Australian Diving Instruction

Australian Diving Instruction (ADI), based in Victoria, Australia, promotes marine conservation by integrating eco-friendly practices into dive courses. With support from PADI AWARE, ADI will train divers and snorkelers to remove invasive species like Undaria and Northern Pacific Seastars from Port Phillip Bay, protecting local ecosystems and empowering the community.

The Australian Diving Instruction Vulnerable Species Protection Grant was made possible thanks to thanks to the generous support of Freshfield.

ADI has spent over a decade promoting marine conservation in Port Phillip Bay. "We believe education is key to fostering environmental awareness among divers and local communities," said Ting Ting Lee, PADI Course Director at ADI.

Two invasive species in particular are impacting the balance Port Phillip Bay ecosystem and environment for future generations. Undaria pinnatifida is one of the 100 worst globally invasive species, quickly overgrowing to form dense forests causing a decline in the native species. The Northern Pacific Seastars are voracious predators and have become a major threat to the marine ecosystems of Port Phillip Bay, threatening the native species including the critically endangered spotted handfish.

The PADI AWARE x Freshfield Vulnerable Species Protection Grant is supporting ADI in expanding its program to recruit more citizen scientists and enhance practical strategies to protect marine ecosystems and native species in collaboration with community groups, not-for-profits, local councils, state government, agencies, and businesses.  

The involvement of a larger citizen science community will allow for the early detection and removal of any invasive species in previously unaffected areas, preserving the balance of ecosystems in the local marine areas, as well as the abundance of native marine life for future generations.

Want to see more of Australian Diving Instruction in Action?

You can follow along with Australian Diving Instruction and their Port Phillip AWARE Divers, Invasive Marine Pest Project in Australia, on their website, Instagram, Facebook, or at https://www.padi.com/aware.