Tauchen-Award 2006:
PADI once again the best association for diving

The award of the title “Best association for education in diving” by the German diving magazine “Tauchen” is one of the most traditional events during the “Boot” exhibition in Düsseldorf. This year PADI has won it for the ninth time consecutively.

On the Thursday of this year’s exhibition, the magazine “Tauchen” has organized its traditional gala event and as with each year all people occupying any role concerned with the diving industry have been present. Alexandra Jahr, editor of “Tauchen” and Carolyn Martin, chief-copyreader of “Tauchen” went over for the award of the title “Best association for education in diving 2006” before hundreds of guests. Also for 2006 winner PADI, this meant a joyful achievement for the representatives of PADI Europe present at the event. This honour was awarded to the worldwide most important association for diving especially because of its fascinating educational programme, its ongoing successful campaign “Diving on NITROX”, as well as its specialty “PADI Digital Underwater Photographer” launched during “Boot 2006”. Barakuda and VDST are the winners of the second and third place.

According to Jean-Claude Monachon, CEO of PADI Europe, the award of the title “Best association for education in diving“ represents a true recognition of the great job done by the over 31 000 active members of PADI Europe and in particular by the over 1 100 PADI Dive Centres and Resorts: “It’s not enough to be innovative. It’s not enough to put on the market new and fascinating offers. It is necessary to have motivated partners at the front, who know how to offer these products in a frame of high customer satisfaction. This role is played by our Dive Centres and Resorts, to whom I am particularly thankful“.

Jack W. Lavanchy, milestone in diving and founder of PADI Europe, said: “This further award is a great achievement. I thank “Tauchen” and therefore Alexandra Jahr and Carolyn Martin. With their idea to award this title every year, this specialized magazine contributes much to guarantee a high standard in the frame of diving education.“

PADI Europe is the European branch of PADI, the worldwide most important association for education in diving. PADI Europe was founded in 1983 with headquarters in Hettlingen Switzerland and is nowadays active in 18 countries. To PADI Europe belong the following areas: Maldives, parts of Egypt, the European countries excluding Scandinavia and Great Britain as well as French West Indies.

PADI Europe reunites around 1000 Dive Centres and Resorts, in which teaching is performed using PADIs continued education, starting from the popular beginner course up to the professional level, i.e. those courses, which allow a career to be made from diving.

PADI Europe has around 70 employees. This figure not only includes the staff of the headquarters of Hettlingen (Switzerland), but also PADI Regional Managers responsible for customer care abroad.

For further information:

PADI Europe AG
Oberwilerstr. 3
8442 Hettlingen
Switzerland
Tel: +41 52 304 14 14
Fax: +41 52 304 14 99
sonia.rodriguez@padi.ch