The ocean is full of beautiful, unexpected encounters. But sometimes, those encounters reveal a heartbreaking reality. For PADI Course Director Mudasir Wajid, one particular dive in Fujairah, UAE, became a powerful call to action.
Heartbreaking Scene at Martini Rock
In the summer of 2025, Wajid was diving near the famous Martini Rock in the United Arab Emirates.
As he descended towards the shallow, sandy bottom of the bay, he spotted a rare and beautiful sight: a fever of about ten stingrays resting together. In an area with frequent boat traffic, this gathering was truly unusual, and Wajid hung back to simply observe.
What he saw next was devastating.
One large ray was in critical distress. A fishing hook, rusted and old, was deeply embedded, tethering the animal to the reef with a fishing line stretched taut for nearly 100 meters (330 feet). The line was a visible constraint, and the stingray’s suffering was palpable. This was more than just ghost gear; it was an animal facing a slow, painful fate.
The Power of Patient Intervention
Wajid knew he couldn’t leave the animal to suffer. He could only imagine the ray’s fear, having been harmed by human gear. It struggled immensely as he began his approach.
Yet, even as the ray thrashed violently, Wajid refused to give up. He demonstrated remarkable patience and calm, waiting for the right moment to act. Carefully, he deployed his dive knife. With a controlled and precise movement, he severed the tight, destructive line.
The immediate relief was evident: the stingray shot away to freedom, followed by the rest of the fever. It was a bittersweet victory. While the embedded hook remained, Wajid’s methodical and calm action gave the animal its best chance at survival and immediate relief from the entanglement.
A Career Defined by Action
With over 15 years and 3500+ dives under his belt, Wajid has truly experienced the highest highs the underwater world has to offer. His diving has taken him globally, from observing the majestic manta rays in the Maldives and oceanic whitetip sharks in Egypt, to swimming alongside the gentle whale sharks of Musandam and marveling at the tiniest sea slugs in the Philippines.
He has been a part of many marine life rescues throughout his extensive career. However, even these rewarding encounters always left him with a feeling that something was missing. The stingray rescue was no different. He felt fortunate, almost miraculously placed, to be there at the exact moment to intervene, but the randomness and the heartbreak of the encounter were overwhelming.
As a PADI Course Director, Wajid’s influence extends far beyond individual dives. He believes that the foundation of any great dive professional is a commitment to the environment. Consequently, his Instructor Development Courses (IDCs) are built on a philosophy where conservation is not just an elective, but a core component of the curriculum. He trains the next generation of PADI Instructors to lead by example, ensuring that ocean health is at the heart of every lesson they teach.
Equipping Divers To Act
That single rescue cemented an idea that Wajid had been wrestling with for years. As divers, we often encounter animals trapped in ghost gear — lost or abandoned fishing nets and lines — and the need for immediate, on-the-spot assistance is immense.
Wajid realized that divers are the human presence best positioned to intervene, but they needed to be equipped to move beyond being witnesses in order to become immediate first responders.
That night, the Ocean Guardian Rescue Diver Distinctive Specialty was born.
Introducing the Ocean Guardian Rescue Diver Distinctive Specialty
This course is Wajid’s commitment to turning that chance encounter into a global pathway for action. It is built on PADI’s Ocean Conservation Pillar and transforms divers in three core ways:
1. Immediate First Responders
This course moves beyond general theory to provide tangible, practical skills. Students learn the proper use of specialized cutting and dehooking tools and master the ethical Modified No-Contact Principle to safely intervene and save individual marine animals.
2. Active, Ethical Stewards
The course places a strong emphasis on diver safety and ethical decision-making. Students learn how to assess a situation, ensuring that every intervention is responsible and minimizes harm to both the animal and the intervening diver. We learn when to intervene and, crucially, how to do it responsibly.
3. Citizen Scientists
The specialty trains students to use their rescue actions to fuel global change. Every rescue and observation contributes vital data to global research, helping conservationists identify problem areas and track gear loss.
Get involved with PADI AWARE today, where every action can fuel a global change. Track your contributions in the Conservation Action Portal, and be a part of the growing movement that is shaping our ocean future!
A Global Pathway for Action
The Ocean Guardian Rescue Diver Distinctive Specialty is more than a certification; it is a direct pathway for every PADI diver to make a tangible contribution to the preservation of our underwater world, one rescue at a time.
This course empowers you to give back to the ocean which gives us so much beauty and wonder.
Look for Course Director Mudasir Wajid or ask your local dive shop today if they will offer the new Ocean Guardian Rescue Diver Distinctive Specialty.
