Katie Thompson

Andrew Taylor: Leading Coral Reef Restoration in Bali

Meet Andrew Taylor, recipient of the PADI Ocean Torchbearer Award as founder of Blue Corner Conservation and creator of the Coral Restoration PADI Distinctive Specialty.

Tim Leichliter Ocean Torchbearer giving a presentation with a microphone on a lawn

Tim Leichliter: Rooted in Community, Restoring Reefs From Within

Meet Tim Leichliter, recipient of the PADI Ocean Torchbearer Award and co-founder of Hoʻomalu Ke Kai, a nonprofit for ocean conservation in Kauaʻi.

Robin Philippo - Ocean Torchbearer Award Winner - diving with an artificial reef structure

Robin Philippo: Leading Small Groups To Make a Lasting Impact

Meet Robin Philippo, Ocean Torchbearer Award winner and Director at the Tropical Research and Conservation Centre in Malaysia.

Les Burke: Igniting Purpose & Building Future Leaders Beneath the Surface

Les Burke is the founder of Junior Scientists in the Sea and PADI Ocean Torchbearer Award winner, empowering youth to explore and protect the ocean.

Carrie Tsai - Ocean Torchbearer Award Winner - team photo on the beach

Carrie Tsai: Coral Conservation Champion in Taiwan

Carrie Tsai, PADI Ocean Torchbearer Award Winner, is known as the coral conservation champion in Taiwan, and creator of coral spawning Distinctive Specialty courses.

Group of divers on the beach for the Diving for Peace event in Cyprus 2026 all wearing PADI tshirts with PADI banners

Diving for Peace: A Powerful Celebration of Unity Beneath the Surface

Diving for Peace brought together Paralympic athletes from around the world to experience the transformative power of scuba diving.

On the Ground at UNOC3: Why Divers Must Have a Seat at the Table

Read about PADI and the PADI AWARE Foundation's participation in the 3rd UN Ocean Conference, and how divers can lead the way in conservation.

The Power of Divers: Why the PADI AWARE Foundation Matters Now More Than Ever