A CORNWALL woman has been unveiled as one of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) newest ambassadors.
Redruth’s Kayleigh Slowey has been selected as an ‘ambassadiver’ for 2024.
PADI, the world’s largest and most popular diving organisation with more than 30 million globally certified divers, picked Kayleigh for her ‘exceptional passion and dedication’ to protecting the planet and inspiring others to become stewards of the ocean.
PADI ambassadors are chosen for their unwavering commitment to environmental conservation and their ability to motivate individuals to explore and safeguard the underwater world.
Launched in 2015, the PADI AmbassaDiver Programme aims to amplify the personal stories of outstanding divers who bring awareness to social and environmental issues facing our planet while encouraging more people to experience, explore, and protect the ocean.
Growing up in the South West, Kayleigh, 25, has spent most of her life by the ocean, cultivating a love for marine life and a passion for conservation early on.
Kayleigh has degree in marine and natural history photography and a masters in marine ecology, which have enabled her to take on many adventures across the globe.
She is an active member of the Cornish community and has run exciting shark workshops for home-schooled children teaching them about sharks, the species found around the UK waters, human threats and their place in the ecosystem. She has also delivered these workshops at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary and the Cornish Sea School.
Kayleigh has also been involved with underwater film work for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust and will be assisting with filming for Surfers Against Sewage later this year.
She said: “I found I could have the perfect balance between art and science and that they actually worked in harmony together. Since then, I have worn many hats and frequently use my combination of skills to actively contribute towards ocean conservation with digital creation. The ocean gives us so much back.”
Kayleigh expressed her excitement about being named a PADI ambassadiver, saying: “I’m passionate about showcasing the wonders of the underwater world and helping to inspire future generations to connect with our ocean and preserve it.”