As it approaches its 60th anniversary as a diving organization, PADI is celebrating the acquisition of more than 100 competitor stores across 47 countries and welcoming 220 new stores to its global membership in 2025 alone.
According to PADI Worldwide Chief Brand and Membership Officer Kristin Valette Wirth:
“As our organization continues to elevate the demand for diver certifications around the globe, there has never been a more opportune time to be a PADI Retail and Resort Member. We welcome these industry-leading dive operations that have joined our global membership of 6,600 PADI Dive Centers and Resorts in over 180 countries, who together will continue the legacy of seeking adventure and saving the ocean.”
Key drivers for numerous business owners’ decision to align with PADI this year were reflected in the findings of the 2025 Dive Industry Study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), which showed that PADI Dive Centers and Resorts aren’t only the most recognized and respected globally, but that they are also the most successful.
According to PADI:
“The study’s data confirms that partnering with PADI leads to real business growth, with the average PADI Member earning US$186K more in 2024 than those who were not affiliated with the world’s largest scuba diving organization.”
Valette Wirth added:
“These findings validate that the PADI brand, along with its training and marketing programs, helps dive centers thrive. Being a PADI Member is a profitable business strategy. Through global awareness, best-in-class training, and unmatched business and marketing tools, the PADI organization helps members not only succeed, but lead in their market.”
Nuria Olive Soler, CEO of Atlantis Diving PRO Lanzarote in Spain talked about her company’s reason for returning:
“PADI remains the global benchmark in diving, with an impact that transcends education and extends into the industry, sustainability, and the global community.
“I’ve returned because I firmly believe in PADI’s ability to inspire trust, connect continents, and provide a solid structure that helps dive centers grow. I’ve already felt that strength even before the official transition: international visibility, immediate recognition from divers, and the close, human support of the PADI team.”
Morad Hassan, CEO of Outside the Asylum Scuba & Swim in the USA, said:
“The biggest reason we have chosen PADI is that PADI makes the phone ring. I have had at least a dozen classes in the last month that were simply a phone call asking if we taught PADI classes, and when we say yes, they sign up for the class over the phone and then visit our store to purchase more products. I would say half of my sales last month were directly correlated to us being a PADI Dive Center again. I no longer have to convince people to sign up, and selling classes has gotten kind of boring, actually. We believe that next year will now be one of our best years certification-wise.”
