TTT NEWS NETWORK
NEW DELHI | 27 OCTOBER 2025
To strengthen India’s scuba diving andadventure tourism sector, Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)collaborates with Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI)through a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The collaboration aims
to improve diver safety, maintain global consistency in scuba diving training, and encourage responsible tourism across the country.
PADI brings its worldwide experience of nearly 60 years in diver training, while ATOAI works with tour operators and industry stakeholders across India to promote the highest safety standards. Together, they aim to position India as a leading destination for safe and sustainable diving.
Thomas Knedlik, Vice President, PADI Asia Pacific states, “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 MoU focuses on improving diver safety and training standards in India. PADI and ATOAI will share their expertise to help operators follow global best practices. They will also collaborate at national and international trade shows to promote India as a safe diving destination, and support marine conservation through activities like underwater and beach clean-ups.
Ajeet Bajaj, President, ATOAI said, “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 PADI–ATOAI partnership is expected to increase the visibility of India’s dive industry, boost local employment opportunities, and support economic growth across the adventure tourism sector.
About PADI :
PADI® (Professional Association of Diving Instructors®) is the largest purpose- driven diving organization with a global network of 6,600 dive centres and resorts, 128,000 professional members and more than 30 million certified divers to date. Committed to our blue planet, PADI makes the wonder of the underwater world accessible to all, empowering people around the world to experience, explore and take meaningful action, as Ocean Torchbearers, to protect the world beneath the surface. For over 50 years, PADI has undeniably been the Way the World Learns to Dive®, setting the standard for the highest quality dive training, underwater safety and conservation initiatives while evolving the sport of diving into a passionate lifestyle. For divers by divers, PADI is obsessed with transforming lives and, with its global foundation, PADI AWARETM, creating positive ocean change.
About ATOAI:
The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), established in 1994, is the national representative body for India’s adventure travel and tourism sector. With over 700 members across 28 states, ATOAI brings together the country’s leading adventure tour operators under a unified vision of promoting safe, sustainable and responsible adventure travel. The Association works closely with governments, policymakers and international
partners to set safety standards, develop policy frameworks and strengthen India’s position as a premier global adventure tourism destination. Guided by its core values of exploration, safety, transparency, conservation and innovation, ATOAI is dedicated to empowering its members, driving industry excellence and showcasing India’s unparalleled diversity as a year-round adventure destination.
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