For many PADI Professionals, diving has been part of their lives since the moment they were old enough to get certified. For others, it started out as a way to connect with a friend or family member, before quickly becoming their lifelong passion.
Whatever the starting point, once the “scuba bug” bites, it raises the same question: how do you turn a passion for diving into a career? The answer lies in the many paths you can pursue as a PADI Professional.
Being a professional diver goes far beyond teaching courses or guiding dives. To find out what that really means, we spoke to five PADI Pros about where diving has taken them.
Tim Lawrence
Passionate tec diver, wreck hunter & dive shop owner
After getting certified in Dorset in 1994 at the suggestion of his uncle, Burnard Eaton, co-founder of Diver magazine, Tim Lawrence’s path was set. From the start, he recalls, “My intention from the get-go was to pursue a career in diving.”
He took his first dive job at Sid’s in Samui with Cesar Bennelli. Soon after, Lawrence became interested in tec diving while working in the Solomon Islands in 1995. He explains how one of his early adventures drew him in, “I vividly remember seeing a meat cleaver bedded into the top of the general mess table at 67 meters (220 feet) on a WWII shipwreck called the Aaron Ward. In my mind, I imagined the last defiant act of the ship’s cook as he left his station to abandon the boat. That moment in time was captured, and I was hooked!”
Since that initial adventure, Lawrence has regularly led expeditions to hunt for missing underwater vessels. He explains, “All shipwrecks have a story to tell. Human error, weather or war. A series of events that turn in a moment what would have been a standard passage into a life-changing experience. Discovering these stories and writing about them has developed into a passion of mine, driven by the need to fill in the blanks in my understanding of the sea. Although I’m fascinated by trade history in this region, I’m currently involved with projects that bring light to an otherwise forgotten theater of war – The Sea of Siam. The human aspects on both sides drive the lunacy of war home to me.”
As for his most unique diving experience to date, Lawrence struggled to pick a single one. Instead, he recalls, “I have been fortunate to have had many unique experiences in diving, finding Roman shipwrecks in the Strait of Gibraltar, locating WWII wrecks in Asia and correctly identifying mistaken shipwrecks. All these experiences have one thing in common and, simultaneously, are unique. The journey and the people I have been lucky enough to have shared it with.”
As for an alternate life without scuba diving? Lawrence says he couldn’t imagine it. “If I hadn’t begun diving, I would like to think I would have still pursued another career on the ocean. To quote Jacques Cousteau, ‘The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its wonder forever.'” For Lawrence, diving is everything and something that couldn’t be replaced. He continues, “The ability to travel, explore and discover has been gifted to me due to my passion in diving. The freedom to pursue this passion has meant that I have never had to struggle to get out of bed in the morning.”
Ahmed Fouad
PADI Instructor & Founder and Director of RED SEA PROJECT™
Ahmed Fouad began his journey into diving at the age of 12, becoming a PADI Professional in 2006. He recalls, “I was living in Sinai and volunteering in marine conservation programs that also included diving and snorkeling.” This was also where he had his first dive job as a PADI Divemaster. Not long after, Fouad moved to Marsa Alam in the southern Red Sea, where he has been ever since.
A desire to help others led Fouad to become a PADI Instructor. He explains, “I have a passion for education and dedicate my time to help others fulfill their potential. I decided to make diving my career and support others in their journey to become professional divers.”
Asked about his most unique diving experience, Fouad points to a moment shortly after returning to diving following the COVID-19 pandemic. He explains, “It was a Dive Against Debris in a harbor that is located within a few minutes’ walk from where I live in Marsa Alam. We collected over 20 tonnes (22 tons) of marine debris!”
Fouad now works within the marine conservation space, collaborating with governmental and civil society organizations on biodiversity, ecosystem resilience and environmental protection. He elaborates, “I’ve been involved in several evaluations intended to identify environmental compliance and management systems implementation gaps in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba.”
Fouad is also a Commission Member of the World Commission on Protected Areas of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), where he is active in international policy forums and marine ecosystems management on both regional and national levels.
In addition, Fouad is the founder and director of RED SEA PROJECT™, an international organization dedicated to protecting and preserving marine environments. Its volunteer-based team works daily with scientists, divers and local communities on conservation projects. If scuba diving hadn’t found Fouad, he says, “[I’d be] working as a park ranger or guide in a land or marine protected area or a national park.”
Jillian Morris
PADI Divemaster, Scuba Diving Sea Hero & Sharks4Kids Founder
Jillian Morris’s journey into scuba diving began later than she would have liked. Growing up in a small town in Maine limited her opportunities to get certified at a young age. However, she explains it eventually happened in 2004, “I got certified in Kennebunkport, Maine in March, and wow, was it cold! This experience really changed my life and I am forever grateful for my instructor and for learning to dive in cold water!”
After working and gaining relevant skills on a research support vessel, Jillian got her first dive job teaching scuba diving in Fort Lauderdale. She explains how becoming a PADI Pro worked on many levels for her, “I wanted to share the underwater world with others, but I also wanted to enhance my skills and training. Even if you don’t want to teach, having those advanced skills and learning makes you a better diver.”
Education is now at the core of Jillian’s work, forming the foundation of her approach to conservation. This focus led to the creation of Sharks4Kids, an organization dedicated to educating and protecting sharks. She explains how it began, “After traveling to work on various shark research and dive projects, I had friends asking me to speak to their students. I started visiting schools and loved it. Every time I left a school I had hope and felt inspired. I decided to create resources and opportunities to help kids learn about these animals.” As the organization continues to grow, she adds, “Currently, I’m developing three new regional programs for Sharks4Kids, a video series and prepping for three large outreach events.”
