The PADI Story

PADI - Professional Association of Diving Instructors

Two Friends, a Bottle of Scotch and an Idea

The world’s largest scuba diving training organization, PADI was dreamed up in 1966 by two friends in Illinois over a bottle of Johnnie Walker. It’s true.

John Cronin, a scuba equipment salesman for U.S. Divers, and Ralph Erickson, an educator and swimming instructor, were concerned about the scuba diving industry. They felt that the scuba certification agencies that existed at the time were unprofessional, didn’t use state-of-the-art instruction, and made it unnecessarily difficult for people to enter the sport. John and Ralph knew there had to be a safer, easier way for people to learn to breathe underwater.

In 1966, John brought a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label and $30 US to Ralph’s Illinois apartment in Morton Grove. They decided it was time to start a scuba training organization. John insisted that the word “professional” be in the name of the company. Ralph wanted an “association of diving instructors.” After a few rounds of Scotch, the acronym PADI was born: Professional Association of Diving Instructors.

Their goal – give more people a chance to enjoy the underwater world by offering relevant, instructionally valid scuba diving training to create confident scuba divers who dive regularly.

The Underground Office

The initial start-up meetings took place at several restaurants in Morton Grove and Niles, Illinois. In a few months, Cronin finished a portion of the basement in his home on Main Street in Niles to become the headquarters for PADI. He eventually hired his next-door neighbour to be a part time secretary. His son, Brian, stuffed and sealed envelopes.

A Torched Logo

When they were struggling for a logo design, John mentioned he wanted something classy like the National Geographic look. Years later, in an interview, Ralph said that idea changed the way he was looking at this small two-man operation. At that moment, he could see a big vision for PADI. Ralph was responsible for putting together the first PADI logo – a diver with a torch in a globe. This logo was later refined into the well-known PADI logo of today.

PADI Grows

In the early years, PADI grew slowly. In 1967, it introduced recreational diving’s first diver certification requirements, first advanced diver course and first specialty diver programs. By the late 1960s, PADI had 400 members, but it was still a struggling entity.

Cronin went to a huge National Sporting Goods Association show in New York City. While he was there he met with Paul Tzimoulis, who later became the editor of Skin Diver magazine. Paul suggested that PADI put the diver’s picture on the certification card. In 1968, PADI produced the first positive identification certification card with the diver’s photograph. It was a strategic move that helped PADI’s eventual global recognition.

John Cronin had been promoted to Sales Manager at U.S. Divers and had moved the family to Huntington Beach, California. In 1970, the PADI Office moved to California, USA.

Erickson developed a modular training program and it started to catch on. In 1972, the PADI Open Water Diver certification was launched as the preferred entry-level rating, with twice as many required open water dives as previous courses.

In the late 1970s and early ‘80s, PADI began creating its own integrated, multimedia student and instructor educational materials for each course. This development spawned an incredible growth period for PADI and made it unique from other agencies.

By the late 1980s, PADI was the leading scuba diving training organization in the world. With so many new people introduced to the activity, everyone at PADI felt a responsibility to teach divers about their interactions with the underwater world. Cronin knew PADI had a responsibility to protect the marine environment. John Cronin said:

“We want to feel that our children, their children and generations to come will be able to enjoy the underwater world that has given us so much. There are so many significant problems facing mankind, but as divers this is truly our cause. If scuba divers do not take an active role in preserving the aquatic realm, who will?”

Out of a true concern for the environment, the Project AWARE Foundation was formed.

PADI Today

In 2003, John Cronin passed away. His friend and PADI co-founder, Ralph Erickson, passed away three years later. They proudly carried PADI’s torch for many years before they confidently put it in the hands of today’s generation of PADI Professionals, who continue to introduce the world to scuba diving.

With close to 400 employees in PADI corporate offices around the world, the PADI organization works hard to be the best partner to its members and is committed to:

Safe and responsible diver acquisition and retention.
Quality member acquisition and retention.
Financial prosperity.
Worldwide alignment in message, products, systems and procedures.

The PADI Worldwide Executive team, led by Dr. Drew Richardson, President and CEO, ensure these promises are met.

PADI’s Mission

Purpose – PADI exists to develop programs that encourage and fulfill the public interest in recreational scuba diving and snorkeling worldwide.
Vision – PADI intends to be the world leader in the educational development of scuba diving professionals and enthusiasts.
Slogan – PADI – The Way the World Learns to Dive®
Mission – We want to teach the world to scuba dive.
Tasks, Goals and Purposes – PADI strives to be the world’s most respected and successful organization in recreational scuba diving and snorkeling. PADI is committed to product and service excellence, the professional growth and security of PADI Members and employees, healthy competition and partnership within the dive industry, and to providing training and opportunity for all who seek to enjoy and safely explore and protect our planet’s oceans, lakes and waterway

PADI Through the Decades: The 1960's

2016 marks an exciting year for PADI® — our 50th Anniversary!

