Community and belonging matter more than ever. For many divers, the ocean is more than a place to explore, it’s a place to connect with others.
Whether with family, friends or people who share a love for the underwater world, these connections can have a big, even life-changing impact. They help build confidence, purpose and a sense of belonging, both in and out of the water. For diverse divers, that sense of connection can mean even more. Through diving, many find not just a passion, but a community where they feel seen, supported and able to be themselves.
We spoke to several divers across the PADI community who are inspiring others to take to the water by creating opportunities, breaking down barriers and proving what’s possible.
Leading With Positivity
When Nitcharee Peneakchanasak, 26, was 14 years old, she lost both her legs in an accident. Still, that hasn’t stopped her from living an active and positive lifestyle that includes scuba diving and from being a force for change for her community. “Thai people know me as ‘Thun’ – A Positive Thinking Girl,” Peneakchanasak said.
Learning to dive was her dream, and she accomplished this in 2016 while studying for her bachelor’s degree. She said, “When I tried scuba diving for the first time, I felt like my body was not a barrier to my life underwater. I can swim to see the beauty anywhere without a wheelchair or prosthetic legs. It inspired me… [and] taught me … that everything is possible if you can believe in yourself.”
Now, she explores the ocean as a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver. Additionally, above the surface, as a communicator and motivational speaker, she inspires others with disabilities in her home country of Thailand to live positive lives.
Being a PADI diver allowed her to see the beauty of nature in a new way and to believe in herself more. These are the lessons and joys she shares with her community.
Building Community From Passion
Jessy Faya Fralinda was born in Bali, an island surrounded by beaches and water. She explored the shoreline as a kid, and, in 2012, she took her first peek underwater. “Submerged in the deep blue ocean, [I was] fascinated by the new sights that I’d never seen before,” she said. “I promised myself that I [would] be a certified diver one fine day.”
Almost seven years later, she moved to Lombok to work in the aviation industry. She earned her PADI Open Water Diver certification and the nickname “The Flying Mermaid.” Her love for the sport grew, and she built her own local dive community — the Lombok Airport Dive Club (LADC). The club encourages Lombok Airport employees to try scuba diving. “And, proudly, I can say that LADC has brought out almost 50 new certified divers in just one year. In no time, we took the club to the next level … with … Dive Against Debris®, beach cleaning, some projects in the Coral Garden” and more, she added.
Moreover, she rallies those around her towards her beloved sport in other capacities too: as part of the Indonesia Diver Community (a government-protected community group) and as one of the first ever Girls That Scuba Ambassadors from Indonesia. She hopes to become a PADI Rescue Diver and to inspire more women to try scuba diving.
signs “water” in American Sign Language underwater. Aqua Hands
Connecting Through Communication
Stephanie Zoronza understands the importance of connecting and communicating. She founded The ASL Shop to help others learn American Sign Language (ASL). As a deaf PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, she finds being able to communicate with other divers and instructors underwater “so freeing” and “super fun.” Freed of communication barriers that she sometimes experiences above the surface, she knows “there’s nothing more exciting than being able to make conversations underwater!”
Zornoza also knows that being a diver is an incredible way to connect with nature. She finds herself constantly in awe of the beauty around her and tiny details that are so easy to miss on land — like how the light dances off coral or how fish move through the water. “It’s amazing how much we take for granted when we’re living on land,” she said.
Diving motivates her to tell people about the underwater world and to advocate for its protection. “It’s hard not to feel inspired when you’re snorkeling around reefs or exploring shipwrecks, but it can be easy to forget about these places once you’re back home in your daily routine. My goal is always to share my experience with others and encourage them to explore their own local areas!” she said.
Inspiring Youth
Frank David Mollel lives a life dedicated to protecting our oceans. As a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, an AmbassaDiver from Zanzibar and the co-founder of Linda Bahari Pamoja (“Protecting the Ocean Together”) he’s in the water plenty. However, he grew up in a land-locked region close to the mountains. In fact, Frank didn’t see or touch the ocean until he was 18 years old.
“As a Maasai (Tribe found in North Tanzania), water is not really our element, and we grow up knowing that we are not made for the waters or dare (sic) to be in the ocean,” he said. “So, I can say I am the first Maasai to dare to try diving.”
