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Adopt The Blue
Make a Difference with
Every Dive
Recognized for Excellence: PADI Eco Centers
PADI Eco Center is granted to PADI Dive Centers, Resorts and Liveaboards that demonstrate a dedication to conservation and dive industry sustainability.
Through Adopt the Blue, each PADI Eco Center is actively promoting marine biodiversity and community resilience by addressing our ocean’s global challenges. PADI Eco Centers create opportunities for all to engage in direct conservation action including citizen science, policy advocacy, and education.
Combined with PADI’s partners, The Reef-World Foundation’s Green Fins Initiative, PADI Eco Centers also demonstrate an exemplary level of environmental best practice. Each PADI Eco Center has made substantial changes to educate all staff members and reduce the environmental footprint of their operations, embedding sustainability as a core business value.
PADI Eco Centers offer a trustworthy 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 resources and the well-being of local communities.
PADI AWARE's Adopt the Blue
Adopt the Blue is the world's largest network of underwater sites for conservation. Led by PADI Dive Centers, Resorts and Professionals, each take responsibility for a local dive site and - together with their communities - gather and report critical data, increase awareness of conservation issues and engage with local, national and international policy campaigns as called upon.
The Reef-World Foundation's Green Fins Initiative
Green Fins members agree to follow the Green Fins Code of Conduct, receive an annual impact assessment, commit to a minimum of three actions per year and receive training to help improve their environmental sustainability. To be recognized as a PADI Eco Center, each has met a challenging threshold of low environmental impact representing exemplary environmental best practice.
Dive with a purpose – Go Eco!
Making sustainable choices and supporting conservation is now easier than ever. Choose a PADI ® Eco Center for your next adventure and experience the benefits of regenerative travel. What can you expect from diving with an Eco Center?
- Conservation-Oriented Diving: Every dive helps preserve marine life with practices that minimize impact and support underwater habitats.
- Educational Experiences: Learn from experts about the ecosystems you explore, enriching your diving experience and ocean knowledge.
- Community Involvement: Eco Centers connect divers passionate about the ocean, allowing participation in conservation efforts and benefiting local economies with every dive.
What drives a PADI Eco Center?
Meet the leaders behind a handful of PADI Eco Centers
PADI Eco Center Resources
FAQ
There are three criteria that a PADI Operators must meet to qualify as a PADI Eco Center:
1. Participation in the PADI AWARE Adopt the Blue™ program
2. Become a Green Fins Certified or Digital Member
3. Demonstrate outstanding environmental performance through Green Fins membership based on the Green Fins Code of Conduct, and commit to continuous improvement by implementing an action plan and engaging in the Community Forum
These requirements were selected to advance the PADI Blueprint for Ocean Action and support the PADI Pillars of Change, designed to integrate the core values of conservation and dive industry sustainability across the entire PADI network. We recommend operators give themselves at least 12 months to meet the minimum standards required for this designation.
By partnering with The Reef-World Foundation's Green Fins initiative, PADI entrusts the classification of Eco Center standards to global experts in marine tourism sustainability. Understanding that eco labels must have external validation to ensure legitimacy and trust, all PADI Eco Centers follow the Green Fins Digital or Certified membership process to meet globally consistent standards as defined by Reef-World. PADI does not manage environmental performance data for its members; this responsibility is handled exclusively by Reef-World’s Green Fins initiative to maintain the highest level of integrity.
Please review this blog for detailed guidance on how to become a PADI Eco Center.