Back in 1966, two passionate divers created the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, hoping to revolutionize the diving industry. Fifty years later, it’s clear that PADI has become a worldwide leader in dive training. As we reflect on our history, we are grateful for the continued support of the diving community all these years. It is that incredible support that drives our commitment to diving excellence.

So how did we get here? As part of our 50th Anniversary celebration, we’re taking a walk through PADI’s history decade-by-decade. Let’s begin where it all started, the 1960s:

1966: Beginnings

In 1966, John Cronin had driven three hours on bad roads to give a presentation at an instructor certification course, only to find out the class had been cancelled. Angry at the lack of professionalism in the diving industry, he picked up a bottle of Johnnie Walker and called his friend Ralph Erickson. Together they decided to found a new diving organization to improve business and education standards in diving. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors – PADI – was born.

Something’s missing…

1966: The PADI Logo

Erickson designed the first PADI logo after Cronin expressed his desire for a “classy” image, similar to that of National Geographic. He later stated that the process of creating this logo helped him see beyond their two-man operation and envision a bigger future for PADI. Drawing inspiration from a photo in Cousteau’s Silent World, Erickson sketched the diver-with-torch motif. Weary after hours of arranging the stick-on letters for the logo, Erickson accidentally left out the “e” in “professional.” The error remained for two years until a PADI member pointed out the mistake. Some of the misspelled originals are still on display at PADI’s California office.

1967: A New Approach to Diver Training

Expanded diver education had always been one of Erickson’s dreams for the scuba industry. Well before it became the industry norm it is today, Erickson believed that a focus on continuing education would allow divers to “gain full enjoyment in this watery world.” By the end of the 1960s, he had designed courses ranging from Skin Diver all the way to Master Instructor.

1967: The Undersea Journal

In 1967 The Undersea Journal was created, producing the industry’s first trade magazine for scuba instructors. Many of the early issues were written mostly or entirely by Ralph Erickson. The first issue was completely penned by him, with his articles featuring various pen names. Within a few issues PADI Instructors and other industry players soon joined in with submitted content.

1968: Photo ID

PADI’s Positive Identification Card was diving’s first card to include diver photos alongside their certification information – an idea John Cronin got at a trade show from Paul Tzimoulis, future editor and publisher of Skin Diver Magazine. The Positive Identification Card simplified cylinder fills and gear rentals by eliminating the need for secondary identification.

In just a few years of existence, PADI had ignited the spark that would change the diving world. These crucial early years laid the foundation that would enable the PADI family to earn the trust of millions of divers worldwide, and set the stage for the organization’s explosive growth.

PADI Through the Decades: The 1970's

The 1970s were years of explosive growth for PADI®. Over the decade, PADI developed innovative new courses, gained credibility in the dive world, had huge increases in diver certifications, and more. The 1960s were when it began, but the 70s were when PADI truly defined itself.

1973: Master Scuba Diver™

In 1973, PADI introduced the Master Scuba Diver rank, the scuba industry’s first non-instructional rating. It was awarded to Senior Advanced Divers who had completed six specialty ratings. At the time there weren’t as many specialties to choose from, but they included ones that are still popular today: Underwater Photography, Cave Diver, Ice Diver, Wreck Diver, Search and Recovery Diver, Deep Diver, Research Diver, and Equipment Specialist.

1978: PADI Scuba Course and Modern Instruction

While it seems standard today, the modular scuba program was revolutionary to diving when PADI launched it in 1978. For the first time, instructional design coupled with integrated manuals, audiovisuals, tests, and instructor guides came to diver training. The new course focused on practical skills, breaking away from the industry focus on excessive theoretical knowledge and military-like standards. With the introduction of the new PADI course, diving saw immediate and steady increases in the number of divers, yet a fall in diver fatality rates. Learning to dive was more fun, efficient, and effective than ever.

1979: PADI Japan Office Established

The first PADI overseas regional office was established in Tokyo, Japan in 1979. This evolved from the PADI Sensui Shido Kyokai (Diving Instruction Council) that was created to help translate materials and improve communication across languages. The Japan office would be the first of many worldwide developments as the PADI family expanded internationally.

1979: PADI Certifications Skyrocket

Certification rates boomed throughout the ’70s, thanks largely to the PADI System of Diver Education, and boosted by advances in dive gear options and design. By the end of the decade, PADI had gone from 25,000 certifications a year to more than 100,000 in 1979. Today, PADI averages more than 900,000 certifications annually, with more than 24 million total certifications.

