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Adopt The Blue
Adopt The Blue
The world’s largest network of underwater sites for conservation action.
Turning Passion Into Preservation
In partnership with Blancpain, our founding partner of the PADI Blueprint for Ocean Action and its flagship program, Adopt the Blue™, and our non-profit charity, the PADI AWARE Foundation®, we are dedicated to significantly increasing the number of marine protected areas (MPAs) worldwide. Our mission directly supports the global goal to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030.
A Global Solution
Adopt the Blue offers a vast and growing network of underwater sites to establish marine protected areas. Operated by the PADI AWARE Foundation, this open-source platform provides real-time data to guide local policy and protection efforts, helping countries achieve their Sustainable Development Goals.
Driving the Expansion of Marine Protected Areas
Adopt the Blue empowers PADI Dive Centers, Instructors, divers, and all Ocean Torchbearers to actively participate in conservation at both local and global levels. Discover how turning your passion into preservation can make a lasting impact on our oceans.
How It Works
Through the power of Adopt the Blue, PADI AWARE Foundation can provide essential data to help governments protect their marine environments.
Site Adoption
Underwater sites are identified by PADI Dive Shops and Instructors and listed on the global action map.
Data Collection
This open-source inventory provides vital information on MPA status, ecosystem type, and emerging conservation issues.
Collaborative Marine Protection
PADI AWARE works alongside local governments and community leaders to meet their sustainable development goals and create MPAs.
Help Us Reach 10,000 Sites
Is your favorite dive site on the map? Work with any PADI Dive Center to protect what you love.
Supporting MPAs through the PADI AWARE Community Grant Program
The PADI AWARE Community Grant is funding projects run by PADI dive shops and community-based non-profits to create a healthier future for marine ecosystems through ocean conservation. These project address key ocean threats, like climate change, marine debris, marine habitat loss, and marine species protection.
Protecting the Ocean Together
PADI and PADI AWARE are proud to partner with Blancpain to significantly increase the number of marine protected areas (MPAs) worldwide.
Marine Protected Areas Grantees
Supported by founding partners Blancpain
Adopt the Blue is Monitoring Coral Bleaching With the Help of Divers Worldwide
Creating Future Ocean Guardians for Marine Protection in Barbados
Barbados has committed to help protect up to 30 percent of its marine ecosystems. With the support of our founding partner Blancpain, PADI AWARE is able to collaborate with government officials and local dive centers to provide real-time data to inform policy and protection measures in critical marine areas. The next generation of divers and swimmers are best positioned to monitor and restore the marine parks. Physically experiencing the marine environment at a young age is the first critical step to marine protection. To address this need in Barbados, we worked with local communities to identify future ocean guardians and help train the next generation of divers.
Together with the community, we have:
- Taught 325 children to swim
- Trained six teens in conservation diving
- Led workshops with government, dive centers and community leaders to determine marine conservation needs and solutions
- Adopted 37 sites and tracked marine debris, coral bleaching and habitat loss
- Assisted the dive sector to identify commercial fish critical habitats in order to assess the potential for Fish Recovery Zone (FRZ) MPAs to be designated in coastal waters.
“Every child who participates in the PADI AWARE swim program is given the opportunity to not only become a future dive professional, but an ocean guardian in Barbados,” says PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer and PADI Ambassadiver, Andre Miller.
“In the end, we will protect what we can see.”
Dive in and learn about how PADI divers are protecting the ocean and making a difference
Ocean Torchbearers are Creating Change
Be the first to know about opportunities above and below the surface to save the ocean with PADI and PADI AWARE Foundation.
Help Us Reach 10,000 Sites
The global community of underwater explorers are applying their skills learned as divers to protect the marine ecosystems vital to supporting life on this planet. The collective efforts of PADI’s community of 6,600 PADI Dive Centers and Resorts, 128,000 PADI Professional Members worldwide, and more than 29 million divers can have a monumental impact on creating ocean change.
Calling all divers and Ocean Torchbearers!
Connect with a PADI Dive Center to get involved and protect the places you love!
PADI Dive Center, Resorts, and Professionals
Join the network now, it only takes a few minutes on the PADI AWARE App
How PADI Pro Scuba Zac Empowers Divers to Protect Our Oceans and Secure a Brighter Future for the Next Generation
Founding Partner Spotlight
Blancpain: Official Partner of the PADI Blueprint for Ocean Action and Founding Partner of the PADI MPA Program and ADOPT THE BLUE™
PADI is proud to partner with Blancpain to significantly increase the number of marine protected areas (MPAs) worldwide. Through our multi-year collaboration, we will work with local communities to accelerate the establishment of MPAs. Central to this effort is our flagship citizen science program, Adopt the Blue™, which will mobilize 6,600 PADI dive centers and resorts to create the world's largest network of MPAs, empowering millions of divers to actively participate in marine conservation.
Tools & Resources
We would recommend visiting our FAQ page here for information on the program. Only PADI Instructors and Dive Centers can Adopt the Blue.
The application form takes 3-5 minutes and can be found on the PADI AWARE app or online - Currently in English only. Only PADI Instructors and Dive Centers can Adopt the Blue. In the future, we will provide actions for the broader community of ocean enthusiasts.
We see Adopt The Blue as a vital delivery mechanism to serve the broader ocean conservation movement - creating scale and the necessary infrastructure to drive local conservation efforts. If you would like to ask for support of a project or campaign you can contact our staff at [email protected]. In the future, we will have inquiry forms available for partners.
PADI AWARE Foundation, a public charity, manages the program on a day to day basis through donations and our partnership support from PADI. Our key sponsor, Blancpain, has generously provided multi-year funding to build and grow this program for the next 5 years.