The tides are turning for divers: rather than passively experiencing the oceans as spectators, now they have the chance to become its caretakers as well.
For those with a taste for adventure and a conscience for conservation, the Mediterranean’s sapphire waters, heritage shipwrecks and abundant reefs are more than a backdrop for exploration. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) is the world’s largest purpose-driven diving organisation. Anchored in the ethos that restoration and recreation can coexist, PADI Eco Centers are setting the highest standards for ecotourism: alongside the United Nations Environment Program and Reef-World, PADI launched the new international accreditation for scuba facilities in 2023. Application requirements are extremely in-depth, take approximately a year to complete and include providing evidence that a centre has directly improved the local environment. With bespoke itineraries, discreet transfers and access to places beyond the reach of casual tourism, Eco Centers can now place sustainability at the heart of indulgent travel.
After all, the ocean is humanity’s lifeline. And, by shaping the blueprint for immersive, thoughtful scuba experiences, PADI Eco Centers can foster tangible, positive change with every dive. Here are three Mediterranean destinations that have earned the environmental stamp.
Halkidiki, Greece
A private ecological reserve on Kassandra’s sunlit coast, Sani Resort blends five-star luxury with a commitment to nature and wellbeing that feels as restorative on land as it is below the waves. An exclusive marina offers safe mooring while guests can go on vineyard tours, complimentary eco-trips and hikes through ancient pine forests. It’s a lush habitat flourishing with hoopoes, bees, butterflies and songbirds darting between reeds.
Understanding its role in tackling climate change, the five-hotel, 1,000-acre Sani Resort became Greece’s first carbon-neutral travel destination in 2020 – a success owed to its Sani Green programme. The resort has been running on 100 per cent renewable electricity since 2019 and offsets its carbon footprint through wetland restoration.
Meanwhile, SeaWorld – Sani’s in-house PADI Eco Center – advocates ocean protection with every dive. Educating guests about reef etiquette and conservation skills translates into meaningful action for local coastlines and communities. And along these coastlines, gentle shores offer direct access to thriving house reefs where octopuses curl into hidden nooks. Private charters carry divers to offshore pinnacles where dolphins become regular companions and – if luck allows – monk seals appear in quiet coves. With warmer seas and good visibility, the prime season runs from May to October. For travellers seeking to minimise their impact without compromise, this is ecotourism at its finest.
Almería, Spain
Framed by the Sierra de Gádor mountains, Almería is a meeting of Andalusian history, exquisite gastronomy and golden beaches overlooking one of the Mediterranean’s most precious resources. Storing more than 10 per cent of the ocean’s carbon, seagrass meadows are the lungs of the sea, yet they are disappearing faster than the rainforests. To address this, PADI Eco Center Aquatours Almería
tempers exploration with the guardianship of its local Posidonia oceanica habitats.
In October, conditions are optimal at Bello Rincon, where divers can help measure the vital statistics of the ocean’s only flowering plant while witnessing its tapestry of flora and fauna. One acre might shelter 40,000 fish, from barracuda to seahorses. So, how can seafarers reconcile their actions with the fragility of this ecosystem? “We provide guests with a different approach to diving, one that respects the environment and biodiversity,” explains the centre’s PADI Course Director, Fernando Orri. Divers learn to refine buoyancy and finning techniques, while annual campaigns guide sailors in choosing marinas and moorings that won’t scar the seabed. “The destruction of even a small portion of the meadow affects the entire environment,” cautions Orri – a message reinforced with charts and on-site briefings.
Through partnerships with citizen-science initiatives such as Cousteau Divers and Sea Watchers, Aquatours Almería supports more than 15 projects to monitor the Mediterranean’s health. Here, divers can turn passion into a valuable contribution to marine conservation.
St Julian’s, Malta
Malta has long been synonymous with dramatic coastlines complemented by swim-throughs and wartime wrecks. Now, Divewise, with its conservation initiative, Ecowise, is answering the call for transparent, sustainable travel that means more than taking photos.
“Regenerative diving goes beyond the idea of sustaining the ocean – it’s about ensuring every dive actively improves the environment,” explains Divewise owner and PADI MSDT Staff Instructor, Craig Williams. In the eyes of this aspiring PADI Eco Center, “The most memorable dives are the ones where you leave the ocean better than you found it.”
This virtue comes alive at Cirkewwa reef and HMS Maori, where divers can remove debris or track invasive algae and lionfish between encounters with damselfish, octopuses and, occasionally, ocean sunfish. A little deeper, the removal of abandoned fishing gear from wrecks – over 500 kilos so far – is bringing new life to MV Um El Faroud’s passageways, now teeming with scorpionfish and parrotfish.
Peak dive season comes in summer, between June and August. For yacht guests, the eco-conscious experience is seamless: from private marine biology briefings on deck to post-dive Champagne in waterfront lounges and coordination with eco-certified marinas to avoid anchoring on seagrass.
Surface intervals can be spent exploring prehistoric temples and Baroque streets – a reminder that culture and conservation sit side by side. But can this commitment endure après dive? Absolutely. “Offering vessel support for research expeditions or debris removal dives can make a huge difference,” assures Williams. As can sponsoring specialised equipment, volunteering for marine surveys or simply spreading awareness of the challenges our waters face.