The 1970s marked the era in which the PADI organization gained its tremendous momentum. Follow along with us this year, as we’ll be sharing our story through the decades. Continuing with next month’s installment – the 1980s, a decade of research and conservation.

PADI Through the Decades: the 1980's

The 1980s were when PADI® truly became a leader in dive research. By taking the initiative to study diving, PADI was able to create new texts, tools, and course structures that continue to benefit the dive industry.

1981: Pool Dives

In 1981, PADI became the first scuba program to have new divers use scuba gear during their first confined water/pool dives. At the time it was considered bizarre to start divers with scuba rather than freediving. Now it has become an industry standard, and the “Dive Today” approach has continued to prove itself.

1984: Rescue Diver Training

In 1984, the PADI Rescue Diver course and the PADI Rescue Diver Manual brought instructional-designed rescue training into diving’s core courses. Prior to this, the industry considered it a specialty or crammed it into lower level training, diluting the focus on it. By bringing it into the core course flow, rescue was able to get the attention it deserved.

Additionally, offering the course after Advanced Open Water fit into the PADI philosophy of building skills gradually as the diver is ready for them, ensuring that divers already have the basics down and can truly understand and succeed with their rescue skills. Many divers say that Rescue Diver is their favorite course.

1988: The Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving

Seeing a gap in the knowledge resources available for avid recreational divers, in 1988 PADI published the Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving. This was the first comprehensive informational resource aimed specifically at recreational diving, with sections on dive physics, physiology, the environment, equipment, and special activities. Today the Encyclopedia is in its third edition.

1988: The Recreational Dive Planner

In 1987, PADI funded the development of a new decompression model specific to no stop decompression diving. The result was the Recreational Dive Planner (RDP), introduced by PADI in 1988 as a table and The Wheel. These were the first dive tables created specifically for no stop recreational diving. Today, electronic versions of the RDP remain available and popular.

1989: Project AWARE

At the end of the decade, PADI established the Project AWARE (Aquatic World Awareness, Responsibility and Education) initiative to increase environmental awareness through diver education. Project AWARE has grown over the past two decades, evolving into today’s Project AWARE Foundation. Together, PADI and the Project AWARE Foundation unite divers as a global movement working to protect our oceans.

The 1980s were the beginning of PADI’s consistent contributions to research and development in the dive industry. Follow along with us this year, as we’ll be sharing our story through the decades. Continuing with next month’s installment – the 1990s.

PADI Through the Decades: the 1990s

The 1990s were a period of expansion for PADI®. This decade opened up independent study and new courses, growing everything in the PADI library.

1991: Video support for PADI courses

Instructional videos allowing for the era of independent study rolled out in 1991, starting with the PADI Open Water Diver Video on VHS. With this, PADI became the first training organization with a full range of diver training videos. By 1999, all core programs were already on DVD and older videos were getting second editions. Video support remains one of PADI’s core strengths and is a major part of all diver training.

1992: Continued Growth

PADI’s explosive growth from the 70s hadn’t lost its steam. In 1992, PADI became the first dive organization to issue over 500,000 certifications in a single year. Two years later, PADI would issue its 5,000,000th certification. This growth goes hand in hand with PADI’s role in dive research; PADI’s success increased its ability to contribute to dive studies, and its leadership role in research increased its popularity among divers.

1995: PADI CD-ROM

In the mid-90s, PADI launched interactive software as part of their system. Founder John Cronin stated that he hoped to reach 30,000,000 computers through a deal to put PADI on Windows 95. To promote the CD-ROM launch, Cronin interviewed with aquaCORPs magazine, and even appeared on the cover.

Computer-based training is common now, but twenty years ago PADI was the one paving the way. And while the Windows 95 initiative was only moderately successful, the focus on computer programming started the path towards today’s eLearning.

1995: PADI Enriched Air Contributions

PADI continued its contributions to dive research with an emphasis on recreational enriched air. In 1995, PADI released its Enriched Air Diver course, cementing recreational EANx as an industry staple. The PADI Enriched Air Diver course also helped the slowly growing tec diving industry. PADI also contributed to the 1992 Enriched Air Workshop and worked closely with the Underwater Hyperbaric Medical Society to help research and increase diver safety. Today, enriched air is widely used and has become the most popular PADI specialty.

1997: Artificial Reefs

Throughout the 90s, the Canadian branch of PADI worked to assist artificial reef development around the country. From 1991-1997, PADI Canada was heavily involved in these efforts, and still takes opportunities to work with artificial reef projects. Most recently, PADI worked alongside the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia to sink the HMCS Annapolis on April 4, 2015.

