How much do you like math and science? If you love them, become a professor of marine biology. Expect to do a lot of non-diving stuff to get there. I'd recommend skipping the community college and go straight to university. Then go straight into a PhD program (skip the Masters). I have a PhD in chemistry, so I know a bit about all this. BTW, high school and university were cake for me, but my PhD program kicked my butt. (which it should; the best thing I learned from my PhD was how to use my own knowledge and skills to determine the truth--there's no answer key when doing original research.)
Then, expect to do a few years as a post-doc *after* you get a PhD. Then expect to work your butt off (and kiss a lot of butt) to get a tenured professorship. But once you get tenure, all you need to do is find a perennial grant to do whatever research interests you. And if that means you have to dive the Great Barrier Reef 4 times every year, then that's what you gotta do.
If you don't absolutely love math and science, you can go the commercial diver route--working on oil rigs, etc. A lot of successful and popular divers have gone that route. I'm no expert, but it sounds like a job that requires a lot of hard physical work and mental stamina.
Finally, don't forget the Navy.
Best of luck--the world awaits how you decide to leave your mark. Just never forget that you can always change direction, at any time. Don't let yourself become one of the hopeless drones who feel trapped by their reality.
