The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), the world's largest scuba diving organisation, is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Founded by John Cronin and Ralph Erickson in a small US flat, PADI has grown to include 6,600 dive centres and resorts across more than 180 countries, certifying over 30 million divers. The organisation's commitment to ocean conservation and diver education has made it a leader in the field.
PADI's presence in India, established in the late 1990s, has contributed to the growing popularity of scuba diving as an adventure sport. Dive centres are now located in Mumbai, Lakshadweep, the Andaman Islands, Goa, Puducherry, Bengaluru, and Kerala, among other locations.
Under the leadership of Dr. Drew Richardson, who celebrates his 40th year with PADI, the organisation has become a purpose-driven global lifestyle brand. Dr. Richardson stated, “Sixty years ago, a torch was lit, and a movement was born beneath the sea. This year, we celebrate the progress that we have made towards our mission to create a billion Torchbearers to explore and protect the ocean together.”
PADI's conservation efforts include the Pillars of Ocean Change initiative, which unites the global dive community to balance humanity and the ocean. Supported by PADI AWARE and the PADI Foundation, the organisation has provided over $6m (US$6m) in grants for marine research and education, protected over 100 shark and ray species, and removed more than 2.5 million pieces of debris from the ocean.
Looking ahead, PADI aims to certify millions more divers who are trained to seek adventure and save the ocean. Dr. Richardson expressed optimism about the future, envisioning a world where one billion people are ocean advocates.
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