Cristina Zenato received the top award at Eurotek in Birmingham, UK on October 9, 2016.

With hundreds of countries and varying divers’ interests, shortlisting the world’s best scuba diving destinations is certainly pretty tough.

My name is Eleonora, and I just turned 19. I am now a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, and this is my story.

It all started in 2012 when I was on holiday in Abu Dabbab, Egypt. My parents decided to give me a completely new experience for my tenth birthday — a PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience.

Scuba diving jobs offer fantastic travel opportunities and a great way of life. They can also pay well. If living your underwater dreams and making money at the same time sounds like a dream to you, it’s time to become a professional diver. In this blog, we take a look at high paying jobs for scuba divers. Keep in mind that many of these careers will require training above and beyond recreational diving.

Anyone who has ever been scuba diving or has a curiosity about the world beneath the surface knows how special an experience with sharks and rays can be. Although we all want to have a memorable time with one of these creatures, not everyone knows the best protocols for when they actually see a shark or ray underwater. However, diving and snorkeling using the best practices for interactions with sharks and rays is vital. It’s the best way to protect both yourself and the animals.

Koh Tao, Thailand’s world-renowned diving paradise, has unveiled two exciting additions to its underwater world: the HTMS Suphairin and the HTMS Hanhak Sattru wrecks. These wrecks, once serving as fast attack craft for the Royal Thai Navy, now offer thrilling opportunities for divers to explore and discover the rich marine life and history hidden beneath the waves.

Let’s talk about the possibility of needing to refresh your scuba skills after getting yourself PADI certified. It can happen for any number of reasons. These include a long gap between your certification and your first fun dive or simply because you lost a little confidence after finding yourself in the open water. 

Just off Ireland’s western coast, the Aran Islands sit, like a gateway, between the Irish mainland and the Atlantic Ocean. The largest of these islands is Inishmore. This tiny, 31 square kilometer (12 square mile) island is surrounded by the magnificent blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean and makes the ideal summer vacation destination if you enjoy activities like diving, hiking, and cycling. 

From rainbow-colored coral reefs to mesmerizing marine life, the underwater world is crammed full of memory-worthy visuals. It’s unsurprising that one of the best ways people like to remember these magical moments is with an underwater portrait or selfie. To ensure you get the most Selfie Day-worthy images possible, we’ve put together some of our top tips for producing the best scuba diving portraits and underwater selfies.

If you’re in India and the sea beckons, you’re in luck. Some of the world’s most breathtaking diving destinations are just a short flight away. So, grab your gear, and let’s dive in to discover the best scuba diving destinations for Indians.

If we’re honest with ourselves, all of us ocean enthusiasts know we should be asking ourselves how we can make a difference in the face of threats facing the ocean. After all, we see the sea, recognize what’s happening and know that its future depends on making changes. If we don’t do advocate for and put such changes in motion, who will? Again, if we’re self-honest, no one will. It’s up to us. So, to have a passion for the ocean, yet not do anything to protect it, seems a bit hypocritical and selfish to me.

PADI’s second Pillar of Change, Dive Industry Sustainability, was created to leverage our global influence to encourage the major dive industry players to reduce their environmental impact. It’s also a means for us to ensure diving is a regenerative activity that positively benefits people and the world.

PADI’s third Pillar of Change, People & Humanity, was created to foster diversity and inclusion in the dive industry and support local communities. PADI was founded on the core belief that the oceans should be accessible to all. We strive to create an environment of openness across our industry with a shared understanding that ‘underwater we all speak the same language.’ As the world’s largest network of underwater explorers, the inclusive nature and diversity of diving is something that we celebrate and honor.

Water covers over 70% of the surface of our planet, so it’s puzzling why it’s called Planet Earth and not Planet Ocean. The ocean has long inspired us with the mysterious secrets that lie beneath the surface. But it’s only recently that technology has allowed us to explore deeper, beyond the shore. Yet, one question remains ever intriguing: how deep is the ocean?

East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, is the newest country in Southeast Asia with a magnificent array of coral reefs and fish species located in the Coral Triangle between Indonesia and Australia. As a relatively new diving destination, its dive sites have, for the most part, only been recently discovered, and the country’s waters have yet to be fully explored. More and more divers are arriving all the time to see the country’s hidden beauty underneath the surface. More excitement awaits as a new shipwreck was recently added to the area!

PADI and National Geographic Pristine Seas have teamed up to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030. Here’s how PADI Dive Centers will play a critical role in the process.

The PADI Blueprint for Ocean Action empowers divers and non-divers looking to create meaningful ocean change with clear actions they can take at both the local and global level.

Are you tempted to explore a little bit deeper on your dives? Do you want to roam sunken wrecks and cruise through canyons that lie beyond the limits of your dive cert? If so, the PADI Deep Diver Specialty course might be right for you. Grab your gear, strap on your fins, and let’s plunge into the depths together.

