I never imagined I would be a scuba diver. Growing up in Florida, I was always an avid swimmer and beach lover, but after my spinal cord injury, I didn’t think scuba diving was in the cards for me.
How would I carry a heavy tank on my back? Could I balance underwater without using my legs? How would I simply move around on the boat? Anxiety and many questions flooded my mind as they often do when I embark on a trip or activity that I know isn’t traditionally inclusive or accessible.
Then, at 18, I traveled to the Cayman Islands with Stay-Focused, an organization that supports young people with disabilities to become PADI certified scuba divers, and my perspective completely changed. Scuba diving can be accessible to so many people with a variety of disabilities, and now it’s become one of my favorite sports.
The peace that you find underwater is unlike any other. The near silence almost forces a diver to focus in on the beauty of the wildlife that surrounds them. Witnessing all the plants and creatures unique to each diving site also brings about an appreciation for the environment and a renewed urgency that we protect it.
Then there is the thrilling side of diving. Splashing headfirst into the water, diving deep and feeling the temperature of the water change with each meter, the occasional shark or barracuda sighting, there are so many sensations while diving. Each dive, you roll the dice and see what you get.
Wanting to share my love of diving inspired me to become a mentor for Stay-Focused. For eight summers, I have traveled to the island to work with young adults in the program. The trip is not only unique in that participants go diving, but also in that they must travel to the island alone. For many it is their first time flying independently and venturing out in the world solo, something that is often still nerve wracking for me as an adult! But this part of the experience is vital because it truly shows the kids all that they are capable of.