The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), the world’s leading diver training organisation, has entered into a strategic partnership with the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) to strengthen India’s scuba diving and adventure tourism ecosystem. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focuses on improving diver safety, harmonising training standards with international norms, and fostering responsible and sustainable dive tourism across the country.
With nearly six decades of global expertise, PADI brings its internationally recognised diver training framework to India’s growing diving sector, while ATOAI contributes its deep network of tour operators and adventure tourism stakeholders. Together, the organisations aim to elevate India’s profile as a leading global destination for safe, sustainable, and high-quality diving experiences.
Thomas Knedlik, Vice President, PADI Asia Pacific, said, “PADI is thrilled to partner with ATOAI to advance sustainable adventure tourism and diving in India. This collaboration will help showcase India as a world-class diving destination, enhance diver education and safety through PADI’s global standards, and contribute to the development and adoption of ISO standards for scuba diving in India. We look forward to inspiring more people to explore and protect India’s incredible underwater world.”
The partnership outlines joint initiatives to enhance diver training quality, improve operational safety among dive operators, and ensure adherence to global best practices. PADI and ATOAI will also collaborate to promote India’s dive destinations at national and international trade fairs, and will undertake community-driven conservation efforts such as underwater and coastal clean-up activities.
Ajeet Bajaj, President, ATOAI, remarked, “This collaboration with PADI marks a significant milestone in India’s journey towards becoming a global leader in Responsible Adventure Tourism. By uniting ATOAI’s deep-rooted knowledge of India’s diverse adventure landscape with PADI’s internationally recognised expertise in diving safety and education, we aim to set new benchmarks in quality, safety and sustainability and showcase India as a world-class diving and water sports destination. We propose to work closely with Bureau of Indian Standards & PADI to help develop and adopt robust national standards for scuba diving and other adventure activities. Together, we are committed to building a responsible and resilient adventure tourism ecosystem that not only offers world-class experiences but also protects and celebrates our natural heritage.” The MoU is expected to boost the visibility of India’s dive industry, generate employment in coastal communities, and contribute to the overall economic growth of the adventure tourism sector. By aligning safety, sustainability, and global standards, the PADI–ATOAI partnership sets the stage for India’s emergence as a responsible and competitive diving destination on the world stage.