Jillian also highlights the importance of giving everyone a voice in conservation. “My perspective, knowledge and experience brings something to the table that others cannot, just like their voices are unique,” she says. Becoming a mom has also shaped her outlook, “I want my daughter to love the ocean (and hopefully sharks), but I also want her to realize we are all connected and we are connected to the ocean.”
When asked if a life without diving was ever a possibility, Jillian can’t see it. She explains, “I assume it would be a similar path because I have always been obsessed with the ocean. I told my parents I wanted to be a marine biologist when I was five.” In addition, the ocean is such an important part of the person she is, “being in the ocean is a gift; it’s really magical. It’s my work, but it’s also where I can clear my head and just find joy.”
Asked whether a life without diving was ever a possibility, Jillian can’t see it. “I assume it would be a similar path because I have always been obsessed with the ocean. I told my parents I wanted to be a marine biologist when I was five.” For her, the ocean is a core part of who she is, “being in the ocean is a gift; it’s really magical. It’s my work, but it’s also where I can clear my head and just find joy.”
Jack Fishman
PADI Course Director & Ocean Consultant
Working in the dive industry was always going to be a part of Jack Fishman’s existence. Growing up in a family where scuba diving played a central role, he started diving at just eight years old in 1999. He recalls one of his first meaningful underwater memories, “One of the first fish I remember seeing was this vibrant French Angelfish with a broken beak. He would hang around the shallows, and I felt I was able to connect with him as well! From that moment, I knew this was a world I wanted to explore and protect.”
Fishman’s first job in the diving industry was with Lowcountry Scuba in Shem Creek, South Carolina. He explains, “It was a beautiful place with freshwater lakes for open water training and offshore rocky reefs to discover the local wildlife.” During this time, he began to notice changes in the underwater environment. “When I was young I would scuba dive and snorkel at some of the same dive sites year after year. I noticed quickly that I had trouble finding the same coral head or same fish as the years progressed,” he recalls. These experiences shaped his direction, reinforcing a desire to protect the underwater world.
After what he confesses felt like a long process, he eventually began his professional conservation career as a R.E.E.F. (Reef Environmental Education Foundation) Intern. This position taught him the value of grassroots conservation efforts and the role divers play in protecting the ocean. He explains, “I knew we had an obligation to take others under the water to understand exciting ways to make citizen science surveys more than just purposeful diving, but a destination as well.”
After several years growing Rainbow Reef Dive Center in the Florida Keys, Fishman saw firsthand how dive operations can create sustainable solutions. He later became a Conservation Coordinator, building partnerships between local stakeholders. Through combined efforts of the NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Association) and local dive centers, he played a key role in advancing conservation initiatives in the region.
He explains, “I leveraged the business elements and lessons learned to harness the excitement and passion of dive professionals around the world to bring conservation actions to their dive businesses.”
Asked about his most unique diving experience, Fishman points to diving in whitewater rapids in New Zealand. He recalls, “It was an opportunity led safely by one of the local tour operators. The currents were insane, and it really felt like we were flying through the water. The water was so clear and so cold! But you really get to feel like Superman down there.”
As for a life without diving? Fishman says he may have ended up in technical theater. While very different, he sees a similar thread, “I loved building sets and props for theater departments, and while wildly different, there is a similar sense of community and passion in that theater world!” Looking ahead, he adds, “It would certainly be even cooler to combine those passions one day!”
Olivia Gaiser
PADI AmbassaDiver & Content Creator
Olivia’ Gaisers path into scuba diving began during college, when she got certified as part of a physical education credit. It was this course that helped her decide between two very different career paths. As she explains, “I got my degree in Biology and was torn between taking it down the dental route or the marine route.”
Gaiser’s first role in the diving industry was as a sales associate at a dive shop in her college town. The position introduced her to a network of experienced divers who would shape her future. From the outset, she spent most of her time diving alongside professionals. She adds, “I was heavily influenced and had all the resources at my fingertips to continue my dive education.”
Despite living far from the ocean, Gaiser found a way to build her career in diving through content creation. “I got hooked on scuba diving while living landlocked in Iowa/Minnesota. I was freshly graduated from college (AKA poor), so dive travel was not in the budget. However, I was eager to keep involved with scuba diving during the winter season, so I turned to content creation.” What began as creating videos from her apartment or local dive shop has since evolved into a career.
As Gaiser progressed along her diving journey towards becoming a PADI IDC Staff Instructor, she began seeking out unusual dive experiences around the world. She says, “I think I have logged more out-of-the-ordinary dives than anything else. An underwater hotel, the floors of the Memphis Pyramid, Jellyfish Lake and a flooded town in Oklahoma, to name a few.”
Looking back, Gaiser says her life could have taken a very different turn without diving. “Honestly, I would either be a dental hygienist or a professional organizer,” she says. “I have a fascination with teeth, and I’m obsessed with decluttering and making spaces functional.”
Ready To Become a PADI Professional?
Being a PADI Pro can take you to new heights as a dive instructor, conservationist or explorer. There are lots of different paths you can take once you become a PADI Divemaster or Instructor. Learn more about the professional level courses available by clicking below.
