The new GVI Dive Academy, which allows dive students to contribute to important marine conservation projects and gain their PADI Dive Open Water Scuba Instructor and Master Scuba Diver Trainer qualifications, is the first of its kind and is endorsed by the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI).

The GVI Dive Academy offers two core products a Dive Master programme, a 24 week course which focuses on marine conservation and trains participants to become Dive Masters, and a 30 week course which allows participants to gain both the PADI Instructor and their Master Scuba Diver Trainer qualifications. The programmes are a unique blend of high quality training to professional levels and hands on, practical, marine conservation experience.

GVI's Chief Executive, Steve Gwenin, said he is proud to see GVI's work in marine conservation and dive training recognised by one of the industry's most highly regarded associations. 

“While there are companies around the world offering professional diving courses, PADI has recognised our efforts in educating divers about the underwater environment and the importance of diving in an environmentally conscious way,” Steve said.

“The GVI Dive Academy's unique marine conservation focus and the high standards of our training mean its graduates will be highly sought-after in the dive industry and the ideal staff for responsible dive operators.”

The Divers Alert Network award is also recognition of the high standards of GVI's training and operations.

“GVI is known for its safety and professionalism and this award reflects that. It shows how seriously we take our work and the safety of our participants, and of course how high we set the set the standards on our dive courses. Our graduates learn to dive in an environment which breeds professionalism which is why they are in demand in the dive industry and finding it so easy to get jobs,” Steve said.

To celebrate the new GVI Dive Academy, GVI has partnered with PADI Project Aware to run a competition offering entrants the chance of winning a free place on GVI's flagship 30 week PADI Instructor course in Mexico worth AUD$15,676.

Everyone who enters receives 10 per cent off GVI's marine programmes and discounted PADI e-learning courses. Entrants will also be supporting Project Aware, a growing movement of scuba divers protecting the ocean planet.

Enter the competition here www.prizeaid.com/campaigns/padi-gvi-projectaware

To find out more about GVI Dive Academy visit www.gviaustralia.com.au/dive-academy/ and for more information on volunteering abroad and to keep in touch with exciting news and developments, check out www.gviaustralia.com.au and become a fans on Facebook.

About GVI: Global Vision International (GVI), a non-political, non-religious organisation, was formed in 1997 to provide support and services to international charities, NGOs and governmental agencies. Through its international network of over 150 personnel in 13 countries, GVI continues to support many of the most critical conservation and humanitarian projects around the globe. Through its alliance with aid-reliant organisations throughout the world, GVI provides opportunities for volunteers to fill a critical void in the fields of environmental research, conservation, education and community development. To date over 20,000 volunteers have joined projects resulting in the direct financial support of over AUD million.

About Divers Alert Network: The Divers Alert Network (DAN) is the diving industry's largest association dedicated to scuba diving safety. Serving scuba divers for more than 30 years, DAN provides emergency assistance, medical information resources, educational opportunities and more.

About PADI: PADI is the world's leading scuba diver training organisation with more than 6200 PADI Dive Centres and Resorts, and more than 136,000 individual PADI Professionals who have issued more than 23 million certifications around the world.

For media enquiries, please contact: GTI Tourism on behalf of GVI Naomi Joyce or Rachel Jones +61 (0) 2 9028 3592; +61 (0) 2 9028 3593 naomi.joyce@gtitourism.com.au or rachel.jones@gtitourism.com.au.