In the world of pizza delivery, there are countless tales of dedicated drivers but what about dedicated divers? That’s right, there’s actually an underwater pizza delivery man – talk about a unique job description! You’re probably wondering how can pizza even be delivered underwater? Well, meet Rob Doyle, the extraordinary pizza delivery expert who has perfected the art of delivering hot and fresh pizzas to an exclusive underwater hotel. That hotel is known as Jules’ Undersea Lodge, located about 21 feet (6.5 meters) below the surface in Key Largo, Florida.

Scuba diving – and the incredible underwater world beneath the surface – does wonders for the mind, body and soul. We believe diving has the power to change lives, and this holds true no matter whether you’re a beginner, novice or professional. With the 2023 American football season kicking off soon, we caught up with three NFL players who shared how scuba diving and being in the PADI community have helped them win, on and off the field.

Family vacations are special opportunities to spend quality time together and make cherished memories. What better way to do so than exploring the ocean together at a magical diving destination? Planning where to go on vacation can be tricky, depending on your children’s ages, everyone’s diving abilities and interests, so we’ve picked a variety of family-friendly diving destinations to help you start your search! From resorts to liveaboards in beautiful locations around the globe, these outstanding destinations offer land and water activities for all ages and skills. Here are five of the best diving destinations for families!

Family vacations are special opportunities to spend quality time together and make cherished memories. What better way to do so than exploring the ocean together at a magical diving destination? Planning where to go on vacation can be tricky, depending on your children’s ages, everyone’s diving abilities and interests, so we’ve picked a variety of family-friendly diving destinations to help you start your search! From resorts to liveaboards in beautiful locations around the globe, these outstanding destinations offer land and water activities for all ages and skills. Here are five of the best diving destinations for families!

For me, the ocean and space have always gone hand in hand. Both are challenging, low oxygen environments but both hold wonder, curiosity and imagination for so many. They unite us as to the beauty of our planet. As soon as I took my first breath underwater, I was absolutely hooked, but little did I know where diving would lead me and how it would also help me on my journey to becoming an astronaut.

For me, the ocean and space have always gone hand in hand. Both are challenging, low oxygen environments but both hold wonder, curiosity and imagination for so many. They unite us as to the beauty of our planet. As soon as I took my first breath underwater, I was absolutely hooked, but little did I know where diving would lead me and how it would also help me on my journey to becoming an astronaut.

Introducing Puerto Lopez, the town on the coast of Manabí, Ecuador where, every year, the biggest manta ray aggregation arrives looking for cleaning stations.

19th July 2023: After six weeks of eLearning and constant study, I was now ready to take on the challenge of my PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC).

Shark attacks? The deep abyss? The unknown or the general thought of being underwater might bring fear to many non-divers. But for scuba divers, what they are really afraid of is much different. After polling our social media audience and discussing scuba diving fears with certified divers near and far, what scares divers most stems from a more practical side of the sport.

As a certified diver, you might be looking for ways to engage with your local dive community. But how do you go about making connections and creating those life-long diving buddies you have been looking for? In this blog, we aim to guide you toward the easiest and most effective ways of getting connected – joining a dive club near you.

What color do you see when you think of the ocean? How about when you imagine diving in the ocean? You answered, blue, right? The ocean is blue; however, do you know why? Below, we’ll explore the cool science behind why the ocean is blue, and why it sometimes is not.

There’s no knowing where, when or what kind of a medical emergency is going to occur. It could be a heart attack in a workplace or a choking incident at a restaurant. No matter what incident you’re faced with, the last thing you want to feel in the moment is helplessness. By having a first aid certification under your belt, you’ll have the knowledge and the confidence to act in many emergency situations.

Freediving pushes the boundaries of human capability in the aquatic world. It involves divers striving to achieve impressive depths or durations on a breath hold while adhering to strict safety protocols. The sport offers various disciplines, each presenting unique challenges and requiring specific skills. In this article, we will explore the seven different disciplines of freediving.

Two recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports (IPCC 2018; Bindoff et al. 2019) summarize the existing projections of future coral bleaching, stating that coral reefs as we know them will all but disappear in a scenario of up to 2°C (3.6°F) warming. Additionally, up to 90% of coral reefs could be lost even with an increase of 1.5°C (2.7°F), which is now predicted to occur as soon as 2027. With the Tongan volcanic eruption appearing to have accelerated this process by 10 years, we are running out of time and need to take immediate action.

Belgium may be a small country, but its diving opportunities are anything but modest. The country offers several quarries turned dive sites that provide a safe and controlled environment for divers of all levels. There are also some very popular lakes which offer great diving opportunities. Interestingly, sea dives are not very common in Belgium, and divers travel more to the neighboring Netherlands for their saltwater adventures.  

When it comes to scuba diving destinations, diving in the Netherlands might not come to mind first thing. It may be a small country and known for its picturesque windmills and tulip fields; however, hidden beneath the surface are some remarkable dive sites that offer unique underwater experiences. From historic shipwrecks to vibrant marine life, diving in this region is an adventure waiting to be discovered. Let’s dive into the depths and explore the captivating world beneath the surface in the Netherlands. 

