Has it been a while since you updated your PADI Diver cards? Can’t find your PADI certification card? If you need to update your card, or simply want a spare card, make a splash in 2024 with a new, limited edition dive certification card design by wildlife photographers, like Rafael Fernandez, Sam Glenn-Smith, Stan Moniz, and Jay Clue. Choose from a dazzling array of a mako shark, seahorse, blue-ringed octopus, weedy seadragon, green sea turtle and manta ray designs.
Your PADI certification card is your passport to explore the underwater world. Show your certification status worldwide with a limited edition dive certification card in either eCard form or a waterproof card made from recycled materials.
Make a Splash With an Animated Certification Card!
New for 2024!! Be the first to show off your diver status with one of our new animated certification cards (available as eCards only). The current limited edition designs feature either a mako shark on the move or a seahorse in dazzling sunbeams by award-winning underwater photographer Rafael Fernandez.
Traveling to a remote destination or simply like carrying a card? Both designs are also available in static, limited edition waterproof cards made from recycled materials. But, we’ve only printed 2,000 cards, so don’t wait!
Keep reading for more information on these new limited edition designs plus all the other designs currently available for purchase.
Mako Greeting Card by Rafael Fernandez
The sun sets on a mako shark and another great day of diving in Bermeo, Spain. Be among only a limited number of divers worldwide to show your diver status with this new Mako Greeting eCard design by renowned underwater photographer Rafael Fernandez. This design is also available in a limited edition waterproof card made from recycled materials, but only 2,000 cards are available – hurry and order yours now!
For any shark enthusiast, this card is definitely one to add to your ‘must-have’ list!
Meet the Photographer – Rafael Fernandez
“My life is the sea, my passion is the sea and my obsession is the sea.” Great words from storyteller and renowned underwater photographer Rafael Fernandez who surprisingly grew up inland in Madrid, Spain.
Thanks to the influence of his adventurer/photographer father, Rafael’s life has been irrevocably entwined with photography and the sea since childhood. In 2012, Rafael became the youngest person to win the CMAS European and World Championships for Underwater Photography and, in 2022, he won Photographer of the Year.
Rafael is a renewable energy engineer, a commercial diver, and a dive instructor. Through his photography, he shows us the incredible underwater world to create awareness for its protection. While winning championships and seeing his photos on the cover of National Geographic is exciting, he says, “I prefer not to dwell on that and continue giving my all to inspire people to love the sea as much as I do. I believe it’s the only way to save it.“
Rafael’s favorite diving spots are Tarifa and Ceuta in the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain, “It’s in my country, relatively undiscovered, bursting with color and surprises, and always holds room for unexpected encounters. With the permits from MITECO, I’ve experienced the most spectacular moments of my life alongside magnificent cetaceans.“
The mako shark photo featured on this first-ever limited edition animated certification card was captured on Rafael’s second day in northern Spain. He was leading a photo and shark workshop with shark conservationist and PADI AmbassaDiver™ Gádor Muntaner. He explains, “We were very lucky. I knew that doing this activity at the latest hour of the day could give me the possibility of playing with the warm colors of the rays of sun, and it is what I did. Waiting for the right moment to frame the shark and the sun almost in the sunset.”
We asked Rafael what key ocean conservation message he wanted to share. He responded, “As lovers of the sea and divers, we are all its ambassadors. We have the responsibility and the privilege to witness and showcase the wonders that lie beneath. Let’s enjoy the sea with respect and love, aiming to share its marvels with the rest of the world and do everything possible to protect it. We witness its decline, and as Sir David Attenborough said, we should witness its recovery. Our future depends on it.”
The Story Behind the PADI Mako Greeting Card
Award-winning underwater photographer Rafael Fernandez and shark conservationist Gádor Muntaner were wrapping up a shark and photo workshop off the seaside town Bermeo, Spain when this mako shark appeared in the late afternoon glow. When asked about this shot, Fernandez said he wanted to play with the warm colors of the sunbeams while waiting for the right moment to frame the shark near sunset. He went on to add, “This animal is endangered and according to some scientific studies it will be extinct in a few decades. So, we were really lucky to see it.“
Seahorsin’ Around Card by Rafael Fernandez
A seahorse swims by in full splendor in Mar Menor, Spain. Be among a limited number of divers worldwide to show your diver status with this new Seahorsin’ Around eCard by renowned underwater photographer Rafael Fernandez (see above). This design is also available in a limited edition, waterproof card made from recycled materials, but only 2,000 physical copies are available as well.
