TRAVEL Part IV: How to “Blue” Your Business in 2025 & Make More Green – PADI Eco Centers – by Gil Zeimer, ScubaStoryteller.com and Zeimer.com, San Rafael, CA As a PADI-Certified Open-Water and Nitrox Diver since 1985, Gil has authored more than 130 scuba articles in over 25 magazines and websites, plus another 170 newsletters about his experiences.
This series has presented “blue” initiatives that can make your business more sustain- able and help increase your bottom line. Part IV focuses on how PADI is leading the pivot with eco-friendly diving centers to at- tract and train a new generation of divers. Leading the Shift Toward Re-
1)Participating in PADI’s “Adopt the Blue ™ ” initia- tive, the world’s largest and growing network of under- water sites for conservation action. PADI Eco Centers lead conservation at these sites through marine debris removal, species monitoring, community engagement, and more giving divers meaningful ways to take action beneath the surface. 2)Becoming an active member in The Reef-World Foundation’s Green Fins Initiative. By adopting GFI’s Code of Conduct, each PADI Eco Center em- beds sustainability as a core value of its business by re- ceiving training to help reduce and improve its environmental footprint. 3) Demonstrating exemplary environmental per- formance. PADI Eco Centers also offer a trustworthy
generative Dive Tourism: Over the years, a growing per- centage of divers – including your author – have wanted to preserve the marine worlds we explore. Today’s divers care deeply about preserving the underwater world – and they expect diver operators to do the same. The demand for sus- tainable dive experiences is stronger than ever. A 2022 Reef- World Survey of 2,400 divers revealed:
• 83% of dive tourists are look- ing for further sustainability edu- cation on their holidays. • 76% of dive tourists are will- ing to pay more for sustainable dive options that give back to the ocean.
choice for all ocean enthusiasts who want to ensure that the cost of their marine adventure goes hand-in-hand with the protection and restoration of natural re- sources and the well-being of local communities. “PADI Eco Centers represent
• 76% of dive professionals re- ported that their customers are re- questing further sustainability education from them. • 95% of dive tourists think that dive operators should do more to protect the environment. How PADI Eco Centers Are Championing This Cause. To find out more, I interviewed Katie Thompson, Senior Director, Environment & Sustainability, PADI Worldwide. “The PADI Eco Center designation is reserved for PADI Dive Centers, Resorts, and Liveaboards that demonstrate an ongoing, verifiable commitment to conser- vation and sustainability,” she explains. “More than a badge of honor, the PADI Eco Center des- ignation signals to customers that your business is part of the solution. It helps attract eco-conscious travelers, in- creases customer loyalty, and positions your dive shop as a conservation leader in a competitive market.” PADI Eco Centers are held to rigorous environmental standards and must meet three core sustainability require- ments:
PADI Eco Centers
the future of regenerative dive tourism. These leaders in sustainability have gone above and beyond – not only meet- ing rigorous environmental standards but embedding ocean protection into the core of their business,” says Thompson. “Out of 6,600 PADI Dive Centers and Resorts globally, only 110 have achieved this prestigious designation, a re- flection of their unwavering commitment to creating a healthy ocean balance and protecting the very ecosystems that are their office. At PADI, we’re proud to champion these trailblazers – and equally proud of the many dive op- erators who are taking their first steps through programs like Adopt the Blue™ and Green Fins. “Our mission is to support every member on their jour- ney, at a pace that works for them, with the goal of moving forward together. Because every step toward sustainability is a step in the right direction – and ultimately – benefits all of us.”
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