TRAVEL continued Today, PADI Eco Centers Are Global and Doing Great Things. There are now over 110 PADI Eco Centers across the globe, each offering training, providing a variety of eco-friendly activities, and adhering to PADI’s strict qual- ity standards. Some of their sustainability initiatives include: Asia Pacific: Sau Bay Resort in Fiji is currently undertaking an in- ▪ credible Crown of Thorns starfish removal project. Divers Den in Australia is conducting coral site sur- ▪ veys, working with Master Reef Guides, and collabo- rating with the Australian government to assess reef health in real-time. Big Blue Dive and White Grass Resort in Vanuatu are ▪ engaged in dugong conservation, conducting a sea slug census, and supporting Ni-Vanuatu female profession- als. EMEA: Six Senses Laamu and Kanuhura in the Maldives is ▪ leading the Maldives Underwater Initiative, which fo- cuses on education and manta ray conservation with hotel guests. Red Sea Diving Safari in Egypt ▪
eco-action a daily part of our dive experience. We wanted to create a dive center that was as much about making waves of impact as it was about creating epic adventures on Roatan’s reef. “That’s why this PADI Eco Center achievement marks both a dream realized and a deep commitment to the reef we love. It also inspires us to look back with gratitude on the journey that brought us here and to share that story with you because we knew from the beginning that we would build our dream dive shop around a core value: being always eco-active. To us, that means going beyond simply caring about ocean protection. It means that we take meaningful action, and we create opportunities for others to get in- volved and become part of the movement. How Did Your Dive Shop Qualify? “At Sun Divers Roatan, we began by looking inward, identifying ways to re- duce our carbon footprint as a business. That meant moving to online waivers to cut paper waste and offering reef-safe sunscreen, defog, and shampoo at our facilities. From there, we partnered with the Roatan Marine Park and the Bay Is- lands Conservation Association – two local NGOs (Non- Governmental Organization) that co-manage the Bay
Islands National Marine Park. Our commitment continued to grow when we joined conservation advo- cacy groups and even launched our own scuba scholarship program with local partners Roatan Peer Health Exchange. This scuba scholarship program is designed to empower local girls to become conservation- minded divers. “Within just four years, we’ve watched our vision grow from a small
is actively participating in the Dive Against Debris program. Sea World Scuba Diving Cen- ▪ ters and Dive2Gether in Greece are involved in dolphin and sea- grass conservation efforts. Pan-America: Rainbow Reef Dive Center in ▪
Florida is dedicated to coral conservation and lionfish eradi- cation. Kohala Divers in Hawaii is involved in the Dive ▪ Against Debris program. Sun Divers Roatan in Honduras is promoting marine ▪ conservation, sustainable diving practices, and strong community partnerships. A Dispatch from Roatan’s First-Ever PADI Eco Cen- ter. Natalie and Shannon Shuman, the American owners of Sun Divers Roatan, are incredibly proud of their dive shop’s recent accomplishment. They said, “It’s a huge honor, but more than that, it’s a re- flection of the heart and hustle our team pours into making
Crown of Thorns Removal Project, Sau Bay Resort, Fiji. Photo Credit: Jay Clue.
hope into a big reality. Consequently, being named Roatan’s first-ever PADI Eco Center is a reminder that when you lead with heart, purpose, and unwavering belief, you can turn doubt into impact and dreams into something that matters.” The Bottom Line: To best cater to the majority of your clients willing to pay more for sustainable dive options, you can take the necessary steps to join the exclusive group of PADI Eco Centers by contacting Katie Thompson,
katie.thompson@padi.com. To discuss how I can help with your “blue” initiatives, please email me c/o gil@zeimer.com or scan or click this QR Code.
email Gil
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