Reef-World x PADI: Marine Tourism’s Frontline Against El Niño

When Reef-World first partnered with PADI in 2018, we were swimming in hope. After 10 years of building our flagship programme, Green Fins, into a proven conservation approach, we were working with an industry leader with the global network to strengthen our impact. 

Nearly eight years on, this partnership continues to deliver on that hope, pushing boundaries and reshaping marine tourism. In the glacial-paced landscape of global climate action, we aren’t sitting back - the ocean needs action right now, and together we are giving the diving community the tools to deliver real, measurable change before time runs out.

The Super-Villain: Super-El Niño

Weekly Sea Surface Temperatures via NOAA Climate Prediction Center shows warmer than average temperatures in the Pacific from May - July 2026 as El Niño starts to ramp up.

We have entered the ramp-up phase of the next El Niño event, and the forecasts are daunting. NOAA’s projections signal some of the highest thermal stress risks since the 1950s. This comes less than two years after the last El Niño. If you dived on sites affected by previous heatwaves, the potential impact on our oceans isn't an abstract mystery - it’s a vivid memory.

But our planet is warmer and even more unpredictable today. And because marine ecosystems - from tropical coral reefs to temperate kelp forests - are still recovering from recent climate events, we don't have the luxury of passive commitments. We need all tentacles on deck before sea surface temperatures peak.

The Anchor Behind the Award

There have been plenty of "green" diving initiatives over the decades, all with the best intentions but varying in their ability to drive genuine environmental change.

Our partnership with PADI was built on a shared conviction: that environmental standards must be held to the same rigorous level as health and safety standards. When PADI launched the PADI Eco Center™ designation on Earth Day 2023, Green Fins was the perfect fit to be the independent credibility anchor behind it.

“The PADI Eco Center credentials designate our members who exemplify environmental stewardship in their operations. The ultimate goal is to connect ocean lovers with sustainability leaders in the dive industry through a rigorous verification that gives travelers the confidence that their tourism dollars are going to make a positive impact”

— Julie Andersen, Director of Global Brand for PADI Worldwide

PADI Eco Center™ celebrates dive operations leading the way in sustainability. We provide the foundational blueprint that makes that recognition mean something: an internationally recognized, science-backed environmental standard tailored to marine tourism. By evaluating operations across 15 practical areas of our Green Fins Code of Conduct, we give operators a clear path to reduce local environmental threats year after year.

"We've always approached our operations with sustainability in mind. What Green Fins brought was structure, documentation, and a transferable framework that helped us strengthen those efforts and apply them more consistently across the fleets." 

- Clay McCardell Owner of Explorer Ventures Fleet

Green Fins and PADI Eco Center™ materials on display at Aloha Diving, Thailand

When we surveyed our PADI dive operator community in 2026, 41% told us that independent credibility and global recognition were the most valuable benefits of their Green Fins membership - ranking it above publicity or marketing exposure. That scientific integrity is what builds trust with guests, staff, and conservationists alike.

“While it's hard to attribute specific numbers, our sustainable practices have certainly distinguished us from competitors within the crowded market of Phuket. By aligning with eco-friendly values and offering a more responsible diving experience, we stand out as a more appealing choice for customers who prioritize environmental conservation.”

- Simon Wenk, Aloha Diving, Thailand

The Proof on the Reef: What the Data Shows

High-level environmental pledges look great on paper, but we care about what actually changes on the dive deck, in the classroom, and under the water. Between 2023 and 2026, active Green Fins PADI operators showed marked improvements across every single point of our Code of Conduct but especially in:

• Enforcing No-Touch Policies (+66%): Formalizing and upholding strict no-touch rules underwater saw the single largest improvement across participating operators.

• Environmental Education (+62%): Operators expanded pre-dive environmental briefings and staff training.

• Citizen Science & Reef Monitoring (+62%): Over half of active PADI Green Fins members now log and submit marine life data to scientific databases.

• Tripling Gold Standards: The proportion of PADI Green Fins Certified members reaching our highest Gold-tier status tripled.

• Cleanup Acceleration: Our members logged over 1,400 cleanups - more than doubling our previous reporting period.

