PADI Dive Against Debris
Designing a global app for ocean conservation
Client: PADI AWARE Foundation
Responsibilities: UX/UI Design and Illustration
Deliverables: iOS & Android app, illustrations and animations
Industry: Non-profit / Environmental
Overview
UX and UI design for PADI AWARE's Dive Against Debris app, launched globally to help divers record and submit marine debris data and contribute to ocean conservation research.
The challenge
Working with Rantmedia, I contributed to the design of the Dive Against Debris app for PADI AWARE Foundation. The app launched globally in 2017, giving divers a mobile way to record marine debris found during dives and submit survey data to PADI AWARE's global dataset.
The challenge was to turn a detailed data-collection process into a clear mobile experience that could be used by divers in real-world conditions, including situations with limited connectivity.
My role focused on the UX and UI design of the mobile experience, alongside creating the illustrations and animations used throughout the app.
Making the survey clear
Recording a Dive Against Debris survey involved collecting detailed information about the dive, its location and the debris found. The experience broke this process into manageable stages, with clear navigation and progress indicators helping users understand where they were in the survey and what information was still required.
Recording accurate dive locations
Location data was an important part of each survey, so the app needed to help divers accurately record both where a dive took place and the area they covered. Users could pinpoint their location on a map, add location details and define the surveyed area visually, with the app calculating its size as part of the submission.
The experience also accounted for real-world conditions, including limited internet access while out in the field. Clear guidance, fallbacks and validation helped users provide useful location data even when ideal conditions weren't available.
Making complex data easier to record
Divers needed to record detailed information about the debris collected during each survey, covering different materials, items and quantities. The interface organised this information into clear categories and repeatable patterns, helping users work through a large amount of data without losing their place in the wider survey.
Consistent controls and visual cues were used throughout to keep the process straightforward while still capturing the level of detail needed for useful conservation data.
Keeping track of submissions
Surveys could exist at different stages, allowing users to return to unfinished submissions and keep track of data they'd already contributed. Clear states for drafts, pending submissions and approved surveys helped users understand what still needed attention and what had been submitted.
Once approved, completed surveys became part of the user's dive history, providing a record of their contribution to the programme.
Bringing the app to life
I also created illustrations and animations throughout the app, giving the experience a more approachable feel while reinforcing its connection to diving and ocean conservation.
The illustrations were used across empty states, confirmations and other moments throughout the journey, adding personality without distracting from the information users needed to record.
147% increase in surveys following launch
The Dive Against Debris app launched globally in 2017, giving divers a quicker and more accessible way to submit marine debris data from their phones. Following the launch, PADI AWARE reported a 147% increase in Dive Against Debris surveys, helping more citizen scientists contribute data to the programme.
The data collected through Dive Against Debris contributes to a global dataset used to understand marine debris and support ocean conservation efforts.
