Marine Debris
Shark & Ray Protection
Adopt The Blue
AWARE Week 2026
Create Change Above and Below the Surface
12-20 September
This AWARE Week, Rally Your Torchbearer Community
From 12–20 September 2026, the global dive community unites for the 9th annual AWARE Week. This year marks the biggest evolution in AWARE Week's history: for nearly eight years, this movement has been centered on Dive Against Debris®. Now, as a PADI Professional, you have a full portfolio of conservation opportunities to bring to your divers.
Choose the actions that resonate most with your community: remove marine debris, help monitor shark and ray populations through the Global Shark & Ray Census, or track ecosystem health with the AWARE Biodiversity Survey. Every survey is submitted through the same place, the Conservation Action Portal (CAP), so your data always counts toward the bigger picture.
You're not just hosting an event. You're leading a movement, and inviting your divers to choose how they want to protect the ocean.
DOWNLOAD THE AWARE APP
Your AWARE Week Toolkit Just Got Bigger
AWARE Week is almost here, and this year you have more tools than ever to inspire and engage your divers, strengthen your community, and showcase your commitment to ocean conservation. Whether you're planning a Dive Against Debris cleanup, rallying your divers for the new Global Shark & Ray Census, or introducing the AWARE Biodiversity Survey, now's the time to start building your event and getting it in front of divers. It's easier than ever to turn a great dive into a meaningful one.
Three Ways to Lead This AWARE Week
Above the Surface: Drive Impact with the Conservation Action Portal
The power of PADI AWARE lies in you – passionate PADI Professionals with first-hand experience of the ocean and a drive to protect it. Here’s how you can make local impact with global reach using the Conservation Action Portal:
• Submit Citizen Science Surveys — Dive Against Debris, Global Shark & Ray Census, and AWARE Biodiversity Survey
• Register Adopt the Blue sites
• Become a 100% AWARE Centre
• Sign Key Ocean Policy Petitions
Plastics Treaty High Seas Treaty
• Donate to Support Ocean Conservation
• Track Your Impact and Collect Your Torchbearer Badge
Below the Surface: Turn Every Dive into Impact
Divers are uniquely positioned to document what lies beneath and turn observations into advocacy. Empower your divers to collect critical data, monitor ocean health, and become part of a conservation-ready dive workforce.
Teach Conservation Specialties
Dive Against Debris and the Shark & Ray Conservation Specialty are more than courses, they're proven citizen science programs that equip divers to take real conservation action and submit data that drives change.
All PADI Assistant Instructors and above are eligible to teach these specialties, included as a PADI AWARE Member Benefit. Teach them as digital products, bundle them with Open Water and Advanced Open Water courses, and make every certification count for the ocean.
Make Every Dive a Survey Dive
Every time you dive, you and your students can log data through the Conservation Action Portal - your one stop digital home for conservation action.
From citizen science surveys to petitions and donations, CAP makes it easy to turn every dive into impact. These actions support the PADI Blueprint for Ocean Action, addressing marine debris, MPAs, vulnerable species, and habitat recovery.
Host Conservation Events During AWARE Week
Hosting a Dive Against Debris event or local conservation workshop is one of the easiest and most visible ways to get involved.
Use the Conservation Activities Locator to promote your event to divers around the world. Just log into the Extranet and tag your activity as an “AWARE Week” Special Event.
Torchbearer Leaders in Action
This movement is powered by people-divers, explorers, and everyday advocates-united by a passion for protecting what they love. Together, we’re creating change, restoring balance between humanity and ocean through meaningful action.
Share Your Stories and Inspire the World
Your actions matter and your story can spark more change. Share your AWARE Week adventures on social media to inspire the next wave of Ocean Torchbearers.
Don’t forget to tag #AWAREWeek @paditv and @padiaware.
You might even be featured in our global AWARE Week recap!
Thank You to Our Partner
AWARE Week is made possible by Blancpain, Official Partner of the PADI Blueprint for Ocean Action and Founding Partner of the Adopt the Blue™ Program.