PADI has teamed up with shark conservationist, Discovery’s Shark Week personality, and Emmy Winner Andy Casagrande to design a PADI Gear™ signature collection to create positive ocean change for sharks.

Saving sharks, which are keystone species as the top apex predators in the ocean, is an integral part of PADI’s Blueprint for Ocean Action, with the established goal of reducing the number of sharks and rays facing extinction by 25% in the next decade. To date, PADI has already helped secure protection measures for 51 species of sharks and rays, with the goal of protecting 54 more in the next three years.

“PADI and Andy Casagrande have worked closely together to design a sustainable limited-edition collection that gives consumers a more balanced perspective of sharks and inspires them to join us in being united in fins and taking action to protect them,” explains Lisa Nicklin, Vice President of Consumer Marketing at PADI Worldwide.

The signature collection features a recycled plastic towel, sustainable tee and recycled plastic trucker hat – all made with eco-friendly material that features Andy’s iconic imagery. For instance, the PADI x Andy Casagrande recycled plastic towel is equivalent to 14 plastic bottles taken from the ocean.

Designed to encourage consumers to re-think the shark and highlight the beauty and importance of this 450 million-year-old predator, this collection is one with a purpose-driven cause. PADI and Andy Casagrande have committed 15% of the net proceeds towards funding shark conservation efforts around the world – with the most recent campaign being focused on advocating for the CITES protection of 50 new species of sharks.

“I love sharks more than anything,” says Casagrande. “This special collection with PADI has allowed me to fund their protection and change people’s perspectives about their role in the health of our shared blue planet.”

This signature collection is the third in which PADI has teamed up with shark conservationists who are also award-winning shark photographers. Last year PADI teamed up with AmbassaDiver™ Mike Coots for a special Shark Week collection.

“PADI Gear has helped remove more than 60,000Ibs of plastic from the ocean, which will only continue to grow through special collaborations like these,” continues Nicklin.

The PADI x Andy Casagrande signature collection is available now, just in time to give a gift that supports saving sharks and their watery home, with limited supply on www.padigear.com.