It’s that time of year again when we get to introduce the new 2025 PADI AmbassaDivers and give them all a warm welcome!

PADI AmbassaDivers come from all over the world and have very different careers, backgrounds, and skills, but they all have one thing in common – a passion for protecting our blue planet, sharing the wonders of the underwater world, and expanding the global community of ocean lovers committed to marine conservation.

This year is particularly exciting because we have the special honor of introducing the first-ever PADI Emeritus AmbassaDiver. Make sure to read all the way to the end for all the details!

Andre Smits holding an underwater camera
Andre Smits surrounded by sharks and rays

André Smits

Eindhoven, The Netherlands

André has a passion for adventure. Whether he’s climbing the next summit or surrounded by whales, dolphins, or mantas in the blue, he’s turned this passion into his profession, exploring the world and the depths of the ocean, while pushing his body to his limits. He captures it all on camera to inspire others to seek new challenges and live a life filled with discovery and excitement.

Favorite marine species: “Orcas for sure! I even have them tattooed on my leg. They are the apex predators of the ocean. They have no natural enemies and can take down everything from great white sharks to massive whales. Their hunting tactics are so impressive.” 

Goal as a PADI AmbassaDiver: “To inspire others to embrace adventure, connect with nature, and preserve its beauty by sharing the transformative power of exploration and storytelling through compelling visual narratives.”

Follow André on social media:

Hannah Pangilinan taking a selfie while diving
A headshot of Hannah Pangilinan

Hannah Pangilinan

Philippines

Hannah is a wellness advocate and a media powerhouse. Her YouTube vlog has reached over half a million subscribers with whom she shares her travels and her diving adventures. Over the pandemic, she reached almost 100k monthly listeners through her Spotify Original Podcast on wellness, the importance of rest, and prioritizing your mental health. She takes her community building offline, too, through her “Just One” running club that travels all over the Philippines for fun runs.  

Favorite dive site: “Arthur’s Rock at Anilao, Batangas! It has the most lush and beautiful corals with the tiniest, most exotic creatures nesting at every crevice.”

Goal as a PADI AmbassaDiver: “To creatively impassion people to pursue their purpose and protect their pauses by example.”

Follow Hannah on social media:

JD Reinbott holding a pair of fins
JD Reinbott scuba diving over a coral reef

JD Reinbott

Sparta, New Jersey, USA

Affectionately known as the “Coral Qween,” you can tell where JD’s passion lies! As well as being a PADI Instructor, JD practices coral restoration and works in the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, where he inspires visitors to protect diversity below the ocean’s surface. His work beyond conservation is to also champion diversity above the surface, advocating for equality and inclusion, and amplifying underrepresented voices.

Top scuba tip: “A tip I always like to share with people is to sometimes put the camera down. We as divers often get SO FOCUSED on recording and documenting everything we see while underwater that we don’t always enjoy it in real-time in the moment. One of my favorite things to do (even if someone told me they just recently saw something cool on the site earlier) is to leave my camera on the boat and enjoy the full hour-long dive with just my eyes.”

Goal as a PADI AmbassaDiver: “As a PADI AmbassaDiver, my goal is to not only get more individuals to care about our ocean and the diverse array of individuals working in fields connected to it but to inspire people to take action in the long-term protection of the underwater world. In doing so we can not only continue to enjoy our blue planet but celebrate the diversity found both above and below the surface.” 

Follow JD on Instagram: @thecoralqween

Olivia Gaiser scuba diving over a coral reef
Olivia Gaiser posing for the camera on the beach

Olivia Gaiser

Des Moines, Iowa, USA

After getting scuba-certified in college, Olivia decided to transform her love for the underwater into her career. She’s now a PADI IDC Staff Instructor and works as a Dive Safety Officer at aquariums. On top of her work, in her free time, she’s a passionate scuba content creator. Olivia wants to make scuba diving accessible for everyone by building a growing global community of divers.

Favorite dive site: “Blue Heron Bridge is such an amazing bang for your buck. It is a simple, shallow, shore dive packed with marine life. That said, the cold, low visibility Square Lake in Minnesota holds a very special place in my heart as it’s the place where I grew as a diver.”

