Papillion's Pat Purkhiser has spent the last 50 years fulfilling his childhood passion. What surprised him, however, was how many others from Nebraska wanted to dive in alongside him—whether through Diventures, the Henry Doorly Zoo through the Papillon LaVista Zoo Academy, or countless underwater adventures.
"It’s unreal how many people in Omaha are interested in scuba diving,” he says.
For Purkhiser, it began in 1976.
“After I got out of high school, I went into the Army. After that, I went to Florida,” he says.
There, he learned to scuba dive for the first time. After returning to Omaha, Purkhiser says word spread quickly.
He began instructing in the late 1980s and later joined the early conversations that helped launch Diventures in 2009. Today, he teaches at Diventures, where students can start with a Try Scuba class before pursuing full certification.
Purkhiser estimates he has completed more than 5,000 dives and certified about 1,000 students. What began as a personal passion became a lifelong way of helping people see a wider world.
For Purkhiser, scuba diving is both adventurous and peaceful. He understands why Omaha-area residents golf, ski, or travel for recreation, and he sees diving in a similar light. It is exciting, he says, but also quiet.
“There are no cellphones, no internet, no one is trying to talk to you,” Purkhiser says.
“It’s just relaxing.”
That desire to open doors and to keep moving also shaped his career in education. After a serious medical problem in the early 1990s, Purkhiser began thinking about how he could give back to Nebraska. His answer was teaching.
He helped create the IDEAL School for Papillion La Vista Community Schools and later helped build the district’s partnership with Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. The Zoo Academy allowed students to spend part of the day at the zoo learning life skills and shadowing keepers.
“If you have any desire to work with animals, that’s the place to go,” Purkhiser says.
He retired in 2020, but the programs and former students remain points of pride. Some Zoo Academy students became veterinarians, instructors, and zoo employees, giving Purkhiser another reason to believe hands-on education can change a life.
His impact extends beyond education and recreation. For the past two years, Purkhiser has helped train the Sarpy County Dive Team as it develops a dedicated underwater rescue and recovery program.
“I was asked to join in about two years ago, which was quite an honor,” Purkhiser says.
“I’m proud of the fact that I’ve been doing this for 50 years,” Purkhiser says.
Want to Try Scuba?
For those curious about scuba, Pat Purkhiser recommends one simple first step. Diventures offers Try Scuba classes, which allow beginners to experience diving before committing to full certification.
Purkhiser also encourages future divers to learn about destinations, animals, and conservation. He serves on the board of Fins Attached, an organization involved in marine research, including tagging and studying sharks.
Local practice dives may happen in rock quarries, where visibility is limited, but Purkhiser says they serve a purpose.
“It’s a good place to go and get wet,” he says.