From the cenotes in Mexico to the reefs of Raja Ampat, divers hold a passport to explore some of the most wild, pristine, and beautiful places on Earth. As the quintessential underwater eyes of the ocean, divers have also borne witness to the massive changes to this beloved underwater wilderness. Over the past several decades, ocean health has significantly deteriorated due to climate change, with rising sea temperatures leading to widespread coral bleaching and the decline of marine biodiversity. But there is hope in the growing community of underwater explorers who can apply their skills learned as divers to protecting the marine ecosystems vital to supporting life on this planet. The collective efforts of PADI’s community of 6,600 PADI Dive Centers and Resorts, 126,000 PADI Professional Members worldwide, and more than 29 million divers can have a monumental impact on creating ocean change.
30% Protection, 100% Participation
As a PADI® diver, you play a critical role in PADI’s ambitious conservation mission to help protect 30% of the ocean through the growth of marine protected areas (MPAs). In an era where our oceans face unprecedented threats, the innovative Adopt the Blue™ program stands as a beacon of hope and action for the future of marine protection. Launched in 2022 by PADI® and the PADI AWARE Foundation™, in partnership with prestige Swiss watch brand Blancpain, the initiative aspires to establish the world’s largest network of conservation sites, safeguarding crucial marine habitats and species on the brink of extinction.
The Adopt the Blue program builds on PADI AWARE’s successful Adopt a Dive Site initiative, which engaged the dive community in marine debris citizen science and research. By design, Adopt the Blue™ expands on this idea through its ability to mobilize the global PADI dive community in a unified path of action that addresses the numerous threats facing our oceans. The PADI AWARE Foundation, under the guidance of Director Danna Moore, has outlined a bold vision: “Our goal is to create a minimum of 10,000 Adopt the Blue sites, working with local communities and PADI operators to accelerate local conservation efforts where they are most needed, and to actively contribute towards protecting 30% of the ocean.” This ambitious target underscores the program’s potential to galvanize global action and foster significant environmental impact that can accelerate sustainable development goals for countries across the planet. Coupled with PADI’s global reach, this will provide an unprecedented opportunity to significantly advance ocean conservation.
Protecting 30% of the ocean through MPAs is essential for reversing the decline of marine biodiversity and ensuring healthy, resilient ecosystems. This level of protection is critical for safeguarding vital habitats like coral reefs and mangroves, which support countless species and provide food, livelihoods, and coastal protection for millions of people. Achieving this goal would help restore overexploited fish populations, boost carbon storage, and enhance the ocean’s ability to adapt to climate change. Divers play a pivotal role in this effort by serving as both guardians and advocates—monitoring underwater environments, collecting valuable data, and raising awareness about the importance of expanding MPAs. Through citizen science, activism, and eco-conscious diving practices, divers can drive greater public and political support for protecting 30% of our oceans.
The primary goal of the Adopt the Blue™ program is to create a global inventory of underwater sites, collecting information on location, ecosystems, and emerging conservation issues. Sites associated with the program will demonstrate the economic value they bring to local and national economies. Additionally, Adopt the Blue will also identify the potential of sites to become MPAs, if not already protected, helping governments meet their international conservation commitments. Once established, these sites will be supported through community grants, citizen science programs, targeted conservation projects, and policy advocacy campaigns, all underpinned by PADI’s goals on climate change, marine debris, coral reef restoration, and the protection of habitats and vulnerable species.
The ‘Diving’ Force Behind Adopt the Blue
Adopt the Blue provides multiple pathways for PADI operators, professionals, divers, and other Ocean Torchbearers™ to get actively involved in conservation at both the local and global level making it an effective tool in our battle to conserve our oceans. Currently only PADI Dive Centers and Resorts and PADI Professionals can adopt the sites in the Adopt the Blue platform, but diver involvement provides critical data when they join conservation actions with participating PADI dive centers around the globe. These local actions, when replicated and scaled up, will help drive global impact and provide critical data sets that can inform and influence government decisions on new and existing MPAs.
As data scarcity often limits conservation progress, citizen science lies at the heart of Adopt the Blue actions. PADI provides globally consistent and relevant training in underwater citizen science to millions of PADI divers, establishing a dependable and ongoing data source invaluable to marine conservation efforts. By participating in data collection and monitoring activities with PADI Dive Centers around the globe, divers help gather critical information on marine biodiversity, health of coral reefs, and the impact of climate change on ocean ecosystems that can be used by scientists to advance marine research and policymakers in establishing new protection polices for their local coastlines.
Divers can help perform surveys on vulnerable and endangered species critical to preserving marine ecosystem balance, restore blue carbon habitats like sea grass or mangroves, or engage in coral monitoring projects that help predict and prevent coral bleaching events. PADI divers are fulfilling a vital role in ocean conservation, essential to understanding the priorities and needs for increasing the amount of MPAs. As a diver who makes ‘every dive count’, your firsthand experiences and observations provide invaluable insights that complement scientific research, making underwater citizen science a collaborative and impactful approach to preserving our oceans.
Harnessing the Passion of Millions
A cohesive and globally applied methodology like Adopt the Blue that is aligned with the global agenda for sustainable development, can accelerate outcomes on a grander scale. Such an approach has the potential to harness the power and passion of millions, mobilizing them as a collective underwater force for good. By fostering a community of environmentally conscious divers and empowering them with the skills and opportunities to implement solution-based initiatives with lasting global impact, we can accelerate progress and positive change for our ocean planet.
Adopt the Blue is a shining example of hope and exemplifies how strategic partnerships and community-driven initiatives can drive substantial environmental impact. Through the combined efforts of PADI, PADI AWARE, and Blancpain, and countless passionate divers and ocean torchbearers, this initiative is set to transform the landscape of marine conservation. As we move towards the goal of protecting 30% of our oceans by 2030, the collaborative spirit and unwavering dedication of these stakeholders offer a promising path forward in the fight to preserve our blue planet.
3 Ways You Can Take Action Now
- If they don’t already, ask your dive center to participate in the program. In 5 minutes, your favorite dive spot can be listed on the Adopt the Blue global action map.
- Participate in citizen science projects, activities, and courses with a PADI Dive Center, either locally or when traveling. (see #1!) Ask your dive center what specialty courses they offer and help them protect the local ecosystem.
- Upgrade your underwater skills with citizen science. PADI offers numerous courses that will prepare you to take conservation action.
By Katie Thompson, Senior Director, PADI Environment & Sustainability
