PADI AWARE Foundation’s latest cohort of Mission Hub Community Grant recipients are a group of visionary organizations dedicated to advancing ocean conservation in their local communities. This new round of grants underscores PADI AWARE’s commitment to support Ocean Torchbearers around the globe as they tackle the most pressing threats to the ocean.
About the PADI AWARE Foundation Community Grant Program
Since its launch in 2022, the PADI AWARE® Mission Hub Community Grant Program has been an accelerating force behind impactful, locally led conservation initiatives. With over USD $700,000 awarded to more than 80 projects worldwide, the program supports PADI Dive Centers, non-profit organizations, and community groups addressing critical ocean issues such as climate change, marine debris, habitat loss, and species protection. Each of these projects plays an essential role in advancing the PADI Blueprint for Ocean Action, a roadmap for protecting and restoring ocean health in collaboration with Blancpain, official partner of the Blueprint for Ocean Action.
This year’s grantees represent diverse and innovative approaches to ocean conservation, each designed to address unique environmental challenges in their regions. Let’s take a closer look at the incredible work being done by PADI AWARE’s newest grant recipients.
Maputo Dive Center – Mozambique
Maputo Dive Center, Mozambique’s first and only 100% Mozambican-owned and operated dive center, is breaking barriers in marine conservation with its Zero to Hero Diving Program. With seven marine protected areas (MPAs) in the country, Mozambique is working towards UN SDG 14.5 aiming at conserving at least 10% of coastal and marine areas; however, there is a lack of local capacity to meet these objectives. This transformative initiative takes local marine biology students and MPA managers—many of whom lack underwater skills—and trains them in swimming, snorkeling, recreational diving, and specialized scientific diving to begin or improve their career in marine conservation. By equipping participants with essential underwater skills, the program bridges a critical gap in local capacity for MPA management and research, supporting the sustainable conservation of Mozambique’s marine ecosystems.
Thanks to the generous support of Swiss prestige watchmaker, Blancpain, the PADI AWARE Community Grant will enable Maputo Dive Center to run this initiative, training Mozambican divers to independently conduct monitoring and evaluation of coral reefs and MPAs. The program not only helps protect the country’s fragile underwater biodiversity but also creates economic opportunities for participants, contributes to sustainable tourism, reduces dependence on foreign specialists by championing local leadership in marine conservation and tourism, and fosters a cultural shift toward ocean stewardship.
“This program transforms passion into action, empowering Mozambicans to protect our oceans and preserve marine life for future generations,” says Luciano Adamo, Co-Founder and Chief Education Officer of Maputo Dive Center.
Australian Diving Instruction – Geelong, Australia
Australian Diving Instruction (ADI) has spent over a decade promoting marine conservation in Port Phillip Bay. Their latest project focuses on tackling invasive marine pests through diver training, public education, and citizen science.
The PADI AWARE Vulnerable Species Protection Grant, made possible thanks to the generous support of Freshfield, will allow ADI to expand its program to recruit more citizen scientists and enhance practical strategies to protect marine ecosystems and native species in collaboration with community groups, not-for-profits, local councils, state government, agencies, and businesses.
The involvement of a larger citizen science community will allow for the early detection and removal of any invasive species in previously unaffected areas, preserving the balance of ecosystems in the local marine areas, as well as the abundance of native marine life for future generations.
“We believe education is key to fostering environmental awareness among divers and local communities,” said Ting Ting Lee, PADI Course Director at ADI.
Coral Catch (Yayasan Gili Matra Bersama) – Gili Islands, Indonesia
Coral Catch (Yayasan Gili Matra Bersama), an award-winning scholarship program, is on a mission to provide opportunities for local women to pursue a career in marine conservation. Focused on addressing three pressing challenges — coral reef degradation, gender inequality in conservation, and limited local community involvement — Coral Catch is creating real change where it matters most.
“Our success is not measured by the number of corals we plant or the square meters of reef we restore, but by the lives we transform — empowering women and communities to lead the charge in marine conservation,” explains founder Rose Huizenga.
Participants gain hands-on experience by designing and monitoring their own coral restoration projects. But Coral Catch is about more than skills and experience — it’s about creating leaders. Graduates leave the program with the tools to inspire others and pay it forward to build a community of change-makers, teaching local schoolchildren about conservation, organizing weekly beach cleanups, assisting in training local dive guides, and even teaching other women how to swim.
