Potential Diver · Start DivingAnonymous view
PADI Digital Overhaul · User Flow Diagram

Start Diving · Potential Diver (Anonymous)the Nov '26 flow runs live — later work is parked beneath

Each sub-segment shows two lanes. The top lane is the live Release 1 (Nov '26) flow — connected left-to-right to a booked course. The bottom lane parks the later touchpoints beneath the stage they'll plug into. Every stage bullet is backed by Border UX research. The GA4 data is available at an aggregated level, not optimal to be modelled around the sub-segments considered.

SegmentPotential Diver
Auth stateAnonymous
Sub-segmentsUnaware Adventurer · Reluctant Explorer · Fear-Driven First-Timer · Family
ConversionBook a course (Open Water Diver → Primary focus OR DSD / PADI Scuba Diver → Secondary focus)

How to read the two lanes

Live flow · Nov '26 Release 1. Connected, sequential touchpoints that ship at go-live and form the booked-course path.
Parked · later phase. Sits beneath the stage it will attach to — deferred or dependent on deeper integration / CDP / mobile.

Release 1 is web-only: padi.com, the design system, the MyPADI shell, and SEO/AEO + CRO groundwork.

Two lenses beneath every flow — evidence-backed

Business & CoverageWhy each step matters for conversion + coverage before launch, grounded in Border UX research.
Rationale · Q · ARationale, open questions, assumptions — grounded in Border UX research signals.
Sub-segment 1

The Unaware Adventurer

A travel-minded explorer who doesn't yet know scuba is within reach — including experience-seekers chasing a specific moment ("dive the Maldives", "see a manta ray", "see a shipwreck"). Discovers diving through lifestyle, travel, and experience content rather than searching for it. Needs inspiration, not reassurance.

⊳ Conversion: book a first experience — Open Water Diver or DSD try-out, by the diver’s choice
Flow · scroll right →
Live · Nov '26
01Awareness
AEO / SEO structured-data foundation makes PADI surfaceable to AI & search
PADI blog + social (Instagram / YouTube / TikTok) as discovery entry points
Experience-led search — "dive the Maldives", "see a manta ray", "see a shipwreck"
Lands on padi.com from an AI-referred or organic link
02First Contact
Travel / Experience-led landing page, not a course list
Open Water Diver framed as "try it on holiday — no professional experience needed"
03Consideration
Browses experiences by type via the new experience taxonomy
Sees the Open Water Diver → Primary focus OR DSD / PADI Scuba Diver → Secondary focus — a try-out that counts
04Evaluation
Opens Open Water Diver detail or DSD — inclusions, duration, all-inclusive price (alternate tracks, by choice)
Goes to padi.com/store to buy Open Water Diver, or finds a PADI Dive shop / Center at the destination via the Dive shop locator
05Identity
Saves a destination, or creates an account via AWS Cognito SSOMyPADI shell
06Conversion
Books Open Water or DSD — on PADI Store OR guided booking request routed to the Dive shop (lead captured)
Confirmation (SFMC) → MyPADI with a next step toward E-learning and Open Water Diver experience
Parked · Later
parks @ Awareness
Lifestyle-influencer & partner-brand campaigns (Viator / Expedia) surfacing dive experiences
Full AI-answer presence across assistants
parks @ Consideration
Destination recommendations tuned to browsing (CDP)
parks @ Evaluation
Live availability around trip dates via Dive Shop 360
parks @ Identity
CDP identity resolution + nurture for non-converters
parks @ Conversion
End-to-end checkout on padi.com (cart → pay → confirmed booking) via CommerceTools — no "contact the shop" step
BizBusiness & Coverage
Evidence
RatRationale · Questions · Assumptions
Open question
Both DSD and PADI Scuba Diver are actually sold at dive shops. Do we want to still list them on padi.com and anchor journeys via these as we are doing through Open Water Diver?
Assumption
So far we are operating with an assumption that we may want to keep both DSD and PADI Scuba Diver but we certainly don't want to anchor with them. These will be just the secondary items to look at as they don't convert directly on the PADI store. Please validate.
Sub-segment 2

The Reluctant Explorer

Curious but hesitant — worried about safety and unclear on cost. Researches before committing. The job is to remove doubt with more information on product, real diver stories, and a confident low-commitment first step.

