Oddly enough, I first heard about the DivaCup from a male friend in University. He said, “Have you heard of the DivaCup? My new girlfriend uses it.” This was perhaps a bit too much information for him to share with me, but I respected his curiosity and openness nonetheless. My answer was, “Nope, but it sounds modern and something I’ll definitely look into”.
At the time, I was studying English Literature with a minor in Environment Sciences, and the DivaCup sure sounded environmentally friendly. I asked around to see if I could buy one at a localstore, but as of yet no one had really heard of it—this was in 2007. I wasn’t savvy with online shopping yet either, so that option hadn’t crossed my mind.
It wasn’t until two years later that I finally got the DivaCup. I was volunteering on an organic farm in Nova Scotia, Canada, and another volunteer, out of the blue, asked if I wanted her to pick me up the DivaCup while she was in town getting herself one.
I said, “Yes, please!”
The first period I used it, I was constantly worried it would leak. By the next period, however, on several accounts I’d actually forgotten it was even in there!
Today, I could not be happier with the decision I made in 2009. The DivaCup has traveled all over the world with me. It has traveled through 12 countries in Asia and, let’s just say, it was a very comforting companion, especially that time my husband (then boyfriend) and I took a three-week motorcycle trip through Vietnam.
During our travels around Asia, I was also teaching yoga classes along the way to gain experience as I’d just received my teaching certification, and the last thing I wanted to worry about was a period mishap. For instance, in Bali, I could go from the yoga shala to the surf without skipping a beat, rather than searching for the nearest restroom to change my tampon.
Moreover, something else I greatly appreciated during my travels was the extra money I didn’t have to spend on tampons and period products while living and traveling abroad. Such products were also very hard to come by in the remote areas we traveled. We were taking an overnight bus from the northern city of Hanoi, Vietnam, to Luang Prabang, Laos, when our bus broke down in the highlands of Laos; and as luck would have it, I started my period. Luckily, there was a small wooden-shack-of-an-outhouse where I was able to insert the DivaCup. If I’d only had a few tampons, or worse, none, I’d have been in serious trouble.
I grew up in Eastern Canada, New Brunswick, where I spent my summers in the ocean or swimming in the family pool. Today I spend every single morning in the warm waters of Hawaii with my husband. Now as an avid dawn patrol surfer living in Hawaii, I could not imagine my periods without the DivaCup. Unfortunately, I’ve had trouble convincing fellow female surfers to consider the DivaCup—of the two women I did convince, however, they did so with eagerness and relief to have found a solution.
Furthermore, not only is the DivaCup more sanitary in the water — as tampons fill up with water, especially when sitting in the water on your surfboard for long periods of time—but they protect women from the dangers of shark attacks, as it blocks leakage. In Hawaii this is always a concern when participating in any activity in the ocean. Sharks can sense leakage, but with the DivaCup I feel safe. Also, as a surfer I have many unfortunate encounters with the world’s garbage floating around in the ocean and it’s a known fact that tampons and tampon applicators are one of the top ocean polluters in the world!
Travel light, live light, spread the light, be the light.
Lastly, because of the nature of my job, tutoring English as a Second Language online via phone and video classes, I sometimes teach straight through for three hours with back-to-back students, which means I don’t get a break to run to the bathroom to check for leaks, or change my tampon.
I cannot be happier with the DivaCup and I cannot promote it enough to active women, especially those who spend everyday in the water like me.
Without question, every female surfer should be using the DivaCup.
Sarah M.
Sarah Moore lives in Honolulu, Hawaii, with her husband. She was born in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. She has been teaching English as a Second Language for five years–two years were spent teaching in South Korea, while the past three have been spent teaching online phone classes from home. She’s also a certified Yoga Teacher. She watches the sunrise over Honolulu every morning from the ocean on her surfboard with her husband and friends. She’s also training for a half marathon in the Fall!
