IADP Memberships 2026–2027
The IADP brings together dive professionals, affiliated supporters, and institutional partners under one independent structure. Membership supports representation, project deployment, professional standards, member services, and the long-term development of a stronger global profession through the IADP and TheDiveProfessional.org platform.
Rates validity: the IADP Board of Directors has approved the following membership rates for the 2026–2027 period. These rates remain fixed until October 2027. Additional tiers will open progressively as the relevant services, verification pathways, and member infrastructure come online.
Founding Membership Campaign
The Founding Membership Campaign marks the first active membership phase of the IADP through TheDiveProfessional.org. It is designed for early supporters, serious divers, working professionals, industry contributors, and organizations who want to help establish a stronger independent structure for the diving profession from the start.
Founding Associate Member
€35 / first year
Suitable for: individuals who support the IADP mission and want to become part of the founding membership base before the wider membership rollout. This route is suitable for serious divers, students, conservation supporters, volunteers, and ocean-minded individuals who want to stay close to the Association’s work.
Founding Associate Members support the early development of IADP communications, volunteer coordination, public outreach, member engagement, and project visibility under initiatives such as GoBlu3.
Founding Professional Member
€100 / 2 years
Suitable for: active dive professionals, instructors, commercial divers, scientific divers, media professionals, dive center operators, captains, technicians, manufacturers, medical and hyperbaric professionals, and others whose income or professional activity is connected to the diving industry.
Founding Professional Members enter at the founding rate of €50 per year for two years. When professional verification becomes active, a separate €15 verification fee applies. Members who verify during the first six months keep the founding rate for the remainder of the two-year founding period.
The Founding Membership Campaign is a temporary early-supporter phase. It does not replace the full IADP membership structure. Standard membership categories remain part of the official 2026–2027 framework and will open progressively as services, verification, governance, and member infrastructure are deployed.
Official IADP Membership Framework
The following structure represents the official IADP membership framework for 2026–2027. The Founding Membership Campaign provides the current early-entry route, while the full membership categories are listed for transparency and will open progressively as the Association continues its service deployment.
Associate
€50 / year
Suitable for: individuals who support the profession and want to stay connected to the IADP’s work. Associate Membership helps strengthen communication, volunteer coordination, community initiatives, early member participation, and baseline project support under programs such as GoBlu3.
Affiliate
€75 / yearSuitable for: emerging dive professionals building experience and positioning themselves within the wider industry. Affiliate Membership is intended to support entry-level professional pathways, mentored participation, foundational ethics, and safer progression into active professional practice.
Professional
€100 / year
Suitable for: active dive professionals seeking full participation in the Association. Professional Membership is intended to support operational participation, project coordination, standards development, committee work, and representation across the ten defined diving industry sectors.
Sustaining
€50 / yearSuitable for: professionals who remain connected to the sector but are not currently working full-time in active professional practice. Sustaining Membership helps preserve continuity, experience, and an easier pathway back into full professional participation when circumstances change.
Senior
€100 / yearSuitable for: established professionals with substantial experience and recognized contribution. Senior Members help reinforce professional practice, mentor less experienced members, contribute to standards, and support the long-term maturity of the Association.
Fellow
€100 / yearSuitable for: highly experienced professionals whose long service places them in a position to advise, review, and help safeguard the Association’s ethical and strategic direction. Fellow Membership is closely linked to oversight, credibility, institutional memory, and independence.
Honorary
Lifetime / FreeSuitable for: distinguished individuals whose contribution to the profession, its values, or its wider development warrants formal recognition by the Association. Honorary Membership is granted by invitation and reflects merit rather than application.
Institutional Memberships
Corporate Partner — €500 / year
Educational Partner — €350 / year
NGO / Association Partner — €200 / year
Industry Patron — €1000+ / year
Use of funds: membership fees support nonprofit programs and operational development, including environmental and field initiatives such as GoBlu3, industry intelligence through Country Reports, independent media via Deeper Currents, member services through TheDiveProfessional.org, and governance and infrastructure development under IADP V5. See the broader overview on the Projects page.
Compare at a glance
| Tier | Eligibility | Fee (€) | Voting | Participation | Typical Pathway |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founding Associate | Supporters / serious divers / students | 35 first year | No | Observer | Founding Associate → Associate / Affiliate |
| Founding Professional | Working professionals / industry contributors | 100 for 2 years | Verification pending | Founding participation | Founding Professional → Verified Professional |
| Associate | Students / supporters | 50 | No | Observer | Associate → Affiliate |
| Affiliate | Early-career | 75 | No | Limited | Affiliate → Professional |
| Professional | 2+ yrs active | 100 | Yes (1) | Full | Professional → Senior |
| Sustaining | Not active full-time | 50 | No | Advisory | Path back to Professional |
| Senior | 10+ yrs impact | 100 | Yes (1) | Full | Senior → Fellow |
| Fellow | 25+ yrs service | 100 | Yes (1) | Oversight | Fellow → Supervisory Board |
| Honorary | By invitation | Free | No | Advisory | N/A |