There are endless reasons why you should learn how to scuba dive. Need one more? PADI is celebrating its 60 year anniversary in 2026, and there are some benefits to starting to dive (or taking a course to advance your knowledge and skill) this year.
PADI has helped millions of divers make their first breaths underwater in the last 60 years. Learning to dive is more than just scratching off a few items on your bucket list. It’s joining millions of divers around the world who have had their own lives changed forever.
Diving can open your eyes to a whole new world. And there’s no better time than 2026 to start a new journey of firsts.
One Day Becomes Day One
Most divers start the same way. They have a thought that lingers around the lines of, “One day, I’ll try scuba diving.”
You can put off taking these steps: Another trip, another year, another best time to go. But rarely does a perfect future moment appear. What you get is today. Make of it what you will. Turn your today into day one.
The first step is always the hardest. But once you take it, you’re off. Before you know it, you’re thinking about diving, learning about diving, preparing yourself for diving and finally taking the plunge and doing your first dive. And that first breath of air underwater is one you never forget.
It’s Easier To Start Than Ever
Learning to dive may seem like a large task for some, but diving is more accessible today than it has ever been.
To start, you can study for your course using the PADI eLearning™ system at home, on your time and at your own pace. When you’re ready, connect with a PADI Dive Center to schedule your in-water training, including confined water dives and four open water dives, with a PADI Professional.
Scuba diving isn’t just about being brave, it’s about being able to learn, improve and see what you can actually do.
Start Collecting First Moments
Create good memories by chasing them. Scuba diving is one of those worth chasing, and we promise that it’ll make very good memories.
- Your first breath underwater.
- Your first time feeling weightless.
- That first turtle that swims right past you.
- The first moment you feel completely calm on all levels.
Scuba diving milestones can come in many different forms. Some milestones mark different levels that might require a specific certification. However, many of the biggest milestones in diving can provide a diver with unique experiences. The feeling of being underwater can be one of the most peaceful sensations that a person can have. Beneath the surface of the water, all of the noise and distractions of the world above are left behind. Breathing becomes more even, and all your movements become more relaxed and more precise.
Each dive will show you the amazing underwater world from a different angle.
Join a Global Community
Learning to dive not only teaches you a new skill, it also opens up a huge community of millions of active divers worldwide. The PADI community counts millions of active divers, speaking different languages and coming from all corners of this world. What unites them all is their passion for the underwater world.
A Certification Card That Marks the Moment
This year, every PADI certification is even more special: your newly acquired certification will feature a special 60th Anniversary design. This unique design makes for a great keepsake for many divers. In particular for the newly certified diver, who got his certification card as a result of his very first experiences with dive training, the card is a snapshot of the day and the moment when they decided to start something new.
Your Year Starts Now
Learning to dive doesn’t require a big life change. It starts with a splash of curiosity. Once you decide to get started with scuba diving, a whole new (underwater) world opens up.
2026 is a milestone year for PADI as our 60th anniversary. But more importantly, it can be a milestone year for you.
- Make 2026 the year you stop waiting.
- The year you try something new.
- The year you take your first breath underwater.
- Make 2026 your year of firsts.
Ready To Begin?
Start your journey with the the PADI Open Water Diver course, and take the first step toward a lifetime of underwater adventure.
