Pro Dive Cairns in Australia is in pretty rarefied territory: It recently issued its 150,000th PADI diver certification, something done by only one other PADI dive operator to date.
Felix Tam, a Canadian optometrist, received his Open Water Diver certificate last month during a trip to the Great Barrier Reef from PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer Simon Daxer. Upon surfacing after his last training dive. Upon surfacing after his final training dive, Tam not only learned he was certified, but that he was the one to hit this particular milestone.
When the boat returned to shore, PADI and Pro Dive Cairns staff were there to greet Tam and Daxer, as well as PADI bigwigs including PADI Worldwide President and CEO Drew Richardson, PADI Asia Pacific Vice President Danny Dwyer, Pro Dive Cairns General Manager Paul Lim and PADI Asia Pacific Regional Manager Hans Ullrich. Joined by fellow divers from around the globe aboard the boat, Tam was awarded a 150,000th diver certificate and the group celebrated the momentous occasion.
During a gala celebration in Cairns the following evening, Richardson presented the Pro Dive Cairns team with a commemorative award. He went on to recognize Pro Dive Cairns for its commitment to dive training excellence, innovative initiatives and numerous accomplishments during the past 33 years in business.
Richardson said:
“For more than three decades, Pro Dive Cairns has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to quality education, diver safety and professionalism. Each year, their staff transforms thousands of lives, opening doors for exploration and adventure into inner space – Earth’s final frontier. In doing so, they fuel a much needed passion for the marine environment and help grow our united diver family of ocean advocates. This achievement is a direct result of the Pro Dive Cairns staff’s devotion to changing lives for the better. I applaud them for their accomplishment and thank them for their unwavering dedication to both PADI and our ocean planet.”
PADI Asia Pacific Vice President Danny Dwyer added:
“The PADI staff congratulates the entire Pro Dive Cairns team on reaching this remarkable milestone. For more than 33 years, PADI and Pro Dive Cairns have shared a strong and successful partnership and I look forward to our partnership continuing to grow for many years to come.”
Established in 1983, Pro Dive Cairns has a team of 67 staff members, is home to a purpose-built PADI Five Star Career Development Center, and owns and operates three 25-meter/82-foot liveaboard dive vessels with regular trips to the Great Barrier Reef.