Have you ever wondered how much of the ocean has been explored? The answer to this may dazzle you. Although humans have been around for nearly 200,000 years, we’ve only just scraped the surface of underwater exploration. With numbers varying slightly depending on which agency’s data you’re looking at, we’ve chartered and mapped roughly 20% of the ocean and have only physically seen or been to 5%. 

What does it mean to “Live Unfiltered?”

If you want to try scuba diving but aren’t ready to commit to a certification course, you have a few options: a PADI® Discover Scuba Diving® experience (also known as a DSD®) and…other programs. 

Belize is renowned as one of the meccas of scuba diving globally — particularly for the Belize Great Barrier Reef. This is the longest unbroken barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere! Exploring Belize from a dive resort allows a blend of action, adventure and relaxation. We’ve done the work for you, and collected the 5 best Belize dive resorts! Each of these Belize dive resorts have PADI 5-star dive centers onsite or in close proximity, and they suit a wide range of budgets.

It’s the summer dive season in the northern hemisphere, which for many of us means local diving and air travel to resort destinations. But, if you’ve not done it – or have not done it in awhile – there’s a third option that can get you underwater even more. As I learned to love while living in the midwest, it’s the diving road trip – going by car (or truck, van etc.) beyond what you’d call “local” diving. In some locations there’s great destination diving with only 1-2 hours, but depending upon where you live, 4-6 hours may be reasonable and well worth the drive time.

There’s a lot of information available online about the problems that our oceans face, climate change, and plastic pollution. So in this blog, we want to celebrate the best ocean conservation organizations who are working tirelessly to turn the tide on marine pollution, marine life protection, coral reef and ocean conservation.

When I signed up for my Divemaster course. I didn’t feel like I was PADI® Divemaster material. I felt more confident about my diving skills after completing the PADI Rescue Diver class, but I didn’t see myself as a dive leader. 

In our increasingly digital world, it’s no surprise that scuba diving certifications have made the leap from plastic to pixels. Nowadays, when you complete a PADI course, you’ll receive an eCard – a digital certification card that verifies your diving credentials. This helps us reduce plastic usage and promote environmental sustainability. However, many divers still choose to have one or more physical certification cards.

If you live in Thailand, working as a dive instructor, people think that you are constantly on holiday. Not so, and it’s good to get away once in a while, go diving somewhere else for a bit of fun, to see something different and keep island fever at bay.

Today, scuba diving is nearly synonymous with conservation–and for good reason. Divers operate at the front lines of ocean exploration, enjoyment and protection! Within the conservation conversation, these young women are taking giant strides and leaving a big impact.

By Andi Cross, Edges of Earth Expedition Lead

Are you dreaming of an unforgettable holiday filled with underwater adventures, vibrant marine life, and breathtaking dive sites? Look no further! Learning to scuba dive before your next vacation is exciting and has many benefits. Read on to find out more. 

Four scuba instructors detail their inspirations and love for being PADI Pros.

Cozumel is an idyllic island in southeastern Mexico, just miles off of the the Yucatán Peninsula. Renowned for its world-class diving, Cozumel is often at the top of the travel list for passionate divers. Whether you’re dreaming of traveling there or you’ve already booked your trip, here is what you need to know about diving in Cozumel. 

Are you planning a European holiday? Learning to dive might not be the first thing that springs to mind, but Europe is home to an impressive array of places to enjoy the underwater world. In this blog, we take a look at five hotspots for getting your PADI in order to #LiveUnfiltered in Europe.

In April 2023, PADI launched a new designation for PADI Dive Centers — the PADI Eco Center. To be awarded this designation, dive centers must have met key criteria (explained below) and demonstrate an exemplary level of environmental performance. With this in mind, I went to visit one of the newest PADI Eco Centers, Scuba Junkie Kota Kinabalu. 

As a passionate diver, you probably dive regularly in local waters (in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland). And you certainly do not only want to just have fun and enjoy diving in lakes, rivers, or the sea, but also to continuously improve your diving skills.

For those who are passionate about exploring the underwater world, there is no better way to unleash your passion than by becoming a scuba diver. However, once certified, maintaining your diver status requires action! It involves continuous learning, practice, and engagement with the diving community. One way to achieve this is by becoming a member of PADI ClubTM. In this blog, we will explore how joining PADI Club can assist you in maintaining your diver status, enhance your diving lifestyle, and help you to get back into diving after periods out of the water.

Divers in the UK are lucky to have extraordinary marine life in their backyards. From majestic giants to delicate wonders, the UK’s diverse coastline encompasses an array of habitats, ranging from rocky reefs and kelp forests to sandy bottoms and seagrass meadows. These environments provide a rich tapestry of biodiversity, attracting a multitude of captivating marine species. Add these 15 mesmerizing marine creatures that await you in the depths of the UK’s waters to your diving bucket list.