Ernie Franklin is more than just a skilled scuba instructor—he is a mentor, a leader, and a lifelong champion for youth empowerment through aquatic education. As a PADI Certified Open Water Scuba Instructor (2019), NAUI Instructor (2023), YDWP Instructor (2012), and DWP Lead Instructor (2019), Ernie has built an impressive diving resume rooted in service and passion.
But Ernie’s true superpower is his ability to connect with and inspire young people. That passion led him to re-establish an accredited scuba diving program across Washington, DC public high schools—certifying over 30 students in just the past two years. His work gives young people access not only to the underwater world, but to confidence, discipline, and global opportunities.
Currently in South Africa as a lead educator in the International Youth Cultural Awareness Program (CAP), Ernie continues to expand horizons—both literal and figurative—for a group of 20 youth. His teaching journey has taken him and his students around the world, from Honduras to Curacao to the Cayman Islands.
Ernie’s life of aquatics began on the swim team at Tuskegee Institute, eventually becoming a Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Instructor Trainer through the American Red Cross. As Education Coordinator for YDWP, he trains the next generation in maritime archaeology, coral restoration, and environmental stewardship.
He is among the few African American volunteer Scientific Divers for NOAA and holds the Blue Card certification with the National Park Service, reflecting the highest standards of dive proficiency and physical fitness.
In 2023, Ernie was honored with the Underwater Adventure Seekers Founders Award by Dr. Albert Jose Jones for his unwavering dedication to youth scuba education.
One of his most meaningful moments came while documenting the wreckage of Tuskegee Airman Lt. Frank Moody’s sunken aircraft in Lake Huron, Michigan. After the dive, Ernie made a haunting and powerful discovery—his beloved high school biology teacher, Mr. Bacon, had served in the same squadron as Lt. Moody. Though Mr. Bacon never revealed his history, his role as a mentor left a lasting impact on Ernie, inspiring a legacy that now spans generations and oceans. Ernie Franklin dives with purpose—and teaches with heart. Water Safety Instructor with heart.
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