Divers Challenged to Become Global Shark & Ray Census Pioneers

Published 2 weeks agoon September 3, 2026

Divers around the world are being challenged to delve into their logbooks and camera archives as part of a global citizen science initiative designed to help protect sharks and rays.

The PADI AWARE Shark & Ray Discovery Challenge is inviting participants to identify and submit sightings of 20 different shark and ray species to the PADI Global Shark & Ray Census.

The first 200 people to have 20 species confirmed will earn recognition as PADI AWARE Global Shark & Ray Census Pioneers. And you don’t need to start from scratch. Previous encounters count, meaning divers can search through old logbooks, photographs and video footage from dives anywhere in the world for eligible sightings. Each submission must identify the animal to species level and is reviewed by researchers at James Cook University before being confirmed and added to a participant’s total.

But the challenge is about much more than reaching 20 species. One in three shark and ray species is threatened, yet scientists still lack occurrence data for many species. While iconic animals such as tiger sharks and manta rays attract plenty of attention, smaller, cryptic and bottom-dwelling species can be far less well documented. Every confirmed sighting submitted to the Census contributes to a global dataset designed to help scientists understand where shark and ray species are being seen – and where they appear to be absent. The data could ultimately help identify important habitats, document changes in species distribution and highlight areas where further research or conservation action is needed.

The challenge is part of the wider PADI Global Shark & Ray Census, run by the PADI AWARE Foundation in partnership with James Cook University and founding partner Blancpain.

So, whether there’s a wobbegong hiding in your hard drive, a stingray buried somewhere in your photo archive or a shark encounter you logged years ago, it might be time to take another look – your old dive memories could become valuable data for shark and ray conservation.

Source: https://thesharkdiscoverychallenge.com/

Jane Morgan

Jane’s lifelong love for the ocean began in childhood and has shaped the course of her life and career. After learning to dive in 1991, she spent much of the '90s teaching scuba and working on marine conservation projects in the Philippines and Borneo. A chance encounter with a film camera on a dive trip to Egypt in 2001 ignited a passion for underwater photography, inspiring her to leave the corporate world and pursue a full-time career in dive travel and photojournalism. Since then, her work has been published in a wide range of national and international magazines, books, and newspapers. She has filmed underwater for the BBC, judged major photography competitions, and received numerous accolades—including the prestigious Plongeur d'Or at the Festival Mondial de l'Image Sous-Marine. In 2009, Jane became a freelance photojournalist, and in 2011 completed a BA (Hons) in Marine and Natural History Photography at Falmouth University, where she now works as a Dive Safety Officer. Based in Cornwall, Jane dives locally year-round and is passionate about showcasing the rich marine life found in UK waters. As a proud ambassador for Dynamic Nord and Fathoms Free, she actively supports marine conservation initiatives and advocates for ocean protection through her storytelling. In her newest role with Scubaverse, Jane combines her love of travel, diving, and storytelling—sharing experiences from around the world to inspire others to explore, protect, and connect with the underwater world.