PADI is an education and training company that teaches the world how to dive, We service dive instuctors, retail dive centers and resorts

the company was formed in 1966 by John J. Cronin and Ralph Erickson in Chicago Illinois. The company relocated to So. California in 1970. In 1983 the acronym PADI was adopted in place of the full name, Professional Association of Diving Instructors.

In the 40 years since its inception, PADI has grown to become the worlds largest publisher of scuba diving training materials, associaiton of diving instructors and retailers, and certifer of scuba divers. It's estimated that PADI holds in excess of a 60% market share around the globe with PADI divers being trained in nearly every country in the world.