Most of my “not so trivial” pursuits are things considered by some ordinary people as things “black people” don’t do. There have been enough think pieces written on the topic, so I will just let Google lead you to more knowledgeable and scholarly articles if you would like more information and a historical dissection of that thought process.
One of those pursuits is Diving! I’m a Cancer, my soul is at home in the water. I originally wanted to get certified in 2012 before a trip to Thailand but wasn’t able to make it happen. (Long story) Then after another false start in the Bahamas in 2015 (Longer story) I came back to Dallas determined to get certified. I literally googled the “SCUBA Certification Dallas” on the plane ride home. One day I’ll share the full (longest) story of my certification but throughout the entire process and all of my dives until 2020, I had never even seen another black diver.
While in DC, touring the National Museum of African American History and Culture, I stumbled across the Slave Wrecks Project and I was enthralled at the idea of marrying my history with my hobby! Lots of additional research lead me to the National Association of Black Scuba Divers, which directed me to the local chapter, Black Coral Divers. Imagine me walking into the first meeting and seeing people I recognized from church. The rest as they say is history, I joined and am now the Vice President.
This year, I was finally able to do my first dive with other people of color in St. Croix! I have been trying to get to St. Croix for more than a decade! One of my dearest friends was born their and their family visits almost every summer. After I got an early opportunity to get vaccinated in February, I was trying to go and live my best-vaccinated life. Wonderful ladies from Black Coral Divers were heading that way anyhow so I took the opportunity to blow some bubbles and get some salt water in my veins!
St. Croix is one of the U.S. Virgin Islands, in the Caribbean just south of the British Virgin Islands. With a population of just over 50,000, it’s a little oasis! My travel buddy Kristal and I took the chance to relax and revamp away from the hustle and bustle of the city and I got to accomplish some of my coolest dives so far. My deepest dive (95ft) and my first night dive. (I promise you the ocean gets really small at night.)
It was an incredible adventure that I was able to experience with all black women and I can guarantee our time together was soul repairing and uplifting. My dive buddies, Ms. Kristi and Ms. Jimmie are incredibly accomplished and successful women who did nothing but encourage and only occasionally admonish me for my rookie mistakes. After a rough year of lockdown, it was exactly what I needed with who I needed.
Are You Interested in Learning to Dive?!
Even though we’re about to go into the cold season, it’s a perfect time to start your journey to becoming a diver or get refreshed if you haven’t been in a while. You can use this time above the water to connect with new dive buddies, get your equipment in order, and get all of your online/book learning completed before it’s time to get wet.
Leave a message below and I’ll personally help you get going!
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