A unique partnership is opening doors — and oceans — for a group of young men from Owensboro, as students from Western Academy at the Neblett prepare for their latest scuba diving experience abroad.
Executive Director Olga McKissic said the opportunity began in June 2023, when a group from the academy attended “Get Black Outside Day” in Tennessee. The event, organized in part by McCellus Mayes and connected to Kenneth Stewart, introduced participants to outdoor activities like camping and snorkeling.
McKissic said what started as a simple outing quickly turned into something much bigger.
“There were six of us that went, and two of these young men — after talking to him about training scuba divers — he came to me and said, ‘Hey, your boys over here are interested in scuba diving.’ It’s like, where did they get that from? Because we were just snorkeling, but they liked it so much,” she said.
That interest sparked an ongoing partnership with the Tennessee Aquatics Project, which focuses on training Black youth in scuba diving. Since then, McKissic said the students have been working steadily toward certification, gaining experience at multiple dive sites.
“They’ve dove Pennyroyal Quarry, Mermet Springs in Illinois, and a quarry in Northern Kentucky. They’re up to about 20 to 22 dives,” she said.
Students must complete approximately 30 dives to reach the next level, which opens the door to joining Diving With a Purpose, a program that explores shipwrecks — including those tied to the transatlantic slave trade.
“They dive off the Florida shores looking for a particular slave ship. Last year, they went to Africa, which is our goal for next year — to go to Africa and dive there. It’s just amazing,” she said.
The program has already taken students beyond the United States. Last year, participants traveled to Curaçao, where they not only logged dives but also earned certifications in coral restoration.
“They received certifications in coral restoration. The training was on how to clean the coral, attach it to a PVC pipe tree, and remove the algae, because the algae is killing the coral in so many places,” McKissic said.
This year, two of the academy’s most experienced divers are preparing for a trip to Utila, Honduras, scheduled for July 10-17. The weeklong experience will include both classroom instruction and in-water training as part of a broader marine science initiative.
“It is an opportunity of a lifetime,” McKissic said.
The journey hasn’t come without challenges. McKissic said coordinating travel — especially for minors — required navigating complex logistics, including securing passports on tight timelines.
“It was down to the wire getting a passport for one of our scholars. We were leaving on a Tuesday, and on Friday, we were just getting it. His mom had to drive all the way to Chicago to get it. It was wild,” she said.
Despite the hurdles, McKissic said her faith has guided the process.
“I’m thinking, ‘God, you are so good. This is nothing I would have come up with myself.’ When He gives you assignments, He also gives you the resources you need to complete them,” she said.
The program is also teaching students responsibility and teamwork, particularly as they work to fund their travel. A swim-a-thon scheduled for April 25 at Tennessee State University will help offset costs, with participants seeking sponsors for laps completed in the pool.
“We want our boys to get out there and get people to support them. You’re going to do 100 laps so people can sponsor you. I need them to understand you have to have skin in this game,” McKissic said.
Each trip costs approximately $1,700 per student, a significant expense for many families. McKissic noted that most participants come from single-parent households, making community support critical.
“Anybody who can help us support these young men — it would be greatly appreciated,” she said.
Beyond scuba diving, McKissic said the initiative aligns directly with the academy’s mission to develop young men into leaders.
“We encourage, empower, and educate males of African American descent to exceed and excel in whatever they choose, because we want them to make a positive footprint in the world — not just Kentucky or Owensboro, but the world,” she said.
That mission extends into academics and other enrichment opportunities, including tutoring programs and cultural experiences like visits to historically Black colleges and universities.
McKissic said interest in the scuba program continues to grow, with a waiting list of students eager to participate. However, the academy limits the group to four participants at a time to ensure quality training and oversight.
Anyone interested in helping the cause can learn more at the academy’s Facebook page here.
