PADI Instructor Named 2023 Sea Hero of the Year for Creating Conservation SUPERWOMEN

PADI® and Scuba Diving® are celebrating the 2023 Sea Hero of the Year®, sponsored by Seiko Prospex. Rose Huizenga, a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor originally from the Netherlands who now resides in Gili Air, Indonesia, has been awarded this prestigious title. Mrs. Huizenga joins a distinguished group of Ocean Torchbearers™ and Sea Heroes who have been recognized since 2011. She will receive the 13th Sea Hero of the Year award and a $5,000 prize from Seiko. Seiko Prospex has been sponsoring the Scuba Diving Sea Heroes program since 2017, demonstrating their commitment to acknowledging the exceptional work of scuba divers in protecting our oceans.

Mrs. Huizenga is a devoted conservationist who founded Gili Shark Conservation and Coral Catch after witnessing the alarming deterioration of coral reefs in Gili Air. She was chosen for her exceptional efforts in creating positive ocean change by empowering local women to take action and pursue careers in marine conservation through her scholarship and training program.

Dr. Drew Richardson, CEO & President of PADI, commended Mrs. Huizenga as an inspiring example of someone who has transformed her passion into tangible measures to safeguard the ocean. He emphasized the goal of establishing a global network of one billion Ocean Torchbearers and praised Mrs. Huizenga’s work in empowering local women through her scholarship and training program. He expressed hope that her efforts would inspire others to step up and contribute to positive ocean change.

Takeshi Sakamoto, president and CEO of Seiko Watch of America, expressed gratitude to Rose Huizenga on behalf of Seiko for her unwavering dedication to ocean conservation and her mission to restore coral reefs in Indonesia. He commended her commitment to protecting our oceans and motivating others to engage in marine conservation, highlighting her as a true Sea Hero. He congratulated Mrs. Huizenga for receiving this esteemed honor and applauded her ongoing efforts to empower her local community to preserve our beloved ocean habitats.

As part of her Sea Hero of the Year award, Mrs. Huizenga was granted $5,000 USD from Seiko to support her conservation work. She has decided to utilize this funding to further her scholarship program through Coral Catch Superwomen, which will not only transform more young girls’ lives but also benefit the community and coral reefs in their vicinity.

Mrs. Huizenga expressed her ultimate mission to create a network of local women working together to protect and restore the coral reefs of Indonesia. Over the next five years, she aims to empower 100 local women to pursue careers in marine conservation and enable 100 more to learn how to swim, ultimately leading to more Coral Catch Superwomen advocating for our shared blue planet. She acknowledged the support she has received from PADI and Seiko through the Sea Hero program, in addition to being a PADI AWARE grant recipient. This support will play a crucial role in her efforts to effect meaningful change and preserve our oceans.

To learn more about other Sea Heroes® who are making a difference in ocean conservation and to nominate a Sea Hero for 2024, visit www.scubadiving.com/seaheroes.

About Sea Heroes Program

Since 2011, Scuba Diving® magazine has recognized individuals who have made significant contributions to ocean and marine-life conservation. These individuals inspire others with their dedication and work tirelessly to protect our oceans through education, conservation, innovation, and exploration. Seiko has proudly sponsored the Sea Heroes® program since 2017, providing a PADI Special Edition Prospex watch to each Sea Hero and a $5,000 prize to the Sea Hero of the Year.

About Seiko Watch of America

Seiko Watch of America is a subsidiary of Seiko Watch Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Seiko, founded in 1881, is the only watch manufacturer with expertise in all aspects of watchmaking, including Mechanical, Quartz, Spring Drive, Solar, GPS Solar, and Radio Sync Solar. For more information about Seiko, visit seikowatches.com/us-en.

About Scuba Diving

Scuba Diving® is a print and digital platform that unites divers with a shared passion for exploring the underwater world. The publication provides expert insights on gear, safety, training, local diving, travel, and dive professions. As a community of ocean lovers, Scuba Diving® encourages divers of all levels to
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