George Amado, a PADI certified dive instructor, and Nature Environment Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) Fellow, has launched his maiden dive lab – marking a significant milestone for aquatic conservation and youth empowerment in Ghana, see video here.

The dive lab, which ran from 15–21 September, brought together Ghanaian participants for a week of immersive dive training, environmental education, and community building. The initiative aims to equip participants with essential diving skills while fostering a deeper understanding of Ghana's aquatic environments.

"I grew up along Ghana's coast, where the ocean was both a source of livelihood and wonder," says Amado. "But over the years, I watched pollution, overfishing, and other human activities degrade our waters. That sparked my curiosity and passion for marine conservation. Eventually, I trained as a diver and marine conservationist, determined to use my skills to protect our underwater ecosystems."

Amado's journey to this point has been one of persistence and growth – from working as a swim instructor and leading coastal clean-ups, to joining coral reef restoration projects and presenting at the West African Marine Science Symposium. It was there that he met marine scientist and National Geographic Explorer Edem Mahu, who introduced him to NEWF and opened the door to his dive training and eventual certification as an instructor by encouraging him to take her spot at a NEWF dive lab, was a participant in Amado's lab, reaping the benefits of her generosity. 

"Each of these experiences – from local community efforts to international collaborations – built on one another and prepared me to launch something as ambitious as this maiden dive lab," he shares, as he expresses the extent to which grassroots initiatives along with partnerships that extend beyond borders have enabled him to reach this point in his journey.

Amado was inspired to launch the dive lab after noticing that very few Ghanaian scientists and conservationists had access to the diving skills needed to study and protect local marine ecosystems. "Ghana has a long coastline and rich marine biodiversity, but there's a huge gap when it comes to diving capacity," he says. "The dive lab was born out of a vision to bridge that gap – to equip local scientists, youth leaders, and conservationists with both the technical diving skills and the research tools to safeguard our waters."

Participants were selected through a nationwide call-out, representing diverse backgrounds, including marine biologists, youth leaders, conservation practitioners, and early-career scientists. While some had never been in the water before, others brought prior knowledge of marine conservation but lacked the diving experience to apply that expertise meaningfully. "This diversity creates a unique learning environment where everyone grows together and shares perspectives," says Amado. "Watching their excitement the first time they breathe underwater – from the pool sessions to the ocean dives – has been incredibly rewarding."

The dive lab arrives at a critical time, as Ghana faces growing environmental threats such as illegal mining in rivers, which pollute waterways and damage coastal ecosystems. "Illegal mining and pollution affect both rivers and coastal ecosystems," Amado explains. "By training more local scientists and conservationists, we're building a network of people who can collect data, raise awareness, and advocate for stronger policies. The dive lab gives them the tools to connect the dots between inland activities and ocean health."

Funding and logistics presented major challenges for this first-of-its-kind initiative. "Diving equipment, training, and logistics are expensive," Amado notes. "We had to be creative – reaching out to partners like NEWF and the Regional Maritime University, pooling resources, and finding sponsors who believed in the vision." Building trust was also crucial: "We overcame it through transparency and strong community partnerships."

Community engagement is at the heart of the dive lab's approach. Beyond training scientists, Amado involves local fishers, youth, and schools in outreach activities. "Ultimately, conservation can only succeed if communities see the benefits and become partners in the mission," he says.

Speaking on Amado's journey as a dive facilitator, Noel Kok, Executive Director of NEWF and National Geographic Explorer, emphasised the importance of local leadership: "George's journey from trainee to instructor is inspiring, and the fact that he is now hosting his own dive lab is a testament to what's possible when communities take the lead in conservation."

Pragna Parsotam-Kok, Executive Director of NEWF and National Geographic Explorer, added: "Supporting these stories is essential, not just for Ghana, but for the entire continent. This lab is about more than diving; it's about building a movement, a growing collaboration among skilled filmmakers, divers, and conservationists, all dedicated to ensuring African voices to tell African stories."

Amado hopes the lab will inspire a new generation of ocean stewards across West Africa. One of his most memorable moments was watching professors and lecturers of marine sciences dive into the ocean for the very first time: "Seeing their amazement as theory came to life was powerful," he recalls.

By empowering local actors and storytellers, and by engaging communities, the initiative aims to inspire action and attract support from partners and donors.