PADI Announces Support for Ecotourism Training Center.

Sydney , 28 th April, 2005 The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Asia Pacific are pleased to announce key support for dive industry recovery with the introduction of the Ecotourism Training Center at the Asian Dive Expo (ADEX) earlier this month.

The newly created Ecotourism Training Center presented a model for a long term disaster relief project to the diving community in early April. PADI, the world's largest SCUBA certification organisation has now announced official support the Ecotourism Training Center program. "The project aims are to be commended and the Ecotourism Training Center will have PADI's long term support." said Shahram Saber, Marketing Manager, PADI Asia Pacific. "I will be working with Regional Manager Hans Ullrich and the Team at PADI Asia Pacific to ensure PADI's support and the success of the program."

The project will be located Khao Lak, Thailand, which is one of the nations most devastated regions in the aftermath of the Dec 26th tsunami. The focus is on providing immediate employment and training for displaced workers in the dive and supporting industries. The initial group of 25 young Thai men and women will form a sponsored marketing initiative to bring new tourism to the area. Their marketing effort will be supported by many international new agencies, travel organisations, diving and tourism publications, and other industry sponsors including PADI. The idea is to make the group of trainees into ambassadors for the region's economic recovery.

The group will market through main stream media and co-market with other environmentally conscious organisations, and will document the program's charter with video, audio, and written production in the modern style of a reality series. The world will get to know their faces, their stories and their efforts to rebuild, and receive a personal invitation to visit the area and support the relief effort with their patronage as a volunteer tourist.

Other dive industry professionals aiding the Ecotourism Training Center project include: Holger Saupe, Managing Director of Dive Supply has obtained ScubaPro dive gear for the program, Roel van Leeuwen, and Sharon Loh, Suntec Integrated Media (the organisers for the ADEX show) are considering ways to assist the program with their dive recovery fund. Scubazoo, an expert media group of marine biologists has offered a range of support, including contacts with media giants, and fund raising knowledge with hard hitting media creation. Scubazoo's Managing Partner, Simon Christopher said: "the program is aligned with our love of the ocean and we will support the Ecotourism Training Center in whatever ways we can."

The Dive Industry media throughout the world have shown support of the project. Reid Ridgway, Managing Director of the Ecotourism Training Center project, commented that main stream media groups in the USA have shown interest in sponsoring the program and in fund raising for the program's media lab. Pascal Hernikat, Manager of the Ecotourism Training Center is working with the European media to insure the program has the same success across the globe.

The students themselves will receive a living wage to attend the program, and will be given the opportunity to upgrade their skills to include mass media communications, computer and language skills, diving certification, and environmental education. They will also learn from a variety of community experts giving their time to the program as guest lecturers, and participate in community projects such as underwater clean-up efforts and coral reef regeneration projects. The program will be self sustaining after its initial charter by functioning as a booking agency to supply the area's hotels, resorts, and tour operations with new customers. The goal is to run the program indefinitely as a bridge between the tourism industry and training young Thai people to become industry leaders.

About PADI
PADI (The Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the world's largest recreational diving membership organization. The membership includes dive businesses, resort facilities, academic institutions, instructor trainers, dive educators, divers, snorkellers and other watersports enthusiasts. Professional PADI members (dive centres, resorts, educational facilities, instructors, assistant instructors and divemasters) teach the vast majority of the world’s recreational divers, issuing over a million certifications each year. PADI professionals make underwater exploration and adventure accessible to the public while maintaining the highest industry standards for dive training, safety and customer service. To learn more about PADI, log on to www.padi.com.

For more information on the project contact:

Louise Cooke
Marketing Coordinator
PADI Asia Pacific
louisec@padi.com.au
+ 61 2 9451 2300, ext. 212