PADI AWARE Foundation

Dedicated to the future of coral reefs, Big Bubble Dive Resort on Koh Tao Island in Thailand has committed to replanting native coral species through a PADI AWARE Foundation Community Grant. Since 2017, the resort and its citizen science divers have planted over 100,000 coral fragments in partnership with Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. In 2022, they planted an additional 2,500 fragments with PADI AWARE funding, achieving an impressive 80% survival rate after three months. Beyond the direct restoration work, this project is a case study for future efforts and an educational tool for divers and tourists who participate in the hands-on coral planting activities. As Pongphat Turasakul from Big Bubble notes, "Human life is fundamentally reliant upon a healthy reef and ocean." Therefore, in restoring the reef, the team is also helping the local community and visitors to the island. By inspiring these participants to become advocates for sustainable living, the project's positive impact can ripple far beyond Koh Tao. "The oceans are too big for one single hand to protect and care for. However, if many small hands work together, our oceans will definitely get better," says Big Bubble Resort’s General Manager, Chatsakul Kaewpanao. Success for the project is measured by the survival of restored coral and the number of citizen science divers who participate.

Committed to combating climate change, Kosamare is launching a three-year project to monitor and restore seagrass meadows and install permanent eco-moorings in high-density boating areas off Kefalonia, Greece. Through a PADI AWARE grant, Kosamare will conduct aerial photography and underwater surveys to assess the health of Posidonia oceanica meadows, which are critical habitats and powerful blue carbon sinks. The first phase will identify priority areas for eco-friendly moorings to prevent further damage from recreational boating and for seagrass restoration to revive these vital ecosystems. As a Kosamare representative explained, these meadows are one of the most important ecosystems in the Mediterranean and are still under major threat despite being protected. The project also aims to engage the local community and students from across Europe in scientific diving and conservation work. According to Kosamare’s Alex McCaster, "While the oceans are largely regarded as a fragile system…we should not overlook their strength and resilience." For Kosamare, true success will be measured by the active engagement of the community, demonstrating the ability of small organizations to mobilize for change in the face of the climate crisis.

In Dauin, Philippines, Mike's Dauin Beach Resort is using a PADI AWARE grant for Project Pawikan, an initiative to map the local population of Green Sea Turtles and their vital seagrass habitats. While local marine sanctuaries have protected the turtles' nesting sites, the seagrass beds they rely on for foraging remain largely unmapped and unprotected. Through professional surveys and citizen science images, the project aims to raise awareness of the importance of these unmapped areas, which serve as crucial foraging grounds for the turtles. The data collected will be shared with decision-makers to encourage greater protection of these habitats. As Jonathan Anderson, Project Pawikan Officer, explains, protecting these animals is personal: "Encountering them is like a visit with old friends, and we are honoured to share their home." By studying these indicator species, the project hopes to not only safeguard the local turtle population for future generations but also to develop a methodology that can be used for similar conservation efforts worldwide.

To help protect the Setiba Marine Protection Area (MPA) in Brazil, Acqua Sub, a local dive shop, is using a PADI AWARE Foundation Community Grant to survey reef fish and assess the seabed. The surveys, conducted through visual observation on 25 field expeditions, will help determine the effectiveness of the current MPA. Acqua Sub, led by Ivan Costa Santos, plans to share this data with the local government to advocate for increased environmental enforcement and an expansion of the protected area. "I will consider this a success if I manage to sensitize the local government to increase the environmental enforcement and expand the Setiba MPA," Santos said. By engaging both local authorities and GoPRO students as citizen scientists, Acqua Sub aims to establish a lasting legacy of marine conservation. Santos views this project as "the kick off" for future collaborations to protect local marine life.

Using a PADI AWARE Foundation Community Grant, the Whale Shark & Oceanic Research Center (WSORC) in Utila, Honduras, is working to monitor and treat Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD). This devastating disease, first identified in 2014, is rapidly spreading throughout the Caribbean, threatening to wipe out nearly 30 coral species. "The grant received is allowing us to fight Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease head-on," said WSORC's Rebecca Engle. The team will use antibiotic paste and firebreaks to treat vital coral colonies, collect data on the disease's progression, and maintain species and genetic diversity on the reefs. Beyond direct intervention, a key goal is to train interns from around the world in monitoring and treatment protocols. The hope is that this knowledge will be shared and implemented globally, slowing the disease's spread. For Engle, success would be seeing treated corals heal, knowing their work is a part of the worldwide collaboration to protect reefs.