Thanks to him, he probably won’t be the last. Linda Baharai Pamoja is a community-based program focused on coral reef restoration and educating youth on the importance of marine ecosystems.
Frank said programs and campaigns like these help shine a light on the nature people love. “Working with the community means I can connect with the right audience and show them how beautiful our underwater world is, why we need to protect it and raise more awareness,” he continued.
Shaping the Next Generation
Julia Aveline Rabenjoro took her first breath underwater on her eighth birthday during a PADI Bubblemaker course that would shape the next decade of her life. Growing up in a family of divers in Malaysia, she was eager to explore the underwater world for herself. She quickly progressed through junior PADI courses and, at 18, became a PADI Divemaster.
After sharing her diving journey online to inspire other young people, Julia applied to become a PADI AmbassaDiver and was selected. “I liked the way they framed scuba diving as a gateway to becoming an ocean conservationist,” she said, “because I’m a firm believer in the saying that people protect what they love.”
Inspired by reef cleanups and net removals, Julia founded Bubbles of Hope, a project that runs reef cleanups with local dive centers. “As I noticed that more and more of my classmates were taking up diving, I decided to form a group of young, like-minded people who wanted to make a positive difference,” she explained. “My goal isn’t just about the amount of debris we are able to remove, but instead empowering our members by showing them that no matter their age, they too can make a tangible change.”
In 2024, she joined the Manta Trust’s Young Ocean Ambassador Program, connecting with young ocean advocates from around the world. Through these contacts, she expanded Bubbles of Hope internationally, helping establish the project in Florida, USA.
“The beauty of the ocean is my biggest motivator,” she reflected. “I want people to fall in love with it the same way I did.”
Creating Community Through Conservation
From the age of 12, when he earned his PADI Junior Open Water Diver certification, the freshwater springs of Florida have shaped Mike Winkles’ life. What began as a way to spend time diving alongside his father would shape his future. “I realized I wanted to share my love of diving with others, the same way my dad shared it with me,” he explained.
Today, as a PADI Course Director with more than 20 years in the industry, he trains the next generation of divers. By supporting others to become confident, capable leaders, he continues the same cycle that first inspired him. “Being able to introduce people to an entirely new world below the surface makes me feel so happy!” he said.
His connection to the underwater world is perhaps most evident in his experiences with manatees in the Florida springs. Despite thousands of encounters, Mike still remembers his first, “It’s one of those feelings that has stayed with me so deeply that now, anytime I’m in the water with manatees, I can take myself back to that very first experience.”
Through work with the federal manatee program, he has helped thousands of people share that same sense of wonder while learning about protecting these unique habitats. From local school groups to international students, those in-water experiences often leave a lasting impression. “A video online is one thing, but having a 10-foot (3-meter) manatee swim over to you can take your breath away,” he explained.
For Mike, those moments of connection are where real change begins in the community. “I truly believe that the key to protecting something is knowledge and education.”
Changing Perceptions
There are few animals more unfairly persecuted than sharks. For Sara Gojer, a United Arab Emirates (UAE) resident and self-described shark obsessive, changing people’s perceptions of these misunderstood animals has become a personal mission.
Sara had always enjoyed scuba diving, but one trip changed everything. “I visited Egypt and completely fell in love with the underwater world,” she explained. That experience drove her to make her hobby into a career. After becoming a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, she worked in multiple destinations, including the Maldives and Thailand.
Alongside teaching, Sara co-founded the Reggae Shark Dive Club in Dubai. Today, it has a community of more than 200 passionate divers. “We run courses and organise dive trips around the world. So far, we’ve explored some of the best dive destinations,” she said. Rather than focusing on luxury travel, the club prioritises meaningful experiences and cultural connection. “Our philosophy is simple: dive and discover local culture.”
Today, much of Sara’s work centres around shark education and conservation advocacy. “I specialise in teaching divers about sharks and how to interact with them safely and responsibly,” she explained. Through her work, she challenges fear-based stereotypes and encourages people to appreciate sharks. She also recently took part in a Guinness World Record-breaking underwater cleanup.
And when she’s not underwater, you’ll likely find Sara behind the DJ decks at live events, something she believes shares more similarities with diving than most people would expect. ”At their core, both diving and DJing are about the same thing; helping people disconnect from the stress of everyday life, be present and have fun,” she said.
