Mission

Project AWARE Foundation conserves underwater environments through education, advocacy and action.

Who We Are

Project AWARE Foundation is a registered nonprofit organization. In partnership with scuba divers and water enthusiasts, Project AWARE offices located in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland and Japan combine efforts to conserve aquatic resources in more than 180 countries and territories of the world. 

What We Do

Project AWARE Foundation works in partnership with divers and water enthusiasts to combat challenges facing underwater environments. Project AWARE and dedicated volunteers are committed to conservation initiatives including:

• Underwater Cleanups and Marine Debris Prevention
• Coral Reef Conservation, Monitoring and Data Collection
• Shark Education, Reporting and Conservation
• Improved Management Policies and Marine Protection Efforts
• Environmental Training for Divers and Education Programs for Kids

Our History

Founded 1989, Project AWARE was created by a group of environmental advocates at the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), who were concerned about emerging threats to the underwater world. In 1992 Project AWARE Foundation became a separate nonprofit organization.

PADI remains a key partner donating generous in-kind services to the foundation each year. Project AWARE’s ongoing partnership with PADI encourages involvement of divers and scuba professionals in conservation activities across the globe.

Courses Offered at SSC:

Project AWARE

AWARE Coral Reef Conservation

Scuba Volunteerism

With threats such as global warming, overfishing and pollution facing underwater environments – it’s no surprise that divers are some of the most passionate volunteers you’ll find.

But you don’t have to be a full-time environmentalist to make a difference. There are simple things that divers of all levels can do to help protect underwater environments.
How can you take action?
 

• Photograph with Care – Dive carefully as many aquatic creatures are fragile regardless of size. Improper techniques while taking or editing photos underwater can damage sensitive aquatic life and harm fragile organisms with the bump of a camera or tank, swipe of a fin or even the touch of a hand. Check out Project AWARE’s website for 10 Tips for Underwater Photographers for more tips like these.  
• Be an Ecotourist – Make informed decisions when selecting a destination.  Visit Project AWARE’s website to choose from Project AWARE’s Environmental Operators when you travel or other operators dedicated to sustainable business practices. 
• Consider your Interactions – Don’t touch, handle, feed or ride on aquatic life. These actions may stress the animal, interrupt natural behaviors or provoke aggressive behaviors in a normally nonaggressive species. Check out Project AWARE’s website for Ten Ways a Diver Can Protect the Underwater Environment for essential tips like these.
• Be AWARE – Keep your gauges and alternate air source secured so they don’t drag over the reef and other vital habitat. Control your buoyancy, taking care not to touch fragile organisms with your body or equipment. Enroll in a Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty course  to perfect the skill and do your part and prevent injury to aquatic life every time you dive. 
• Go Green with Your Skills – Project AWARE Foundation is a nonprofit organization partnering with divers to conserve underwater environments. Put your dive skills to work.