In 1989, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) established the Project AWARE Foundation as a commitment to ocean protection.
[9] These programs provide tools and resources to engage the public and scuba divers in activities such as citizen science, education, advocacy (letter writing campaigns, petitions and photo campaigns) to advance more significant action on the key threats facing the ocean.
In 2020, PADI AWARE Foundation published the data analyzing coastal debris across land and seafloor habitat, in collaboration with Ocean Conservancy, in Science Direct.
Alongside shark partners and allies, the Foundation pressured governments to adopt a ban on the catching of vulnerable species.
[15] PADI AWARE engages with dive leaders and ocean advocates via citizen science initiatives, an online eco-network, an interactive conservation map, conservation dive courses, letter-writing campaigns, and joining environmental NGO networks to give collective support to member organizations' lobbying efforts.