Scuba training agency PADI has announced the legendary diver, marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer Dr Syliva Earle as its first ‘Emeritus AmbassaDiver’.
PADI’s AmbassaDiver programme recognises a number of divers each year as part of a global team of ‘Ocean Champions’, each of whom has committed to encouraging others to explore and protect the underwater world.
‘Dr. Earle embodies everything PADI stands for and we celebrate her continued commitment to inspiring future generations of divers and conservationists,’ said Kristin Valette Wirth, Chief Brand and Membership Officer for PADI Worldwide.
‘For decades, she has continued to break through the glass ceiling and show what is possible when it comes to both seeking adventure and saving the ocean. It’s a privilege to amplify her legacy as a scuba diver and ocean advocate.
‘Dr Earle’s PADI Emeritus AmbassaDiver distinction is more than a title—it will become a powerful movement that engages the global diving community, honours her legacy, and inspires others to rally behind our shared vision to explore and protect the ocean.’
Sylvia Earle is among the early adopters of scuba diving as a means to scientifically document marine life, and served as Chief Scientist of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) between 1990 to 1992, the first woman to hold the position.
She founded Deep Ocean Exploration and Research in 1992 to develop submersibles and other subsea technologies, and in 2009 founded the Mission Blue Foundation to drive forward the establishment of global Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by establishing important regions of the ocean as ‘Hope Spots’.
‘I am honoured to be asked to serve as the first PADI Emeritus AmbassaDiver,’ said Earle. ‘I look forward to being a champion for PADI and using this honour to inspire respect, love, and care for the ocean while providing effective guidance on safety for those who seek adventure underwater.’
Twelve additional PADI AmbassaDivers are anticipated to join Dr Earle as the program’s 2025 inductees
later this month.
Learn more about the PADI AmbassaDiver team at padi.com/ambassadiver.
