“Seek Adventure. Save The Ocean.”

Five small words that inspire a simultaneous sense excitement and shared responsibility. The desire to explore our blue planet combined with a need to protect it. A belief that there is a better way for humanity to live in balance with nature, so that future generations may experience those same moments of marine-inspired awe that we are each lucky enough to recall.

The PADI Torchbearer community is a critical ally to the ocean – a force for good that can be mobilized to restore ocean health and support our coastal communities around the world. It will take all of us working together, united by our passion and armed with a clear plan of action.

And by all, we mean ALL, and that includes our community of PADI and Project AWARE staff. As the PADI Torchbearer Movement gains traction, we are getting stuck in, reflecting on our collective goal to make sustainable choices and how it relates to our own lives.

Read on for an inside look at the ways we’re doing what we can to improve the legacy we leave behind. Hopefully, you’ll be inspired to join us…

Stefania Di Dio – Communications and Translations Coordinator, Project AWARE

Every time I travel or go out for a nice walk, I bring my reusable water bottle with me and fill it in the water fountains around to cut down on plastic. We also drink filtered tap water at home, which tastes so much better!

Lauren Wiskerson – Development Manager, Project AWARE

I love visiting a nearby organic farm to buy local fruits and veg and avoid unnecessary packaging. During the summer, picking the warm strawberries from the field is a real treat.

Jack Fishman – Community Conservation Officer, Project AWARE

Dive Against Debris reusable bags aren’t just for rubbish! I keep clean ones in my car at all times for fresh produce at the markets

Peta Day – Community Coordinator, Project AWARE

Not only have I switched to shampoo bars rather than bottles to cut down my plastic waste, but I also make my own soap so I know exactly what I am putting on my skin. Plus I can recycle my old cool gin bottles.

Ian Campbell – Associate Director, Policy and Campaigns, Project AWARE

One of the small changes we’ve made as a family is switching to re-usable teabags and loose leaf tea.

Drew Richardson – CEO, PADI Worldwide

Like most folks on this planet, I am an imperfect soul! In addition to shifting to led lighting and reducing energy consumption at my home, I have shifted the electrical powering to 100% sustainable solar energy and I generate enough capacity to produce power for my local energy grid.

I have reduced driving my automobile by over 90%  in this pandemic,  I grow my own vegetables or source locally from local organic farmer, recycle as much as possible while reducing single use plastic usage, planted native drought tolerant landscaping to reduce water consumption for this local climate, and generally think about my lifestyle and consumer choices and consumption mindful of trying to reduce impact as I go forward.

Domino Albert – Associate Director Global Communications, Project AWARE

A small change we made as a family is switching from tumble drying to air-drying/line-drying our laundry to reduce our household’s carbon footprint. Nothing beats air-drying the old-fashion way: a garden line. All you need to do is let nature (sun and wind) do the job! And when the weather is less clement, I remind the whole family to think twice before throwing a barely worn item in the laundry!

Become a PADI Torchbearer today at padi.com/onebillion

Full article: https://blog.padi.com/2020/09/17/padi-project-aware-making-sustainable-choices-for-the-ocean/