The Story Behind the Seahorsin’ Around Card
A seahorse sighting shows what the future may hold for Mar Menor saltwater lagoon in Marcia, Spain. Mar Menor was a coastal treasure brimming with biological richness but collapsed after four decades of nitrate and phosphate contamination caused by nearby agriculture.
Ocean advocate and acclaimed underwater photographer Rafael Fernandez explains, “The Mar Menor, a place with a unique ecosystem with great biological richness, was on the brink of death and still remains in a critical situation today. This natural paradise has been ignored, going from being the world’s most densely populated area for seahorses to a graveyard with a sad and uncertain future. This should serve as a lesson and a small-scale example of what could happen in the Mediterranean on a larger scale in the coming years if we do not act immediately. But we still have time to save both seas.”
This is only the beginning, Fernandez continues, “I have been lucky enough with my young age to visit almost all my dream ecosystems and to photograph all the biggest and most iconic animals from the ocean. From the Antarctic Peninsula to Svalbard in the Arctic Ocean, I have photographed the biggest marine animals, like the blue whales, sperm whales and many species of sharks, and difficult and tiny beings all around the world. I’ve also experienced unique moments undocumented by science, like four years ago when orcas showed us a thresher shark they had hunted.”
Fernandez adds, “Still, after every great moment, I am convinced that there are even many corners of the world that I still don’t know how to photograph and a lot of stories that deserve to be told.”
Want to learn more about seahorses? Check out our blog “The Only Male Animals in the World That Get Pregnant and Give Birth“.
Blue-Ringed Octopus Crawl Card by Sam Glenn-Smith
This epic certification card features a blue-ringed octopus taken by Australian underwater photographer Sam Glenn Smith. This intriguing blue-ringed octopus is seemingly beckoning divers everywhere to come along on its nocturnal crawl.
This card is a must for any critter or macro photography aficionados out there! The limited edition dive certification card (eCard only) shows the unique behavior of the blue ringed octopus as it crawls along the seafloor at Rye Pier, one of Melbourne’s best known dive sites.
Meet the Photographer – Sam Glenn Smith
“I am an underwater photographer, Master Scuba Diver Trainer, and dive guide from the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. I am incredibly passionate and fascinated by our marine world and love to dive as much as I can. I am fortunate that my career at The Scuba Doctor Dive Shop in Rye allows me to spend so much time in the water through instruction, guiding, and photography, as well as presenting me with many opportunities to show guests from the local area and abroad our incredibly rich and biodiverse waters that we are lucky enough to call home.”
Sam uses his underwater photographs to inspire blue planet connection and to promote positive ocean change. “You don’t have to take award winning photos to be able to tell a story, so get out there and tell those stories. When people care they are more likely to make positive changes and actively work to protect the ocean alongside the diving world.”
When Sam is not diving, he’s at home with his wife Kat and his dog Jax who love to hear about and see his photos of underwater life.
The Story Behind the PADI Blue Ringed Octopus Crawl Card
Sam Glenn Smith captured this stunning shot while diving at Rye Pier, which is known for its incredible critter life and macro underwater photography opportunities. What makes this image quite unique is that blue rings are usually photographed while stationary, but this behavioral display of the octopus walking or crawling on the sea floor is a very rare moment captured on camera. The image also shows the elegance and exquisite details of the blue-ringed octopus – aspects of this particular critter that are all too often overshadowed by its potent, venomous bite.
When asked about the image, Sam commented, “It is still one of my favorite, all-time images as the image shows so much movement and beauty in a creature that is often considered deadly – almost like an underwater ballet.”
Are you keen to know more about octopus species and where to find them? Check out our blog: “8 Best Destinations for Diving with 8 Different Species of Octopus“
Weedy Seadragon Nursery Card by Sam Glenn-Smith
Showcase your dive skills and show your reef love with this limited edition certification card design, also from photographer Sam Glenn-Smith. Two weedy seadragon males clutch the eggs of their future offspring at Flinders Pier in Victoria, Australia.
This limited edition dive certification card is available in both an eCard and a waterproof card made from recycled materials. There are only 2500 available.
The Story Behind the PADI Weedy Seadragon Nursery Card
Photographer Sam Glenn-Smith sat down to tell us about the photo behind the card. “This image was taken at one of my favorite local dive sites, Flinders Pier in Victoria, Australia. It is not unusual to see males with eggs hanging out together but trying to capture an image of that always proved difficult.”
If it was news to you that male weedy seadragons carry and protect their fertilized eggs, you may want to know more about this beautiful species. Find out all about weedy seadragons here.
Manta Enchantment Card by Jay Clue
Are you a fan of manta rays? Why not showcase your dive skills, along with your passion for these ocean giants, with this limited edition dive certification card designed by acclaimed photographer and conservationist, Jay Clue.
