For 60 years, PADI Divers have explored the underwater world and discovered just how extraordinary life beneath the surface can be. To celebrate PADI’s 60th anniversary, we’re turning that sense of discovery into art with a special collection of limited-edition certification cards created by ocean artists.
Dancing Light by artist, scientific illustrator and PADI AmbassaDiverTM Janavi Kramer brings one of the ocean’s most misunderstood animals into the spotlight: the blue shark.
Inspired by Kramer’s connection to British waters and her love of sharks, the artwork captures the elegance of these ocean travelers beneath shifting light. And, in honor of six decades of PADI, there’s another detail waiting to be discovered: a hidden “60” incorporated into the artwork.
Can you find it? Check out the light rays on the upper shark’s back near the dorsal fin.
The Story Behind Dancing Light
For Kramer, creating a certification card for PADI brought her artistic and diving journeys full circle.
“Diving is the reason I’m here in the first place,” she explains. “Over the last decade, diving has taken me to some incredible places, introduced me to some extraordinary people and completely changed the direction of my life.”
But diving has also taught her that unforgettable underwater encounters don’t always require traveling to faraway destinations. Sometimes, they’re much closer to home.
That idea inspired Kramer to feature blue sharks, a species that combines two things particularly important to her: her fascination with sharks and her connection to British waters.
“These incredibly intelligent and majestic sharks travel vast distances through our oceans, including seasonal visits to UK waters,” she says.
Despite their beauty, blue sharks face significant pressures from fishing and bycatch, as well as another challenge Kramer believes art can help address: misunderstanding.
“The more I’ve learnt about these animals, the more I’ve felt compelled to tell their story — not just because they’re beautiful, but because they’re an important part of healthy ocean ecosystems,” she says. “The more people understand and connect with sharks, the more likely we are to care about protecting them.”
Sometimes, she adds, seeing an animal in a different light is enough to begin changing the way we think about it.
Meet Ocean Artist Janavi Kramer
Based in Cornwall, UK, Kramer describes herself as an artist, scientific illustrator and ocean storyteller.
She is completely self-taught, but creativity has been part of her life for as long as she can remember. “Growing up, creativity was my way of communicating and making sense of the world around me,” she says.
Diving eventually opened an entirely new world for her to explore — and changed the direction of her artwork along with it.
“Art became my tool for holding onto those moments underwater and translating them in a way that allowed me to share those experiences with others.”
Today, much of Kramer’s work sits at the intersection of art, science and conservation. Before painting a species, she researches its anatomy, behavior, habitat and the science surrounding it. But scientific accuracy is only one part of the process.
She also asks herself a different question: “What does this animal make me feel, and how can I translate that feeling through art?”
As Kramer puts it, “Science gives us evidence, but art can give us emotional connection.”
Connection Comes Before Conservation
For Kramer, the greatest accomplishment of her artistic career isn’t an exhibition or award, it’s knowing her work has helped someone become curious about the ocean.
“Knowing that someone might see one of my paintings and become curious about a species they’d never thought about or seen before — or feel inspired to go diving, explore their local coastline or take action for the ocean — is incredibly rewarding.”
Her message to the PADI community is equally simple: you don’t need to be a marine biologist or professional diver to make that connection.
“Start by getting curious,” she says. “Ask questions. Get outside. Go rock pooling. Try snorkeling or diving. Learn about the species living on your coastline.”
Ultimately, that philosophy is at the heart of Dancing Light.
This limited-edition PADI certification card celebrates 60 years of divers discovering just how much there is beneath the surface worth protecting.
Look closely, find the hidden “60” and carry Dancing Light with you on your next underwater adventure.