⊳ Conversion: book Open Water — or a DSD try-out as an alternate entry track; PADI Scuba Diver a half-step option
Flow · scroll right →
Live · Nov '26
01Awareness
AEO / SEO structured data surfaces PADI for "how do I learn to dive / is it safe?"
PADI blog + social (Instagram / YouTube / TikTok) as discovery entry points
Arrives on padi.com via organic / AI-referred link
02First Contact
Experience discovery page (new design system); geo-IP shows local context
Open Water Diver visible as a no-professional skills needed preferred option. Also DSD and PADI Scuba Diver visible as a low-barrier, half-commitment entry
03Reassurance
"What happens underwater" confidence / safety content layer
Better information on Product (eLearning + certification)
04Evaluation
Open Water Diver course detail — eLearning + confined + open-water
Weighs DSD (try-out) vs Open Water as alternate tracks — PADI Scuba Diver a half-step option
Goes to padi.com/store or finds a nearby Dive Shop / Center via the Dive shop locator (+ Google Maps)
05Identity
Saves a course shortlist (light-touch, no wall)
Creates account via AWS Cognito SSOMyPADI shell
06Conversion
Books Open Water or DSD — on PADI Store OR guided booking request routed to the Dive shop (lead captured)
Confirmation (SFMC) + eLearning access → MyPADI
Parked · Later
parks @ Awareness
Community presence (r/scuba) + full AI-answer optimisation
parks @ Reassurance
Real-time guided-discovery agent for specific worries
parks @ Evaluation
Instructor profiles (face + bio) — from the Pro system, via Salesforce CRM
Real-time class availability via Dive Shop 360
parks @ Identity
CDP nurture for non-converters (dynamic triggers)
parks @ Conversion
End-to-end checkout on padi.com (cart → pay → confirmed booking) via CommerceTools — no "contact the shop" step
BizBusiness & Coverage
Reassurance
73% cite unclear pricing as a barrierBorder UX — transparent all-inclusive pricing directly unblocks the biggest stall.
Evaluation
35%% want to see the instructor before bookingBorder UX; the Better information on Product (eLearning + certification) lets them buy at their confidence level.
RatRationale · Questions · Assumptions
Open question
Both DSD and PADI Scuba Diver are actually sold at dive shops. Do we want to still list them on padi.com and anchor journeys via these as we are doing through Open Water Diver?
Assumption
So far we are operating with an assumption that we may want to keep both DSD and PADI Scuba Diver but we certainly don't want to anchor with them. These will be just the secondary items to look at as they don't convert directly on the PADI store. Please validate.
Sub-segment 3

The Fear-Driven First-Timer · High-Barrier Market

A potential diver in markets (e.g. parts of Asia) where safety — not cost or access — is the primary barrier, reached through conversational, in-language channels. A real-time, localised response at the moment of anxiety unlocks the first step.