The PADI Manta Enchantment Card is available as both an eCard and as a physical, waterproof card made from recycled materials. Act fast – there are only 2500 of these cards available!
Meet the Photographer – Jay Clue
Jay Clue is a PADI Master Instructor, Tec Trimix Instructor, Cave Diver, and Closed Circuit Rebreather Diver who has captured the hearts of ocean lovers all over the world with his inspiring approach to photography, cinematography, and storytelling.
Jay’s impressive work encompasses wildlife, adventure travel, star-filled nightscapes, and conservation photography. In addition to working as a commercial photographer, he teaches photography workshops and leads unique ocean wildlife trips worldwide. Jay also hosts Scuba Diving magazine’s monthly ‘Ask A Pro Photographer‘ column and social media sessions, helping readers enhance their photography skills.
Early on, Jay says that he realized something incredibly important: beautiful images and stories can do a lot more than just be pretty. They have this incredible power to make humans who have never been to the ocean before fall in love with it and maybe even want to protect it. This realization became ingrained in Jay’s work as he continued learning and growing as a photographer. He no longer only wanted to just capture the beauty he sees in the ocean, but instead, Jay wanted to use his photos to inspire others to hopefully feel the same passion that he has for our oceans.
The Story Behind the Manta Enchantment Card
In Jay Clue’s own words, “In October 2023, I was working on a brand shoot for PADI at the insanely gorgeous Wakaya Island Resort in Fiji. One of the coolest things about this project was that we had Luke Gordon, Project Leader of Manta Project Fiji, along with us.
The manta in the photo is ‘Bula Blue’ (M467). She has actually only been spotted four times and only at Wakaya. Her first sighting ever was in June 2023, only a few months before she came to visit us. The diver in the background is Julie Andersen, founder of Shark Angels and PADI Global Brand Director. Julie’s work in shark conservation is inspiring, to say the least. So, being able to capture this shot of a curious young manta with a passionate conservationist while being alongside an incredibly talented marine scientist at a photoshoot for PADI is just like everything you could ever want in one package. If there was ever a perfect moment that summed up PADI’s ‘Seek Adventure, Save The Ocean’ tagline, this was it.”
PADI AWARE Sea Turtle Legend Card by Stan Moniz
Support ocean conservation and marine animal protection while showcasing your commitment to our blue planet with this PADI AWARE certification card designed by photographer Stan Moniz. The physical, waterproof card is made from recycled materials, and USD $10 from every PADI AWARE Sea Turtle Legend Card purchase will be donated to the PADI AWARE Foundation™. It’s a win-win for you and the ocean!
Meet the Photographer – Stan Moniz
Stan Moniz captures the beauty and power of the oceans through photography and film. He is an enthusiastic surfer and passionate scuba diver from the Hawaiian islands, now living in Orange County, California.
Born to make waves, Stan’s inspiration to pick up a camera came from years of experience freediving and surfing the North Shore on Oahu, Hawaii. Sharing stories and empowering people to explore the world through his lens, he raises awareness about the beauty and fragility of the ocean and inspires others to protect it. He is an adventure seeker and stargazer who explores and captures the beauty of the night sky through astrophotography.
Stan is a passionate teacher at heart, helping others discover their creative expression through photography and film.
The Story Behind the PADI AWARE Sea Turtle Legend Card
Photographer Stan Moniz tells us, “Growing up, my family and friends would tell me stories about a special place in Maui where I could observe sea turtle cleaning stations. Maui is one of the best locations on the planet to see dozens of these beautiful creatures at any given time.
Many moons later, I finally got to see the place that my family told me about with my own two eyes, an experience that had always been on my bucket list.
What makes this photo so unique to me is that it was taken on a fun dive minutes after achieving my PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification. Words couldn’t express how impressed and in awe I was about the experience and how easy it was to relax underwater and take in the beauty of nature.”
This photo was taken off the west coast of Maui just months before the devastating August 8, 2023 Lahaina, Maui wildfire.
Time for a New Certification Card?
Are you prepared for your next diving adventure? If you’ve lost your PADI certification card or if you only received an eCard with your new certification but want a recycled plastic card as well, be sure to order your new PADI Diver Card soon.
Join PADI Club and SAVE!
Want to save some money on your new certification card? Join PADI Club and receive one free eCard per year (featuring one of three members-only designs) and save 25% off a physical PADI replacement card once a year. Plus, you’ll get loads of other perks, like 20% off eLearning, PADI Gear discounts, and free online access to DAN’s Prepared Diver Course and the PADI ReActivate program.
