Maritime & Aquatic Youth Foundation
Registered as a PBO under Mzansi SCUBA Diving Academy (PTY) Ltd, the Maritime and Aquatic Youth Foundation (MAYF) has played a transformative role in shaping South Africa’s maritime, aquatic safety, and Blue Economy sectors. The organisation focuses on equipping young people, particularly those from historically disadvantaged and underserved coastal and inland communities, with internationally recognised diving qualifications and essential aquatic safety skills.
Our Vision
To build a generation of confident, ocean-ready youth who lead, innovate, and thrive across South Africa’s maritime, aquatic safety, and Blue Economy sectors.
Our Mission
To empower young people especially from historically disadvantaged communities through world‑class aquatic training and internationally recognised diving qualifications.
Training
Our structured development pipeline is aligned with SCUBA Schools International (SSI) global training standards and Swimming South Africa (SSA).
MAYF was founded to address urgent national challenges:
Youth Unemployment
Drowning Rates
We help companies develop powerful corporate social responsibility, grantmaking, and employee engagement strategies. Our impact is about more than moving money to where it’s needed most; it’s also about helping nonprofits access information and ideas that will help them listen, learn, and grow. Some of us came from academia, others cut their teeth in corporate America, and many have spent our entire careers .
Drowning remains a leading cause of preventable death in South Africa, claiming approximately 1,500 -2700 lives each year, nearly a third of whom are children. South Africa’s drowning rate is increasing, while global rates are declining. Drowning is among the top 5 causes of accidental death in the country. With most incidents occurring in unprotected water environments and underserved communities, access to swimming education and water safety training is critical to saving lives.
MAYF Core Values
Empowerment
We create opportunities for young people to unlock their potential, build confidence, and pursue meaningful careers in the maritime and aquatic sectors.
Safety
We uphold the highest standards of water safety, diving discipline, and environmental responsibility in everything we do.
Excellence in Training
We deliver internationally recognised, high‑quality aquatic and diving education that prepares youth for real‑world impact.
Partnership
We work with industry, government, schools, and organisations to expand opportunities and improve outcomes.
Over 11 Years
Donate Now
If you would like to support our work, please use the banking details below. Kindly include your name as a reference and send proof of payment for our records.
Banking Details:
FNB Gold Business Account
Account No: 63113859350
Branch Name: CARLSWALD
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ
Email Receipt to info@mayf.org.za
For South Africa’s Blue Economy
Over the past decade, MAYF has helped develop a growing pipeline of ocean-ready youth equipped for the Blue Economy, with training that combines swimming literacy, scientific theory, and practical ocean skills to produce graduates who are skilled, safety-conscious, and environmentally responsible.