⊳ Conversion: book a low-commitment Open Water Diver or DSD or PADI Scuba Diver, in-language
Flow · scroll right →
Live · Nov '26
01Awareness
AEO foundation surfaces PADI for "is scuba safe?" queries
PADI blog + social (Instagram / YouTube / TikTok) as discovery entry points
Reaches a localised padi.com (translation via Crowdin Enterprise, hreflang)
02First Contact
Local-language safety-reassurance content surfaced first
03Reassurance
Fear-reduction content: what happens underwater, how close the boat stays
04Evaluation
Reviews a low-commitment Open Water Diver or DSD / PADI Scuba Diver first step
Localised product pricing & currency; Goes to padi.com/store or finds a local Dive Shop / Center via Dive Shop locator
05Identity
Creates an account via AWS Cognito SSOMyPADI shell
06Conversion
Books Open Water or DSD — on PADI Store OR guided booking request routed to the Dive shop (lead captured)
Localised confirmation (SFMC) with pre-dive reassurance → MyPADI
Parked · Later
parks @ Awareness
Full in-language AI presence on WeChat / Line / TikTok
parks @ Reassurance
Guided agent in Mandarin / Japanese / Thai / Korean
Instructor face + bio before committing
parks @ Evaluation
Booking conversation over WhatsApp / Line cart deep-link
parks @ Identity
Localised CDP nurture in local language
BizBusiness & Coverage
Awareness → First contact
In several Asian markets safety is the #1 barrier to consideration — ahead of cost and accessBorder UX; a localised, reassurance-first entry is the unlock for a large untapped pool.
Reassurance
Static content can't fully address fearBorder UX; real-time, in-language answers are the highest-leverage future investment for this market.
RatRationale · Questions · Assumptions
Open question
As Static content can't fully address fear and we have limited personalization scope for November, 2026 release; Are we open to creating additional landing pages or content blocks within regular pages to address aspects like Fear etc. with the limited Geo-IP based localised personalization?
Assumption
Here we are operating with an assumption that we may want to have additional landing pages and content blocks to address several Asian markets. Please validate.
Sub-segment 4

The Family Dive Discovery

A parent planning a first dive experience for themselves and a child. High-value, with age-eligibility questions and an on-the-spot, linked-booking dynamic. Research found this journey is currently broken at both the discovery and data-model level — so much of the family-specific path is parked.

⊳ Conversion: book linked parent + child experience (Bubblemaker · Seal Team · Junior Open Water · family DSD)
Flow · scroll right →
Live · Nov '26
01Awareness
AEO / SEO foundation (general) makes PADI surfaceable
PADI blog + social (Instagram / YouTube / TikTok) as discovery entry points
"Can my 10-year-old dive with me?" → lands on padi.com
02First Contact
General experience-led landing page
03Consideration
Browses the general experience taxonomy
04Evaluation
Reviews a low-commitment Open Water Diver or DSD / PADI Scuba Diver first step. Also Goes to padi.com/store or finds a nearby Dive Shop / Center via the Dive shop locator (+ Google Maps)
05Identity
Parent creates account via AWS Cognito SSOMyPADI shell (parent profile)
06Conversion
Books a single (parent) Open Water Diver or DSD; on padi.com/store or guided booking + handoff; confirmation (SFMC)
Parked · Later
parks @ Awareness
AEO for Seal Team · Bubblemaker · Junior Open Water family queries
parks @ First Contact
Dedicated Family Discovery Path (T9) — forks from the individual flow
parks @ Consideration
Age-filtered family experience discovery (eligibility by programme)
parks @ Evaluation
Family-programme filter in shop directory + linked availability
parks @ Identity
Family profile model: child linked to parent (not overwriting)
Minor-consent flows — HIPAA (US) / GDPR (EU)
parks @ Conversion
Linked parent + child booking in one transaction
Post-dive: parent sees child's first achievement → next step
BizBusiness & Coverage
Opportunity
High-value segment, but currently broken at discovery and the data modelBorder UX — parents piece eligibility together across multiple pages with no family path.
Conversion
Linked parent + child booking isn't possible todayBorder UX; until the data model is fixed, R1 can only convert the parent as an individual.
RatRationale · Questions · Assumptions
Open question
Is High-value family segment the next priority within MYPADI layer? Something that we should consider as a priority for Q1 2027+ release along with Store, Club and Pro sites?
Assumption
Here we are operating with an assumption that PADI fully understands that for November, 2026 release we are only building the skeleton foundation for High-value family segment and are not delivering any active features here. Please validate that both PADI and Axelerant teams are on the same page.