Protecting sharks and rays is at the heart of PADI Aware Foundation's history and community. To date, we have collectively helped secure protection measures for over 100 vulnerable species ranging through policy changes such as agreed fishing limits to restrictions in unsustainable trade. PADI AWARE will continue to provide tangible actions to protect hundreds more with your help.

“Mako sharks are particularly vulnerable to overfishing, especially in the North Atlantic, where we have seen populations decline severely. It is currently estimated that the shark population will take 50 years to fully recover if fishing bans were implemented today,” says Ian Campbell, Associate Director, Policy and Campaigns of PADI AWARE Foundation. “By working directly with PADI Members to raise awareness of the issue with the diving community, we aim to encourage governmental support of mako shark protections in the Atlantic.”

PADI is proud to work alongside Swiss prestige watchmaker, Blancpain, on the preservation of the underwater world. Thanks to Blancpain’s support of the Vulnerable Species Program, divers will be able to participate in the AWARE Global Shark & Ray Census, the largest underwater citizen science program designed to protect sharks and rays from extinction. PADI and Blancpain are collaborating on a long-term partnership aimed at increasing the number of marine protected areas (MPAs) around the globe. As a founding partner of PADI’s Blueprint for Ocean Action, Blancpain accelerated the creation of PADI’s MPA Program and its flagship citizen science program Adopt the Blue™.