PADI Congratulates the 2008 Go PRO Challenge Professional Rating Contest Winners!
The Go PRO Challenge Professional Ratings Contest recognizes the extraordinary achievements of PADI Members, encouraging them to advance their professional education and share their passion for diving with others. Through dedication and effort, each PADI Pro below won the competition in his region and was eigible to take home the top prize of a DOXA watch!
One winner from each region took home a DOXA SUB 5000T dive watch!
Check out Grand Prize Winners!
How Did These Winners Do It?
They completed professional certifications or ratings for themselves and went on to help many other scuba divers discover the transformative power of diving. Each tells his story below.
Not a contest winner, but wish you were? You can still go for it in the 2010 Go PRO Challenge Testimonial Contest and take your shot at winning one of 100 valuable prizes, including PADI-branded Applie iPods® and Go PRO Challenge Winners' Circle Jackets! Transform your life, get the job you’ve always dreamed of, and take home valuable prizes along the way!
Watch the 2009 Testimonial Contest Winning Video
PADI Americas and Canada Region Grand Prize Winner
Paul Leland Faulstich III
Grove Scuba, Coconut Grove, Florida USA
Paul's Story: One Tank at a Time
PADI Americas, Canada and Asia Pacific Region's Winner’s Circle. See the full list of PADI Americas, Canada and Asia Pacific Jacket Winners. (If you are on the list, you'll hear from PADI soon with instructions for selecting your size.)
PADI Asia Pacific Grand Prize Winner
Edward Cardwell, IDC Staff Instructor
Sipadan Scuba, Semporna, Borneo, Malaysia
Edward's Story: Doing What I Love Every Day
PADI UK/Nordic (PIL) Region Grand Prize Winners
Ryland “Wayne” Morris, IDC Staff Instructor
Independent Instructor, Wolverhampton UK
Wayne's Story: Part of the Magic
Check back soon to read about these UK/Nordic Regional Challenge Winners
James T. Stockdale 642212 - UK & Ireland
Brian Ring 623709 – Africa South and Sub Sahara
Naida Southall 637760 – Egypt
Saeed A Alkhatami 640937 – Middle East & N Africa
Mehmet F Gencoglu 641059 – Mediterranean
Dora Farkas 640004 – Eastern Europe and Russia
Palle Djursgard 505489 - Nordic
PADI Europe Winners
Rodolfo Lizarralde, Master Scuba Diver Trainer
ZOEA Mallorca Dive Centre, Santa Ponsa, Mallorca, Spain
Winner: Open Water Scuba Instructor Category
Rodolfo's Story: I Love Teaching Diving in Mallorca
Oliver Schmidt, Assistant Instructor
Winner: Divemaster or Assistant Instructor Category
Tauchschule Spiritdivers, Fürth, Germany
Oliver's Story: Sharing the Joy of Diving
Read more about all PADI Europe Go Pro Challenge Professional Ratings Contest winners.
PADI Japan Winner
Yutaka Okubo, Open Water Scuba Instructor
Marine Club Berry, Okinawa, Japan
Yutaka's Story: The Beauty of the Night in the Underwater World
(Note: Yutaka won special recognition from PADI Japan.)