In celebration of Earth Day, a community-driven public mural honoring sharks, rays and the kelp ecosystem was unveiled by PADI® and their conservation partner Neuro Gum and Mints, and Blue Robotics through their Blue Earth Street Art program with Beautify Earth, that supports public art focused on accessibility of marine ecosystems and technology.
“This creative collaboration is designed to ignite public awareness, rally conservation efforts, and inspire both divers and non-divers to join the global movement to protect the ocean’s most misunderstood species,” says Danna Moore, Director of the PADI AWARE Foundation. “This isn’t just a mural—it’s a call to action.”
Unveiled in the heart of San Diego, the large-scale mural—designed and painted by Kent Yoshimura, Neuro Co-Founder and renowned muralist—depicts the grace, beauty, and vital ecological role of kelp, sharks, and rays. This mural aims to shift the narrative from fear to fascination with one of the most vulnerable marine species on the planet and the delicate balance of the entire marine ecosystem.
“Our oceans—and the sharks, rays, and other incredible life within them—don’t need heroes; they need all of us to make mindful choices every day, no matter how big or small,” explains Yoshimura “We hope this mural brings communities together, inspires action, and serves as a reminder that protecting our oceans is a shared responsibility, and honor, for all of humanity.”
A Shared Commitment to the Ocean
As the paint dries in San Diego, a new kind of awareness is rising—one that blends community, creativity, conservation, and citizen science.
To dive is to enter another world. Whether it is slipping below the surface with a SCUBA tank on your back or piloting an underwater drone, the experience is transformative. PADI and Blue Robotics are united by a belief that these moments of underwater discovery spark something essential: curiosity, humility, and a connection to the wild, living ocean. When more people are invited into that experience, whether through diving or technology experiences, we build a more inclusive culture of exploration and stewardship.
That same sense of wonder fuels the work of ocean scientists and conservationists around the world. Today, marine technology plays a central role in understanding and protecting ocean ecosystems. Researchers use underwater drones and other ocean tech to access fragile or hard-to-reach environments, collect ocean data with precision, and monitor ecosystem changes with capabilities previously unimagined. Blue Robotics’ tools are part of that work. In shark conservation, for example, researchers have used the BlueROV2 to observe shark aggregations in places like the Galapagos Islands, capturing real-time footage to study behavior, track movements, and better understand the role of apex predators in marine ecosystems. This kind of access improves science and supports smarter and more responsive conservation efforts.
The mural builds on the long-standing partnership between Neuro and PADI, one that began on World Whale Day in 2024 with a collection of two limited edition re-usable Neuro x PADI tins designed to be used with all Neuro’s bulk bag products, with 20% of tin profits donated to the world’s largest diving organization’s non-profit the AWARE Foundation.
Since the partnership began, Neuro has raised over $250,000 USD to support AWARE’s ocean conservation efforts, earning them the distinction as one of the Foundation’s largest donors to date.
“We believe true wellness means caring for ourselves, our communities, and our planet, continues Yoshimura. “Through this mural and our ongoing partnership with PADI, we’re doing just that—one brushstroke, one dive, and one mindful moment at a time.”
“This mural captures what we are all working toward, a more connected relationship with the ocean,” says Tyler Buckingham of Blue Robotics. “We build tools that help people see and explore the underwater world. It’s about the people. It’s about expanding who gets to be part of that experience. Collaborating with PADI, Neuro, and Beautify Earth brings together exploration, conservation, and public art in a way that meets people where they are. It reflects the idea that protecting the ocean starts with helping more people fall in love with it.”
Honoring Sharks, Restoring Balance
2025 also marks the 50th anniversary of Jaws, the blockbuster that embedded shark fear deep into pop culture. While iconic, the film’s legacy has often overshadowed the reality: sharks are not villains—they are vital. In fact, over one-third of all shark species are now threatened with extinction, making them the second most vulnerable group of animals on the planet.
PADI and founding partner Blancpain are also launching the Global Shark & Ray Census this year, a global citizen science initiative enabling anyone, anywhere, to contribute to the monitoring and protection of these vulnerable marine species.
This year’s PADI x Neuro special edition tins will draw inspiration from this mural, and proceeds will go to further support PADI’s Vulnerable Marine Species program and Global Shark & Ray Census “Sharks are the architects of balance in our ocean ecosystems,” continues Moore. “Through this mural and the collective power of our partners, we are shifting the narrative—celebrating sharks not as something to fear, but as something to fiercely protect. This mural serves as a visual invitation to join the movement and take local action for global impact.
Comments
