Atmosphere Foundation, the community and sustainability arm of Atmosphere Core, yesterday officially launched the second batch of its “Zero to Divemaster” Scholarship Programme with an inauguration ceremony held in Vilimale’. The new group of students officially began their training on Saturday, 11 July 2026.

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Delivered in partnership with Moodhu Bulhaa Dive Centre, the Zero to Divemaster Scholarship Programme is a three-month professional training programme that gives young Maldivians with no previous diving experience the opportunity to become certified PADI Divemasters. The initiative is designed to open a path to rewarding careers in the Maldives' tourism and diving industries.

Ten students have been selected for the second batch, comprising five women and five men. Admission to the programme was highly competitive, with candidates shortlisted through a rigorous selection process that concluded with professional interviews.

To ensure that financial barriers do not prevent talented young people from participating, the scholarship fully covers all course fees, training materials and PADI registration costs. Students also receive complimentary accommodation, daily meals and dive insurance throughout the programme, allowing them to focus entirely on their training.

The launch comes just days after the successful graduation of the programme's first phase, whose achievements were celebrated at a closing ceremony on 7 July 2026. Three graduates have already secured employment in the tourism industry, demonstrating the programme's potential to create meaningful career opportunities for young Maldivians.

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Mr Abdul Azeez Abdul Hakeem of Atmosphere Foundation said, “the hope behind the programme was to help create ‘working sons and daughters of the Maldives’ through intensive, disciplined training. He highlighted that the three-month course was designed not only to develop technical diving ability, but also to build responsibility, confidence, punctuality, and professionalism among young people.”

The immediate start of the second batch reflects Atmosphere Foundation's continued commitment to investing in young people, strengthening local skills and supporting the growth of the Maldivian diving industry. Through initiatives such as the Zero to Divemaster Scholarship Programme, the Foundation continues to create opportunities that empower communities while contributing to the long-term development of the country's blue economy.