Guest Post by PADI
The ocean is a miraculous place full of beauty and wonder. From the vibrant marine life to the incredible landscapes that can be found beneath the waters, it isn’t hard to understand why so many people take to scuba diving.
Here are some reasons why everyone should explore the ocean.
- Explore parts of the world that many don’t get to see: The ocean covers 71% of the earth’s surface. If your goal is to “see the world” then you’ll need to learn to scuba dive.
- Tons of animals and marine life to see: An estimated 50-80% of all life on earth is found under the ocean surface.
- Blue whales are the largest animals on our planet: These gentle giants even exceed the size of the greatest known dinosaurs and have hearts the size of small cars.
- Relive the vast amount of history that lies beneath the sea: You can explore wrecks that sit at the bottom of the ocean, including World War ships and planes.
- Experience weightlessness: Is gravity always bringing you down? Learn to scuba dive and feel the sweet spot of neither sinking nor floating.
- Rainforests of the Sea: Coral reefs are home to about 25 percent of all known marine species and are used by countless other species at some point in their life cycle. Coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse and productive communities, often referred to as the rainforests of the sea.
- Meet a living fossil: A member of the cephalopod family, the Nautilus is like a swimming snail with tentacles. This living fossil has changed very little in the past 500 million years.
If you’re interested in ocean conservation, the Project AWARE Foundation is a growing movement of scuba divers protecting the ocean planet – one dive at a time. Through conservation movements like Project AWARE, scuba divers can team together and work on important issues such as Sharks in Peril and Marine Debris. For more information on how you can help protect the ocean and raise awareness, visit projectaware.org and your local PADI Dive Shop.
Interested in learning to scuba dive? Check out the Learn to Dive page to get started.
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Contiki and PADI, the world’s leading scuba diver training organization, have partnered up and want to add a little “depth” to your travel adventures. Why? Because travelers like you love to travel the world and seek adventure! Find more info at www.Contiki.com/PADI.
PADI Divers carry the most respected and sought after scuba diving credentials in the world. No matter where you choose to dive, your PADI certification card will be recognized and accepted. In fact, on most scuba diving adventures, you’ll be surrounded by other PADI Divers (23 million PADI scuba certifications to date) who made the same certification choice you did – to train and dive with PADI.