The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) is the world’s largest membership organization for recreational diving and diver training.

PADI established the separate nonprofit PADI Foundation to encourage and support underwater science, environmental projects, and education.

The Foundation funds projects that enrich understanding of the aquatic environment, and that protect the ecological balance of underwater life. (Note: The Foundation also funds projects to increase the understanding of sport diving physics and physiology.)

Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources

Grants for underwater science, environmental projects, and environmental education. PADI’s grant-making interests include the following themes:

• Public awareness and environmental education in marine issues;
• Marine environment and ecology;
• Coral reef systems;
• Marine mammals and turtles;
• Vertebrate and invertebrate zoology (aquatic and marine);
• Marine plants.

Grant recipients include university faculty and students; teachers of environmental education; and marine researchers who work for conservation NGOs and other nonprofit organizations. There are no restrictions by nationality or country of residence.

The maximum grant size is US$20 thousand, although most recent grants range from US$5 thousand to US$10 thousand.

APPLICATION: Applications are submitted online using a Common Grant Application. The PADI Foundation offers instructions for using the Common Grant Application, which requires registration.

An online application to the PADI Foundation requires background information about the applicant; details about the program or project for which support is requested; and information about the proposed budget.

The Foundation posts an annual calendar period during which it accepts applications.

About how to apply