of a bus. First woman to become president. The first woman to sail single-handedly across the world. The first woman to row across the Atlantic. The list goes on …
And to make it extra special, the conference came at an auspicious time. A time to celebrate the life of the first woman who showed that animals had emotions, empathy, and culture, traits that had been reserved for humans. The first woman who decided to go to the jungles of Africa and pursue her dream, a dream only reserved for males. The first woman to challenge the male-dominated world of science. To celebrate the life of Dr. Jane Goodall who passed just a few days earlier.
Dr Goodall showed us that every individual can create real change. Because every dream starts with a thought. And if you can dream it – you can make it happen. And though the voices may come saying, “You’re not good enough. It’s too big. It’s too scary,” you know there are others who hold a torch for you on your journey.
Reflections
The final activity was a reflection session for participants, some who had just arrived as strangers only two days earlier – now huddled together on cushions on the floor. Friendly conversations and girly giggles continued as they wrote their thoughts, feelings, and what they learned from the emotion- and information-filled weekend.
It’s not easy to admit insecurities, it’s not easy to ask for help, and society has made it very difficult to be authentically human – and even more difficult to be authentically woman.
The message was unanimous – this was more of a connection of sisters rather than a conference. A way to connect with like-minded people, all with a deep love for our ocean. A way to strengthen friendships and put real-life faces to faces on our screens. A weekend of empowerment, hope, and the sharing of hardships, vulnerability, and a kind of kinship that only women have.
A connection that transcended time and connected us with the hearts and souls of all those women who came before us. All those who said, I believe. I will do this. You will not clip my wings. You will not have my dreams.
We left that conference hall not with a pocketful of name cards, but with handwoven dreamcatchers, watery eyes, and hearts full of hope. The individual strings of the dreamcatcher, representing the experiences, the dreams, the challenges and the wins – all knitted tightly together – a reminder to reach for the stars, where all dreams can come true. A reminder hung on the wall of the stories and friendships that would always remain hung on their hearts.
“True lasting impact starts with connection. When you make space to share your dreams, something magical happens – you get inspired again.” – Rose Huizenga
And that energy that buzzed at the start of the Coral Catch Conference, it grew. It grew into a ball of invigorating, restoring light that travelled out the doors of that decorated conference hall.
It travelled on the boats, cars, and planes right alongside each person who graced the event.
The energy of a sisterhood of empowered women, once created, never goes away.
It may get a little tired, burned out, and drained – but all it needs is a phone call, a text message, an email to jump-start that spark.
All it needs is a moment of reflection, and a glance at that familiar dreamcatcher. The simple woven reminder to keep chasing your dreams and that you’re never alone in this journey, on your way to the stars.
“If you can give 100 women the opportunity to follow their dreams and reach for the stars, we can really change the world.” – Rose Huizenga
To the superwomen present at the Coral Catch Conference, keep reaching for the stars.
And for the rest of us – every one of us has a superpower.
We just have to find it, fuel it, and then use it in our place on this planet.
Because we’re all human.
And that in itself is super.
What I can offer, HERE.
💌 Let’s talk: change@theecochapter.com
In service of our planet,
💚 Marla Lise, Earthling at The Eco Chapter