PADI Through the Decades: the 2000's

PADI® entered the 2000s with plenty of momentum from the previous century. From 2000-2010, PADI expanded their programs to cater to an even wider audience, from children who wanted to try scuba to advanced divers ready to push boundaries.

2000: PADI TecRec

Technical diving started gaining more and more attention during the late 90s and 2000s. Tec diving uses specialized equipment and procedures to take divers beyond the limits of recreational diving. Many divers were ready to push the limits of diving and to explore places nobody else had been. Continuing from its research and debate contributions in the previous decade, PADI launched the first tec diver training programs based on solid educational tenets. Tec Deep Diver, Tec Trimix Diver, and Gas Blender became the first three PADI TecRec training program. Tec diving has continued to grow from there, and PADI has stayed closely involved. There are now 18 classes available through PADI TecRec.

2001: PADI Seal Team™

In 2001, PADI expanded their programs so that kids could get a taste of diving. After extensive research and development on children and diving, the PADI Seal Team was released, aimed at getting eight to ten-year-olds experience with scuba. In addition to learning the basics, there are also specialty AquaMissions like wreck diving, environmental awareness and more. Alongside the program, PADI also released tools to make training children easier and safer, including Children and Scuba Diving: A Resource Guide for Instructors and Parents. With these steps, PADI made it possible for more families to bond through this unique and exciting experience. Families like the Jenss’ love diving together, and PADI even has several young Junior Master Scuba Divers, like 13-year-oldCharlotte Burns.

2005: eRDP launched

The first major update to the Recreational Dive Planner since its introduction came in 2005; the electronic RDP. Three years later, the multilevel eRDPml™ was released, which brought the multilevel capability of The Wheel into an electronic format. Even with the rise of dive computers, this dive planner has remained popular with divers for their training and beyond.

2007: PADI launches eLearning™

Digital learning became more and more popular as technology advanced. Continuing from where the CD-ROM version of the 90s left off, PADI created the Open Water Diver Online course. This was the first eLearning courseand first eBook version of the PADI Open Water Manual. Divers could now start working on their certification anywhere, anytime, at their own pace. eLearning has become incredibly popular, with more and more divers choosing it over conventional classes. Divers can now take many of the PADI programs online, from Open Water Diver to the Instructor Development Course.

PADI Through the Decades: the 2010's

Today, PADI is going stronger than ever. The 2010s have especially seen a strong focus on the community, with Tec and Rec finding common ground, ScubaEarth connecting divers around the world, and Women’s Dive Day encouraging more women to jump into diving.

2011: Rebreather and Sidemount

As tec diving gained popularity, even more divers wanted to expand their scuba opportunities using emerging technologies. To bridge the gap between recreational and technical diving, PADI developed both Tec and Recversions of rebreather and sidemount training courses. Before 2011, rebreather training had been primarily Tec-oriented, but recreational divers were now able to use new, highly-automated rebreathers, bringing a previously niche area of diving to the mainstream industry. Many divers and underwater photographers prefer rebreathers for their longer bottom times, lack of bubbles and silence. Tec diving similarly influenced other recreational areas, like sidemount, which traveled from cave and technical diving roots into the recreational sphere with benefits of comfort, convenience and flexibility.

2012: ScubaEarth Launched

In 2012, PADI expanded its online services with the launch of ScubaEarth, a one-stop community for divers. Users can research, plan and log dives, connect with dive shops and other divers, share photos and more. Through ScubaEarth, the global diving community can come together to share past experiences and ideas for future dives. Divers can keep in touch with buddies across the world and look up local dive sites to keep them engaged with their favorite destinations. Currently, there are over 360,000 members on ScubaEarth.

2013: Open Water Diver Touch

eLearning expanded once again with PADI Open Water Diver Touch™, diving’s first tablet-based, comprehensive and interactive courseware. With Touch, divers have access to the latest Open Water Diver Manual, videos, animations, quizzes and online links, straight from their iOS/Android mobile devices. ReActivate™ and Equipment Specialist™ also exist on Touch, and Advanced Open Water Diver in the works.

2015: Women’s Dive Day

The first PADI Women’s Dive Day took place on 18 July 2015. Women’s Dive Day was created with the goal of getting as many women as possible, at every level, diving on the same day. Divers used to be almost exclusively men, but now women make up about a third of certified divers. With Women’s Dive Day, PADI hopes to encourage even more women to dive and keep that number growing. The inaugural event featured celebrations across 65 countries and all seven continents, with more than 6,000 divers in attendance. The second PADI Women’s Dive Day is coming up next month, on 16 July 2016. You can search for events happening near you to join in!

Thanks to all our divers across the world for being part of the PADI story. Over the past 50 years we’ve shared an incredible journey of experiences, connections, growth and success as the world’s leader in diver training, and we look forward to what comes next over the next 50 years.