Goal as a PADI AmbassaDiver: “I believe scuba diving can drive personal growth and is a great portal into environmental stewardship so it is my goal to inspire more people to explore our underwater world. As well as to promote a fun and welcoming diving community for all.”

Follow Olivia on social media:

Nikhil Kandhari swimming in the ocean
Nikhil Kandhari freediving with sharks

Nikhil Kandhari

Mumbai, India

A man of many talents, Nikhil is a diver, marketing consultant, content creator, and DJ! As an ocean lover, he strives to inspire others to discover the ocean while promoting sustainable diving practices. Over the past 10 years, he’s built a thriving online community where he shares his journey as he explores the world above and below the surface and his dedication to marine conservation.

Favority marine species: “Tiger sharks, without a doubt. There’s something about their presence that’s both humbling and thrilling. They’re powerful, curious and surprisingly graceful in the water. Every encounter I’ve had with them has been unforgettable. Watching them move effortlessly with that unmistakable striped pattern is a reminder of just how incredible the ocean truly is.”

Goal as a PADI AmbassaDiver:  “To inspire and empower others to discover the wonders of the ocean, promote sustainable and responsible diving practices, and advocate for marine conservation to protect our underwater ecosystems.”

Follow Nikhil on social media:

James Barrett posing as a mermaid on the beach
James Barrett surfaces after a scuba dive with a boat in the background.

James Barrett

Randolph, New Jersey, USA

James first got certified in 2022, and since then his diving adventures have taken him across nine countries and four continents, sharing his travels on his weekly newsletter. He’s also been expanding his collection of certification cards, becoming a certified PADI Freediver and Mermaid – talk about a true Merman! When he’s not in the water, he’s working as a travel and lifestyle journalist. James wants to show others that, “You’re never too old to try something new, to always be yourself, and to always, always, have fun.”

Top scuba tip: “It’s okay to have a dive that doesn’t go well. Going 70 feet (21 meters) below the surface is no easy feat, and nerves are something to always work through.” 

Goal as a PADI AmbassaDiver: “My goal as an AmbassaDiver is to show that diving can be for everyone — no matter how beginner or pro you are.” 

Follow James on social media:

Pol Ramos with a shark underwater
Pol Ramos poses in a wetsuit next to the ocean

Pol Ramos

Barcelona, Spain

Pol is a biologist, diving instructor, and ocean advocate. He shares the beauty of the sea through his audiovisual content, like his IMAX documentary, Waves of Tomorrow, and various television appearances. That way, he can bring the magic of the underwater world right into the homes of all those who have not had the chance to experience it themselves yet.

Goal as a PADI AmbassaDiver: “To connect people with the wonders of the sea, especially those who live away from it.”

Follow Pol on Instagram: @polraamos

Larry Martin smiles for the camera on a boat in the ocean
Larry Martin looks out towards the ocean from the seashore

Larry Martin

Kailua, Hawaii, USA

When Larry’s not hiking or practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you’ll find him underwater, somewhere in the world. As a PADI Instructor, he thrives on teaching first-time divers to overcome their fears and sharing the magic of the underwater realm with his students. Larry is also an avid underwater photographer and videographer, sharing his work to inspire ocean conservation.

Favorite marine species: “I would have to go with nudibranchs. They have such a huge variety (over 3,000 species!) and come in so many different shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns/designs. It’s always so cool when you find one during a dive that you’ve never seen before, especially if it’s unique to a specific part of the world.”

Top scuba tip: “Every so often – to stay sharp – try to drill some of the less common or less used dive skills.”

Goal as a PADI AmbassaDiver: “I have met countless people that are terrified of diving, let alone being in the ocean. Demystifying scuba diving and making it more relatable and enjoyable to those that are interested will always be a goal for me. I also hope to continue showcasing how beautiful our oceans and sea life really are!”

Follow Larry on Instagram: @larry.dives

Tobias Friedrich holding a camera on a boat
Tobias Friedrich holding a camera while ice diving

Tobias Friedrich

Wiesbaden, Germany

With over 50 awards in underwater photography competitions, you’ve likely seen Tobias’ work before. Named the “Underwater Photographer of the Year” in 2018, his photographs have been published in many prestigious scuba diving magazines and newspapers all over the world. He’s an all-terrain photographer, comfortable shooting anywhere from frozen waters to tropical climates. As long as there are interesting underwater subjects to shoot, he’s happy to take his camera along!

