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Mindful Diving Institute · an initiative of the World Happiness Foundation

Learn to divethe way you want to live.

MD-1 to MD-3 is one continuous pathway: breath and grounding at the surface, present-moment awareness at depth, and the leadership to hold a group. Taught as specialty programming inside your existing agency framework.

Begin MD-1 — €111 See all three levels

Complementary to SSI, PADI, CMAS and RAID — never a replacement. Your certification stays exactly as it is.

  • QR-verifiable digital credential
  • Revalidated every three years
  • Online theory + supervised water sessions
  • Aligned with SDG 3 and SDG 14
A diver descending in clear water

Step 0 · no prerequisites

Dive Into Presence — the open door

Certified divers and complete beginners are equally welcome. Dive Into Presence is the World Happiness Academy's open practice program: the first breath of the pathway, before any credential.

Join Dive Into Presence

The descent

Three levels, one continuous practice

Each level adds online theory and supervised water sessions. Prices and hours are the Institute's published figures.

MD-1

Mindful Diver™

≈ 6–8 h online · 2 supervised dives · 0 m

The entry credential. Breath regulation, grounding before entry, present-moment awareness below and structured reflection between dives.

Prerequisites
Open Water Diver (any recognized agency), or taken in parallel
Format
≈ 6–8 h online · 2 supervised water sessions

What you practise

  • Slow, continuous breathing and the physiology of calm
  • Pre-dive grounding and self-assessment protocol
  • Attention anchoring at depth and mindful buoyancy
  • Reflective dive log and a personal wellbeing baseline

€111

Start MD-1 online
MD-2

Advanced Mindful Diver™

≈ 8–10 h online · 4 supervised dives · portfolio · 10 m

Deeper practice: emotional regulation under load, buoyancy as meditation, ocean-connection ethics and mindful buddy communication.

Prerequisites
Mindful Diver™ + 20 logged dives
Format
≈ 8–10 h online · 4 supervised water sessions + portfolio

What you practise

  • Emotional regulation and composure under load
  • Precision buoyancy and low-impact reef behaviour
  • Conscious communication and group psychological safety
  • A personal marine-stewardship plan

€111

Start MD-2 online
MD-3

Mindful Dive Leader™

≈ 10–12 h online · 4 leadership dives · 18 m

For divemasters and guides who lead people, not only dives. Facilitating briefings, debriefs and the state of a group.

Prerequisites
Divemaster equivalent + Advanced Mindful Diver™
Format
≈ 10–12 h online · 4 supervised leadership dives (practicum)

What you practise

  • Facilitating mindful briefings and reflective debriefs
  • Reading and regulating group arousal before entry
  • Inclusive, trauma-aware guiding
  • Guide wellbeing, workload and burnout prevention

€222

Start MD-3 online

Prices shown are the Institute's published online tuition. Water sessions are arranged with a Certified Mindful Diving Center™.

Credentials

Digital credentials, made to last

Every certification is issued as a QR-verifiable digital credential — individually addressable, easy to check at a glance, and revalidated every three years to keep the standard current.

Verify a credential

Compatibility

Works with your agency

Mindful Diving™ is taught as specialty programming inside your existing agency framework. You keep your SSI, PADI, CMAS or RAID path exactly as it is — Mindful Diving™ adds the wellbeing layer on top. It issues no dive-safety rating and replaces no agency.

Questions

Before you begin

Do I need a prior certification?

MD-1 asks for an Open Water Diver rating from any recognized agency, or that you take it in parallel. If you are not certified yet, Dive Into Presence is open to everyone with no prerequisites.

Is this meditation underwater?

No. Every practice sits inside your existing agency standards and dive plan: breath and grounding before entry, attention anchoring and mindful buoyancy below, structured reflection between dives.

Is it compatible with my agency?

Yes. Mindful Diving™ is complementary to, and independent of, SSI, PADI, CMAS and RAID. Your affiliations stay as they are.

How long does MD-1 take?

Around 6 to 8 hours of online learning plus 2 supervised water sessions.

Where do the water sessions happen?

At Certified Mindful Diving Centers™ and with certified instructors. The Institute's directory lists where.

Talk to us

Not sure which level fits?

Tell us where you are in your diving path and what you want the practice to change. We answer personally.

For dive centers

Do you run a dive center?

Centers train their team, embed the practice in daily operation and carry the Mindful Diving Center™ seal.

See the center pathway

Keep reading

Where to go next on Mindful Diving

One pathway

Begin with one breath, at zero metres.

MD-1 starts online today and finishes in the water with a certified instructor.

Dive Into PresenceSee the center pathway