Take mutual frustration over the state of the diving industry in the 1960s, add some long conversations about what to do about it, then throw a bottle of Johnnie Walker’s finest into the mix and you have all the required ingredients to create the Professional Association of Dive Instructors — or PADI, as it’s more commonly known.
In this article, we’ll explore the remarkable story and share some fun facts about the birth of the world’s largest scuba diving organization.
A Better Way To Learn To Dive
In 1966, in Illinois, USA, PADI founders John Cronin and Ralph Erickson — a scuba equipment salesman and swimming instructor, respectively — shared several concerns about the state of the scuba diving industry at the time. They believed the industry was unprofessional and made it unnecessarily difficult for new people to enter the sport. At the same time, the pair also shared a clear goal: to give aspiring divers the education, skills and the confidence they need to safely explore the underwater world.
Over the following weeks, one thing led to another, and over a number of shared libations involving a soon-to-be infamous bottle of Johnnie Walker, the pair agreed to form a partnership, working toward their mutual goal of teaching the world to scuba dive. The first step of this newly formed duo was to create PADI.
Did you know? PADI was founded with just USD $30 — a modest start to the world’s largest scuba organization.
Their goal was simple: give people the opportunity to learn essential scuba diving skills and enjoy the underwater world through modern scuba diving training. They also wanted PADI’s reach to extend beyond the USA and to connect with people around the globe. In doing so, PADI aimed to create confident, knowledgeable scuba divers who dive regularly and support the growth of the sport — a philosophy that has remained unchanged for more than 60 years.
Shaping the Diving Industry
Given the global PADI we all know today, it can be hard to imagine the days when the organization was only a small community of passionate divers. It may be even more surprising to learn that in its first few years, PADI struggled to gain momentum, mustering just 400 members by the late 1960s.
Did you know? In 1996, Jacques Cousteau became PADI Member #4 — a legendary diver joining the world’s largest scuba community.
But it wouldn’t stay that way for long. Several pivotal milestones were on the horizon. The first occurred when Cronin attended an international trade show in New York City. There, he met Paul Tzimoulis, who would later become the editor of Skin Diver Magazine. Tzimoulis suggested adding diver photographs to PADI certification cards. This seemingly small change was implemented, and it helped propel PADI’s global reach.
Did you know? In 1973, PADI introduced the Master Scuba Diver rank — the industry’s first non-instructional rating.
The second key milestone came in the late 1970s, when PADI made the decision to create its own multimedia and educational materials for both students and instructors across all of its courses. This bold move positioned PADI as the industry leader in scuba diving education and clearly differentiated it from competing training organizations at the time, while also laying the groundwork for significant long-term growth
Did you know? In 1988, PADI published the Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving — the first comprehensive resource for recreational divers.
Leading the Way
By the late 1980s, PADI had become the leader in the scuba diving industry, offering scuba diving training programs around the world. With the resulting success and the realization that so many new people were embracing the sport, PADI was inspired and compelled to promote the protection of underwater environments by initiating a number of conservation programs, many of which still exist in some form today.
Did you know? In 1991, PADI released its first course video on VHS, starting with Open Water Diver, in order to help divers study independently.
Since its inception, PADI has introduced initiatives to help protect endangered species, reduce ocean pollution and increase our understanding of humanity’s impact on the oceans and waterways through the PADI AWARE Foundation®.
60 Years of Excellence — With Many More to Come
Today, there are more than 6,600 PADI Dive Centers and Resorts in over 180 countries and territories, along with over 300 employees in PADI corporate offices around the world. PADI has issued 30 million+ scuba diving certifications. What’s more, the original vision from the 1960s still remains the focus for the organization, without any change in sight:
“PADI intends to be the world leader in the educational development of scuba diving professionals and enthusiasts.”
Ready To Join the World’s Largest Diving Community?
If hearing how the world’s largest scuba diving organization was created has sparked your own desire to become a PADI Diver, you’re in the right place. You can start your journey right away with PADI eLearning. Alternatively, locate your nearest PADI dive shop to speak with a PADI Professional in person.
