PADI® and Project AWARE® are pleased to announce that the 2nd edition of AWARE Week is scheduled to take place globally the week of September 14-22, 2019.

Ever since the landmark television miniseries Blue Planet II, ocean plastic pollution has become a popular topic, and for a good reason: Recent studies estimate that as much as 250 million metric tons of plastic could make its way into the ocean by 2025. AWARE Week marks the perfect time to focus on this issue through local community action and active participation in Dive Against Debris®, Project AWARE’s flagship citizen science program.

Whether you’re a PADI® Instructor, a dive shop owner, or a PADI Divemaster with a passion for conservation, there are countless ways to celebrate the ocean as a debris activist this AWARE Week - a collaboration between PADI and Project AWARE in which the dive community comes together for nine days of education and earth-minded activities for a clean and healthy ocean.

How can you participate? Start by offering Project AWARE specialties including the revised Project AWARE Specialty, and the Dive Against Debris® Specialty. From learning about tips to protect the ocean planet 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, with or without their fins.

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ABOUT THE SPECIALTIES:

Project AWARE Specialty

With the updated Project AWARE Specialty course, divers get an introduction to Project AWARE as a global movement and learn how to personally take action. The dry course is ideal for divers and non-divers, and focuses on the 10 Tips for Divers to Protect the Ocean Planet. It offers countless course linking opportunities.

The Dive Against Debris® Specialty

Through the Dive Against Debris® Specialty, divers gain the knowledge and skills to activate their inner citizen-scientist and participate in Dive Against Debris® surveys under the guidance of a PADI Professional. The course explains how to remove, record and report marine debris found on the seabed whilst on SCUBA following a survey protocol and specific techniques. The Dive Against Debris® Specialty is a one-dive specialty and counts towards the prestigious PADI Master Scuba Diver Rating. The Dive Against Debris® Specialty training dive also counts as an Adventure Dive as part of the Advanced Open Water Course so is a great way to not only set your students on their way to becoming PADI Advanced Open Water divers but also equip them with the passion and tools needed to advocate for a clean ocean. 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO TEACH:

PADI Instructors

All PADI Instructors are qualified to teach the Project AWARE Specialty and can apply to become Dive Against Debris® Specialty Instructors. Either take a Specialty Instructor Training course from a PADI Course Director or apply directly to your PADI Regional Headquarters (standard fees from your price list apply and 100% of the Instructor fee is donated to Project AWARE).

PADI Assistant Instructors

All PADI Assistant Instructors are qualified to teach the Project AWARE Specialty.

PADI Divemasters

Divemasters can apply to teach the Project AWARE Specialty course after completing Specialty Instructor training with a PADI Course Director.

Want to learn more? Download the courses materials from the Project AWARE website www.projectaware.org/tools and stay tuned for the new AWARE Week 2019 Toolkit.