Diversity In Aquatics Launches Caribbean Water Safety Program
Diversity in Aquatics this week launched a water safety program for more than 150 children on the Caribbean island of Grenada.
Celebrating World Oceans Day, the program at Grand Anse Beach was the latest activity in the organization’s goal of “addressing the critical global crisis of drowning disparities affecting communities of color.” The event included ocean swim lessons, water safety workshops and CPR training. There were opportunities for young swimmers to snorkel and get coaching in sailing techniques, and DIA helped host the area’s largest youth swim meet of the annual calendar.
The activity is an effort for the U.S.-based nonprofit to extend its network of life-saving outreach beyond the United States.
“This is about more than sun and surf—it’s about empowering Grenadian youth with skills that save lives and build community,” said Dr. Miriam Lynch, Executive Director of Diversity In Aquatics, in a press release. “Though having a close proximity to water, what we have realized is a lot of communities have a disconnect. In Grenada, a significant percentage of the island’s population does not know how to swim. For us, it was really important to bridge that gap to support the mission of teaching water safety while making a connection to the opportunities in aquatics with no borders.”
Drowning is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States, particularly for children. Approximately 4,000 people drown in the U.S. ever year, and the rates are highest in Black, Indigenous and low-income communities that have structural obstacles to accessing swimming education. About 300,000 people drown annually worldwide, per the World Heath Organization.
DIA’s event in Grenada included a session led by Dr. Fran Jackson, associate professor and chair in the English department at Spelman College, on the history of the transatlantic slave trade and a trauma-informed workshop on breathwork led by Thaddeus Gamory, founder of BlueMindfulness.
“There is so much potential for long-term impact and a seismic change in aquatics,“ Gamory said. “Everything starts with learning to swim and being safe in the water. We’re already contributing to it and the potential for it to grow is substantial – as a matter of fact, it’s already in motion.”
The event in Grenada expands DIA’s network of partners, which includes foundations like that Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, historically Black colleges and universities in the United States and philanthropic partners like USA Swimming and USA Water Polo. DIA is looking to broaden its impact across the Caribbean “as a global leader in culturally-responsive water safety education.”
“The tides are turning,” Dr. Lynch said. “Through education, community, and culturally rooted care, we’re ensuring that water isn’t a barrier—it’s a bridge to empowerment, health, and generational healing.”
Diversity in Aquatics is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization committed to promoting equitable access, education, and leadership in aquatic spaces. From grassroots swim lessons to institutional partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and national organizations, DIA works to eliminate racial and socioeconomic disparities in water safety, ensuring that all communities can safely and confidently experience the power of water.
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with Diversity in Aquatics. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
