The First and Only PADI Five Star Career Development Center in the Maldives

The Maldivian Academy of Diving, The First and Only PADI Five Star Career Development Center in the Maldives, has recently commenced operations in K. Himmafushi. This newly established academy marks a significant advancement in professional dive training within the Maldives.

The Academy offers high-quality dive training programs that adhere to the strict standards set by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). Their first PADI Instructor Development Course concluded on March 3rd, and the next PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor Course is set for July 29th to August 13th, 2024.

Adam Ashraf, a PADI Platinum Course Director for 2022 and 2023, heads the Academy. For the last ten years, Ashraf has managed Dive Desk, a thriving dive center in Malé. Dive Desk distinguished itself as the top PADI professional development center in the Maldives in 2023, securing the esteemed PADI EMEA Platinum Professional Development Excellence Award. This accolade highlights the center's outstanding performance in training new dive professionals. Dive Desk is one of only ten centers in the Europe, Middle-East & Africa (EMEA) region and the sole Maldivian center to receive this honor.

Both the Course Director and the Dive Center must meet specific criteria to achieve Platinum status, which is determined by the number of professional-level certifications issued by PADI. In addition to this recognition, Dive Desk recently received the PADI Outstanding Contribution to People and Humanity Award for their commitment to creating opportunities for Maldivians in the diving sector.

Dive Desk encountered challenges despite a decade of successful operation and maintaining the leading PADI professional development programs in the Maldives for seven years. The constraints of space at their facility and the expensive accommodation costs for students residing in Malé for extended duration posed substantial obstacles.

The Maldivian Academy of Diving was created to tackle these problems. Situated in Himmafushi, the Academy provides a larger learning space and cost-effective lodging choices for students, all near the capital city. The Academy will introduce on-campus dormitories soon.

The Academy provides diving courses for individuals at every skill level, whether they are starting their diving adventure or are experienced divers aiming to become instructors. They provide a wide variety of courses and certifications to help students acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to reach their diving objectives.

The opening of the Maldivian Academy of Diving marks a major achievement in Adam Ashraf's continuous efforts to encourage Maldivian youth to enter the diving industry.