As a powerful global community, we know we can shift our passion, energy, and creativity to new ways of mobilizing the world to action for local action, and a global impact. If you are practicing social distancing and can't meet up with your instructor or students in person then why not use two-way video conferencing instead! Here are all the PADI AWARE resources that are available to use to rise up and continue to take action for the ocean, both safely and responsibly:

Project AWARE Specialty

This newly-revised course is well suited to live webinar format and it is a dry course with no dives required. It provides information and encouragement to help individuals take responsibility for ocean health. Building on PADI AWARE's popular10 Tips for Divers to Protect the Ocean Planet, the revised course content is an introduction to PADI AWARE® as a global movement for ocean protection and focuses on guiding participants towards personal commitments and actions they can take to help the environment.

The Project AWARE Specialty toolkit consists of Instructor Guide and Lesson Guides, which are available in 14 languages, as well as a PADI tips video on how to conduct the PADI AWARE Specialty to encourage PADI Continuing Education.

The required materials for the student can be found in the 10 Tips for Divers Action Kit.

Coral Reef Conservation Specialty

The Coral Reef Conservation Specialty course informs divers and nondivers about the plight of the world’s coral reefs. The course describes how coral reefs function and why they are so important. It also reviews why many reefs are in serious trouble and what individuals can do to prevent further decline.

The Coral Reef Conservation Specialty toolkit consists of the Instructor Guide, available in 6 languages, and the Lesson Guides in English.

The recommended student material is the AWARE Our World, Our Water manual, available in English, Japanese and French.

For PADI Professionals interested in teaching either the revised Project AWARE Specialty or Coral Reef Conservation Specialty, teaching status PADI Assistant Instructors and PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors are automatically eligible to teach the course. PADI Freediver Instructors may qualify by submitting a PADI Freediver Specialty Course Instructor Application. PADI Divemasters who have completed Specialty Instructor training with a PADI Course Director and had their applications verified at their PADI Regional Headquarters also qualify to teach these courses.

Dive Against Debris® Specialty

You can use the Knowledge Development section of this one dive Specialty to inform the community about the effect that trash has on our ocean environments. Then complete the one dive needed for PADI certification when travel bans and stay-in-place orders are lifted. 

The Dive Against Debris® Specialty Course Toolkit contains the Instructor Guide and the Lesson Guides, both available in 13 languages, and Dive Against Debris® mobile app tutorial video.

The required student materials consisting of Dive Against Debris® Survey Guide, Dive Against Debris® Data Card and Dive Against Debris® Marine Debris ID Guide can be found in 14 languages within the Dive Against Debris® Survey Toolkit. As well as a survey checklist, how to report your data online, Dive Against Debris® mobile app tutorial video, link to the Dive Against Debris® Map, a Dive Against Debris® video and a bilingual English/Chinese Dive Against Debris® recorded webinar.

Feel free to award your students this certificate for participating in the Knowledge Development section of the Dive Against Debris® Specialty course.

AWARE Shark Conservation Specialty

You can use the Knowledge Development section of this two dive Specialty to spread the word about threats to sharks and rays. Then complete the two dives needed for PADI certification when travel bans and stay-in-place orders are lifted. 

The AWARE Shark Conservation Specialty Course toolkit contains the Instructor Guide available in 11 languages, the Lesson Guides available in 5 languages and the Study Guide available in 3 languages.

The Sharks & Rays toolkit also contains the Study Guide as well as Devil and Manta Rays at Risk video, a link to the 10 Tips for Divers to Protect the Ocean Planet as well as a link to fundraising information.

Again award your students this certificate for participating in the Knowledge Development section of the AWARE Shark Conservation Specialty course.

Additional PADI Pros Links

Keep up to date regarding information about PADI Training during this time of limited social contact due to the pandemic on the PADI Pros site. There is an Instructor-led Online Learning blog, PADI COVID-19 Member Hubs, as well as CD-led Online Learning information.

Applying for your Dive Against Debris® Speciality or AWARE Shark Conservation Specialty Instructor rating has never been easier! Get ready to teach conservation-focused PADI Standardized Specialty courses during our annual AWARE Week taking place throughout the week of 18-26 September 2021.​ The application fee for both the Dive Against Debris Specialty and AWARE Shark Conservation Specialty Instructor rating is donated in full to PADI AWARE to support conservation efforts in dive communities across the globe. From learning about opportunities to protect critical shark species to understanding how underwater citizen science and marine debris data can help affect policy change, each course gives ocean enthusiasts the power to protect the ocean. above and beneath the waves.​  Visit the PADI Pros Site to download the latest PADI Specialty Course Instructor Application.