Maputo Dive Center

Maputo Dive Center is providing essential underwater skills and specialized scientific dive training to local marine biology students and MPA managers, contributing to the sustainable management of Mozambique's Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and building local capacity for coral reef conservation. 

The Maputo Dive Center MPA Grant was made possible thanks to the generous support of Blancpain, official partner of the PADI Blueprint for Ocean Action and founding partner of the PADI MPA Program and Adopt the Blue™​.

Maputo Dive Center is breaking barriers in marine conservation with its Zero to Hero Diving Program. By equipping participants with essential underwater skills, the program bridges a critical gap in local capacity for MPA management and research, supporting the sustainable conservation of Mozambique's marine ecosystems.

With 7 MPAs in the country (just over 2% of its Exclusive Economic Zone), Mozambique is working towards UN SDG 14.5 aiming at conserving at least 10% of coastal and marine areas, however there is a lack of local capacity to meet these objectives. Maputo Dive Center, Mozambique’s first and only 100% Mozambican-owned and community operated dive center, is addressing this critical need with its Zero to Hero Diving Program.

This transformative initiative provides local marine biology students and MPA managers—many of whom lack underwater skills— with training in swimming, snorkeling, recreational diving, and specialized scientific diving to begin or improve their career in marine conservation.  

“This program transforms passion into action—empowering Mozambicans to protect our oceans and preserve marine life for future generations,” says Luciano Adamo, Co-Founder and Chief Education Officer of Maputo Dive Center.  

Made possible with the generous support of Blancpain, the PADI AWARE Community Grant enables Maputo Dive Center to run this initiative, training Mozambican divers to independently conduct research, monitoring and evaluation of coral reefs and MPAs.  

The program not only helps protect the country’s fragile underwater biodiversity but also creates economic opportunities for participants, contributes to sustainable tourism, reduces dependence on foreign specialists by championing local leadership in marine conservation and tourism, and fosters a cultural shift toward ocean stewardship. 

Want to see more of Maputo Dive Center in action?

You can follow along with Maputo Dive Center and their project to help communities multiply MPAs on their website, Instagram, Facebook, or on https://www.padi.com/aware.