The PADI AWARE Foundation, born out of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), is an environmental nonprofit organization committed to ocean conservation. With registered charities in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia, it brings together an international community of professional and recreational scuba divers, diving schools, and enthusiasts. Their mission focuses on driving local action for global ocean protection, fostering a love for the marine environment, and implementing tangible solutions to preserve its health and vitality.

PADI AWARE Foundation's activities are multifaceted and geared towards meaningful impact. They manage four evergreen programs through public funding: marine debris, shark protection, community grants, and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). By providing tools and resources, they engage the public and scuba divers in citizen science, education, advocacy, and various environmental campaigns. They also work closely with PADI dive shops, who financially support ocean protection through the 100% AWARE partnership.

Their efforts are designed to create a ripple effect, empowering individuals to take action on key threats facing the oceans and contribute to its preservation.

Their programs focus on the urgent challenges facing our blue planet and are designed to drive local action for global ocean conservation. Key programs include:

• Marine Debris Program: This includes initiatives to reduce underwater debris and promotes local action to prevent marine pollution.

• Shark and Ray Conservation: Advocacy and conservation measures to protect these vital species.

• Community Grants: Provides funding to support grassroots conservation efforts in various communities.

• Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): Works on the creation and strengthening of MPAs to shelter marine life.

• 100% AWARE Partnership: A collaboration with PADI dive shops and dive professionals to support ocean protection with each student certification.

• Dive Against Debris®: Engages divers to remove marine debris from the ocean and report data on the types, quantities, and locations of materials collected.

• Adopt a Dive Site™: A program encouraging dive leaders to make a lasting local impact by committing to ongoing Dive Against Debris surveys in one dive site.

Through these programs, PADI AWARE Foundation actively engages both professional and recreational scuba divers, mobilizing them in activities such as citizen science, education, and advocacy to tackle key threats to the ocean.