PADI insists on issuing a plastic card for new divers, while charging exorbitant prices for the electronic version. They say they pride themselves as stewards of the ocean while preferring to charge you for a modern convenience that would reduce plastic use. Let’s change that.

PADI introduced their e-cards in 2012 at a cost of $37 USD. Today an e-card will set you back about $45 USD - the same cost of getting a replacement physical card.

PADI’s website mentions plastic almost 250 times, almost exclusively in the context of conservation. At the same time they still insist on issuing certifications on plastic cards, while charging you for the electronic version.

Ask around your friends who dive and you’d be hard pressed to find someone who actually carries their cards. And why would you? Most dive shops insist on looking you up anyway to confirm (a service that PADI provides for free to their dive shops).

Ignoring for a minute that $45 is highway robbery for a product that has almost zero cost to produce. Ask yourself, why does a company that pats itself on the back for being environmentally friendly insist on issuing plastic cards? One can only assume it’s because the electronic cards are a cash cow for them.

Sign this petition to ask PADI for two things:

• Make e-cards the default for new certifications (at no additional cost)
• Encourage environmentally friendly choices by providing replacement e-cards for current certified divers for free (or at a substantially reduced cost)