PADI Makes Significant Contribution to Researching Marine Environments

Multiple studies on ocean environments, marine life and coral reefs around the world provide a way for PADI to help improve the aquatic world for future generations.

Graduate students at the Center for Marine Bio Diversity (CMBC) at the Scripps Institute in San Diego, California are currently conducting multiple studies designed to learn about and improve the marine environment worldwide thanks to a grant from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). Over the past two years, PADI has awarded grants totaling $36,000 that have enabled 13 students to conduct important and long-ranging research in various part of the world.

According to Dr. Russell Chapman, Executive Director of the Center, “The substantial donation from PADI immediately strengthened an already impressive graduate program. With PADI’s direct assistance, CMBC and Scripps have created and sustained a unique, effective program. PADI is the only dive-related entity that is contributing to our program at this time.”

Chapman said the 13 graduate students were conducting studies in such places as the Yucatan Peninsula, the Gulf of California, Borneo and other South Pacific islands. Specific areas of study include observing the richness diversity of grouper populations in the Gulf of California, coral reef degradation and changes in coral reefs in the South Pacific and coral spawning in the Caribbean.

“The studies will help us to continue to protect and restore marine biodiversity that is so important to the enjoyment of recreational scuba divers on one hand and so very crucial to the future and fate of life as we know if on Planet Ocean (aka Planet Earth) on the other,” Chapman said.

Through its involvement in grant programs like this and others funded throughout the years, PADI is taking action in “giving back” to the marine environment that we all love to experience. According to PADI Worldwide President and Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Drew Richardson, “We feel a responsibility as scuba divers, as educators and as leaders in the industry to lead the way in helping to preserve and protect the underwater environment throughout the world. This grant program is a small step in a much larger effort that we all must participate in together.”

PADI was one of the first organizations in the dive industry to focus attention to aquatic conservation when it introduced Project AWARE in the early 1990s. Now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization, Project AWARE Foundation protects underwater environments through education, advocacy and action. For more information about Project AWARE's ongoing efforts and to become involved, go to www.projectaware.org.