Kayla Campo, senior at Central Christian School, wants to be a marine biologist in the future. That’s why earlier in the school year, she, along with her classmates, were shocked and excited to learn they would be given the opportunity to earn their scuba diving certificate thanks to an anonymous donor.

“I want to actually go into the water one day and help save animals, so this is just awesome,” Campo said, standing beside the pool at the David L. Bodenhamer Center in Gulf Shores wearing a wetsuit with a diving tank by her side. “Being able to know all of the things you have to do while scuba diving, knowing all of the information and hand signals, it is very stressful but it’s super fun.”

Campo and the rest of the school’s senior marine biology class are part of the second group of Central Christian students earning their scuba certificates. The donation was first given to the class of 2019 but was put on pause due to COVID-19. Now, the class of 2022, along with Michael Turner, Central Christian athletic director, are hitting the water.

“We have a very kind sponsor who is all about teaching about the Gulf, and he is one of the ones who has supported this,” said Ronda Harmon, science and Bible teacher at Central Christian. “He builds coral reefs, so he wants the kids to be able to explore what they’re learning about, and he’s provided for them to be able to do this.”

The seniors began with five weeks of learning from an instructor book on how to scuba dive. Each chapter ended with a written test to ensure the students were learning the basics of scuba. Then the class made their first trip to Down Under Dive Shop and met business owner and scuba instructor Bryan Eslava. The students watched a video, and Eslava checked their classwork. Then, the scuba students grabbed their gear and headed over to the pool.

“It was kind of hard at first to watch for the hand signals used when you’re underwater, but I’m just trying to push through and enjoy it,” said student Madison Gray. “I’m very thankful for this opportunity, because I did not think that I would be getting scuba certified my senior year, and I think it’s such a cool thing to learn.”

The first three lessons took place in the pool. At the third lesson, students assembled their own diving tank and gear. For lesson four the class headed to Vortex Springs, located near Ponce de Leon, Florida. There, they took the plunge into the deepest water they’d been in yet at 30 feet deep.

Their final class was held right at home as the newly certified scuba divers headed out into the Gulf of Mexico.

“It’s amazing because each chapter that’s been in the book, there’s things that they’re going to be able to see and will now make more sense,” said Harmon. “You can look at a page in the book and often there’s not enough pictures to show them. I have two that are interested in maybe majoring in marine biology, so I’m hoping that this is just one more step in that direction that they’re wanting to take, and that again is maybe going to inspire the others.”

Several of the students are already making future plans. Jared Matthes is excited to incorporate his new scuba skills into his hobby of fishing and plans to try spearfishing. Reagan Lentz would like to go out into the Gulf and explore the waters, while Gray said she’d love to see the local marine life.

“Central Christian School has offered them this unique opportunity, a unique education so that they can learn more about God’s world,” said Harmon. “There’s so many amazing things for them to study, so we are very grateful for the opportunity to do this. I’m hoping that they’re going to be inspired and maybe, in future days, I’ll be able to hear the things that they’re doing with this certification.”