As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, PADI has released a bunch of short videos showcasing how diving has changed people’s lives.
The “My PADI. My Ocean. My Hope” series brings together stories where diving is the foundation for teaching people about social, environmental and humanitarian issues.
Among them is a video featuring Leo Morales, who had his right leg amputated in 2008 and has since set a pair of diving world records. He’s now a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor and motivational speaker, and hopes to inspire people to go beyond what they think is possible. He says:
“Under the water you don’t have any limitations. You don’t have any disability. You are able to fly.”
Another video showcases Andre Miller, a marine biologist and PADI Instructor who helped set up a marine sanctuary in Carlisle Bay, Barbados:
“My ocean is my life. My ocean is also your ocean. We need it to survive and we need more people in the water. The more people we get certified as divers and free divers the easier it is to protect what we have.”
A third video features Jennifer Idol, who was inspired to dive all 50 U.S. states after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 (and became a dive instructor in the process):
“I could have never foreseen that I would eventually take the giant leap to make diving a full-time career. As a PADI instructor and underwater photographer, I want to help others love diving, become good divers, and love the underwater world so that we may all enjoy it for generations to come.”
To that end, PADI wants more stories from the dive community, and is encouraging divers to share what “My PADI. My Ocean. My Hope” means to them and the impact diving has had on their lives.
Check out one of the videos below, and for more info go to mypadi.padi.com.
