PADI Organization Encourages Divers to Join New Project AWARE Movement

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif., June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PADI, the world's largest diver training organization, today announced its support of Project AWARE Foundation's new movement to protect the ocean and its inhabitants, which will launch on World Ocean Day,  June 8.  On this day, the 21-year-old foundation will re-launch with new strategies to combine grassroots action with policy change to protect the ocean.  The PADI organization has been a proud supporter of Project AWARE and is calling all divers to join the growing, global Project AWARE movement to make a positive and long-lasting environmental change – one dive at a time.

The new Project AWARE movement will focus on two major ocean issues: sharks in peril and marine debris.  The PADI organization is asking divers to take action to help threatened sharks by signing Project AWARE's shark petition, which will increase protection for endangered species and help close finning policy loopholes in countries around the world.  Additionally, PADI Divers are encouraged to work together to battle ocean pollution by collecting marine data and debris underwater, and reporting their findings on ProjectAWARE.org.  

"Scuba divers are significant, economic and political stakeholders who are ready and willing to push for change," said Dr. Drew Richardson, president and COO, PADI Worldwide. "Now, divers, numbering in the millions worldwide, should combine their underwater efforts and actions for long-term change by joining the Project AWARE movement and supporting its new citizen science program – Dive Against Debris.  Through this program, PADI Divers can contribute underwater data that is so critically needed to support policies that will result in a permanent, measurable reduction in marine debris entering the ocean."

The PADI organization is calling on all divers, both recreational and professional, to stand up for ocean protection with Project AWARE and join the global movement of scuba divers protecting our ocean planet – one dive at a time.

About PADI

PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the world's largest diver training organization, with more than 135,000 trained PADI Professionals dedicated to introducing new divers to the thrill of scuba diving and enhancing the skills of experienced divers through its 6,000 dive centers and resorts worldwide.  PADI Members obtain close to 1,000,000 certifications worldwide each year, advancing and encouraging the exploration of the ocean, while maintaining the highest industry standards for dive training, safety and customer service.  For more information, visit www.padi.com.

About Project AWARE Foundation

Project AWARE Foundation is a global movement of scuba divers protecting the ocean planet - one dive at a time. Focused on the critical issues of sharks in peril and marine debris, Project AWARE empowers thousands of divers in more than 180 countries to work together for a clean, healthy and abundant ocean planet. Project AWARE Foundation is a registered non-profit organization.

Contact: Margee Macdonell
Formula
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SOURCE PADI