Stories from the Sea

Behind these metrics are real people making daily operational choices for our oceans:

In Thailand, Fast Manta Krabi built Green Fins guidelines into their onboarding and brought an in-house Marine Biologist onto their staff to lead guest briefings.

"Becoming a PADI Eco Dive Center and joining Green Fins wasn't just a title - it was a promise to ourselves, our guests, and our marine environment... For us, this isn't just about recognition - it's about building a dive center where sustainability is part of the culture, not an afterthought."

— Kari Lehtonen, Fast Manta Krabi, Thailand

In Dominica, Nature Island Dive mobilized more than 50 divers across two seasons to log citizen-science data, directly supporting the census of an invasive jellyfish species that led to a published scientific paper.

In Malta, NDS eliminated single-use plastics from their nitrox cylinder fills. In Malaysia, Sea Gypsy Village & Dive Base organized community beach cleanups with local schools, collecting 163 kg of trash in a single month.

Beyond Tropical Borders

Environmental standards for marine tourism aren’t just for tropical coral reefs. Located north of the Arctic Circle, NORD&NE became the first PADI Eco Center in Norway. Operating in cold waters and heavy currents, their team used Green Fins guidelines to fine-tune diver buoyancy briefings, control camera equipment handling, and protect sensitive cold-water ecosystems.

Clean up dive in cold water. Photo credit: Vebjørn Karlsen

“Most of the recreational diving here does not have corals sensitive to touching, but we do have a lot of other fragile marine life. There has been a tendency to ‘play’ with marine life, such as putting sea stars on our heads or moving marine life to get better photos. So we think joining Green Fins is a perfect way to become more aware of how we relate to marine life, and get rid of bad behaviour we don’t easily see without looking at our practice with new eyes. Green Fins is a great tool for that.”

— Borghild and Fredric, owners of NORD&NE, Norway

A Global Community in Action

We’re immensely proud of the impact of this partnership, and thank PADI for being the first dive training agency to take this step with us to mainstream environmental standards throughout their business and network. The result is a genuine culture shift. PADI Eco Center-eligible Green Fins members maintain an 87% renewal rate. We’re excited for the potential impact of our role as a neutral third-party accreditation partner with other training agencies in the future.  

Through our members-only online Green Fins Community Forum, operators around the globe aren't working in isolation. They swap solutions on coral bleaching, sourcing eco-friendly products, trade ideas for local conservation events, and celebrate milestone achievements - like becoming the first Eco Centers in Norway, Barbados, Honduras, or the Galápagos.

Sneak peak into the members-only Green Fins Community Forum

"Green Fins has allowed us to collaborate with dive shops and divers from all over the world. It has made us feel part of a larger community, sharing the challenges and progress of our small, family-run shop with a wider audience.”

— Rena Hall, Silent World Dive Center, USA

“The Community forum is the best. There is always so much to learn and people are so friendly and helpful. At first, we were apprehensive about using the forum as other online forums can turn nasty but not the Green Fins forum. The members and staff are amazing and very supportive. It’s also great for networking.”

— Glenda Meade, Maple Leaf Scuba, Mexico

Building Reef Resilience Through Local Action

While none of us can stop rising sea temperatures overnight, targeting localized threats is the single most effective tool we have to buy marine ecosystems time during severe heatwaves. Global thermal stress hits hardest when reefs are already battling anchor damage, physical diver contact, chemical runoff, and plastic pollution. That’s where operational standards make the difference: when dive operators like PADI Eco Centers implement the 15-point Green Fins Code of Conduct - driving metrics like a 66% rise in enforced no-touch policies - they systematically strip away those daily pressures. By eliminating local stressors, we give marine life the stamina and resilience needed to survive catastrophic El Niño events.

Join Us at the Frontline

Every day, Green Fins members prove that dive businesses are far more than tour operators - they are active, verified guardians of the underwater world. 

If you operate a dive or snorkel center, don't wait for thermal stress to reach your local reefs. Equip your team with the practical tools, scientific backing, and global credibility needed to safeguard your dive sites and lead the industry forward.