Top scuba tip: “Do a Peak Performance Buoyancy course! It helps so much with everything in diving and makes your dive much more relaxing, which will also save air and make you a better photographer.” 

Goal as a PADI AmbassaDiver: “I would like to use this chance to spread the beauty of the oceans and how important it is to preserve them even further through PADI and through my images.”

Follow Tobias on social media:

Tomoka Fukuda freediving on a line
Tomoka Fukuda smiling for the camera from a boat

Tomoka Fukuda

Hokkaido, Japan

Tomoka’s name is firmly engraved in the freediving hall of legends. After a rapid progression in open water freediving, she reached a depth of 100 meters (328 feet) in constant weight (freediving with fins) in the Deja Blue competition in the Cayman Islands in 2018. This made her only the fifth woman in the world to achieve this superhuman depth.  

Today Tomoka trains, teaches freediving, and promotes environmental conservation in Okinawa. She organizes beach cleanups and inspires others through her commitment to sustainability and her passion for promoting the sport of freediving.

Goal as a PADI AmbassaDiver: “To share the allure of freediving with as many people as possible while raising awareness about the value of the ocean and the importance of marine conservation.”

Follow Tomoka on social media:

luv k raft posing in front of a yellow background
Image courtesy of LUV K RAFT
underwater selfie with three divers from the luv k raft group
Image courtesy of LUV K RAFT

LUV K RAFT

Karen: Shiga, Japan. Mishu: Hyogo, Japan. Masato Kitano: Osaka, Japan.

LUV K RAFT is a popular trio of musical artists consisting of Masato Kitano, Karen, and Mishu. They formed the band in 2013, and not only are they avid divers, but they are also all PADI Pros. Masato is a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) and Karen and Mishu are PADI Divemasters currently taking their Instructor Development Course (IDC). Their love of diving led them to create a YouTube video series in 2024 called the “Be a Diver” project to encourage more people to enjoy the ocean and share their passion with the world. By documenting the journey of other celebrities and artists as they become certified divers, they’re hoping to inspire others to do the same.  

Goal as PADI AmbassaDivers: “To share the beauty of the ocean we love through the music we’re passionate about.”

Follow LUV K RAFT on social media:

Sylvia Earle on the cover of Time‘s 2017 issue on
“Women Who Are Changing the World”.
Sylvia Earle aboard the Deep Rover submersible doing a 1,000 meter (3,280 feet) Guinness World Record dive in 1985.

Dr. Sylvia Earle

Finally, we have the great honor of introducing the first-ever PADI Emeritus AmbassaDiver, Dr. Sylvia Earle. This legendary oceanographer, famously nicknamed “Her Deepness,” has devoted her life to ocean conservation and exploration, inspiring generations of ocean advocates in every corner of the planet.

Dr. Earle has been a pioneer as a marine biologist, in deep-sea expeditions that pushed the boundaries of submersibles, and as the first female chief scientist of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), amongst many other achievements.

Today her work focuses on creating a network of marine protected areas (MPAs), known as Hope Spots, through the Mission Blue initiative she founded in 2009.

“I am honored to be asked to serve as the first PADI Emeritus AmbassaDiver,” says Dr. Earle. “I look forward to being a champion for PADI and using this honor to inspire respect, love, and care for the ocean while providing effective guidance on safety for those who seek adventure underwater.”

Her legacy continues to inspire new generations of ocean lovers who will grow to love and protect our blue planet after seeing it through her eyes.  

Follow Dr. Sylvia Earle on social media:

We want to thank our PADI AmbassaDivers, and we will continue to share their stories, work, and adventures throughout the year. We hope that by following their journey, you will be inspired to find ways to make a positive impact for the ocean yourself. And if you missed last year’s announcement, check out our 2024 AmbassaDivers to see what they’ve been up to.

If you want to get involved and start making a difference today, becoming a PADI Torchbearer is a great place to start. Maybe next year you will be joining our ranks of ocean protectors!

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