Coral Catch has deployed over 250 structures, planted more than 5,000 corals and established their own underwater science lab to identify the most effective coral restoration techniques in the Gili Matra Marine Reserve. To date, 32 Superwomen have graduated from the program, all of whom are now working in marine conservation or continuing their studies in marine science.
Thanks to support from the PADI AWARE Community Grant, the tenth round of scholars will soon begin their journey as conservation leaders, bringing Coral Catch closer to their ultimate vision: building a network of 100 female leaders working with their communities to protect and restore Indonesia’s reefs.
Corals for Conservation – Fiji
Corals for Conservation is leading efforts in Fiji to reinforce locally managed marine protected areas (MPAs) in the face of climate change. They work to help communities to multiply MPAs with coral restoration to accelerate coral and fish recovery. By planting heat-adapted corals and enhancing fish habitats, they are equipping the Naidiri Youth Marine Park to withstand warming seas and protect biodiversity.
The grant will enable Corals for Conservation to prepare the marine park with greater resilience for anticipated coral bleaching events in 2025 and beyond and to continue its role as a model site for sustainable marine management in Fiji.
“In Fiji indigenous communities are in the forefront of marine conservation, with over 400 locally managed MPAs established,” said Austin Bowden-Kerby, managing director of Corals for Conservation. “We must now maintain these gains in the face of climate change.”
Marine Research Foundation – Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
With 20 years of experience in marine research and conservation, Marine Research Foundation (MRF) is scaling up its efforts to combat marine debris in Sabah waters. This project combines underwater cleanup expeditions with public education campaigns to help local youth, dive operators, and community members protect marine ecosystems.
The funding will help foster meaningful collaboration with local youth, dive operators, the diving community, and the local authorities, strengthening conservation efforts collectively. The grant funding represents more than resources – it’s a step towards a thriving ocean and supports the livelihoods of local communities who rely heavily on a healthy marine environment.
Liyana Khalid, MRF Senior Conservation Officer, noted, “We at MRF believe that focused interventions and ongoing collaborative efforts can spark a ripple effect, extending beyond the city to create lasting change across the region for healthier oceans!”
TAKATA Experience Dive & Research – Mahahual, Mexico
TAKATA Experience Dive & Research has been a cornerstone of marine biodiversity preservation in Mahahual since 2016. They have recently created the Marine Resilience & Sustainability (MARES) Center, which overviews the scientific part of their projects. Recognized as an Actor for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, TAKATA and MARES’ coral restoration project combines innovative techniques in coral reproduction, lion fish removal, and herbivore reintroduction with robust environmental education and community involvement. The grant will enable TAKATA to scale its efforts to restore key coral species and increase biodiversity while fostering ecological awareness among local youth.
“Protecting our oceans and its wonders should be innate to humanity,” shared Cassiopea Carrier Doneys, co-founder of TAKATA Experience and director of the MARES Center. “Let’s remember our role in the conservation of the natural world and ensure a thriving marine world.”
The integrated approach of the Mahahual Coral Restoration Project will support greater reef biodiversity through the recovery of endangered coral species, increased herbivory and reduced lion fish predation. It will also aid the creation of a community deeply involved in conservation.
Master Divers – Koh Tao, Thailand
Master Divers is leveraging its commitment to sustainability in Koh Tao to create an academic hub that attracts researchers and expands reef conservation efforts. With the grant funding, over the next year Master Divers aims to engage the next generation by recruiting 15 conservation interns, organize 35 conservation courses, and remove 200 kg (440 pounds) of marine debris — all while inspiring the local community to take action and educating the public about the importance of reef ecosystems.
The grant will allow Master Divers to build a stronger research foundation, upgrade equipment, and expand outreach programs to educate the next generation of ocean advocates. Their hope is that this funding will ultimately help safeguard local marine ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and ensure a healthy planet for future generations. It’s an investment in their community’s well-being and a testament to the power of collective action.
A Unified Vision for Ocean Conservation
Each of these grantees reflects the passion and determination of the global dive community and the profound impact of collective action. By supporting their innovative projects, the PADI AWARE Foundation strengthens its mission to drive local action for global ocean conservation. As these projects unfold, they serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration, reminding us of the power of community-driven solutions to protect the ocean.
For more information about the PADI AWARE Foundation and the Mission Hub Community Grant Program, visit www.padiaware.org.
Help PADI AWARE Support Ocean Heroes
In the past few months, PADI AWARE has received more than 230 community grant requests – a fourfold increase in just two years. Donate to the PADI AWARE Foundation today to provide much-needed funding to critical ocean conservation initiatives that are driving real impact where it’s needed most.
