Yes! Black people scuba dive, too —and even break world records while doing it!
According to Essence, on December 3, 2024, Barrington “B.J” Scott, a former Marine and freediver scuba instructor, set a Guinness World Record as the fastest person to scuba dive across all seven continents.
In just 19 days, 19 hours, and 40 minutes, the 33-year-old AmbassaDiver traveled 27,000 miles on a whirlwind journey that started in Australia and took him through Thailand, Egypt, Malta, Miami, Argentina, and finally, Antarctica.
“When I finished my final dive, I called my sisters first to share the good news,” Scott shared. “I could feel the pride and excitement in their voices – it made the achievement feel even more real.”
“Sharing that moment with them, knowing they’ve been with me through every high and low, was just as fulfilling as breaking the record itself.”
Scott, who learned to swim only after enlisting in the Marines, originally planned to complete the challenge in 30 days, but with careful planning (and a little help from ChatGPT), he did it in just 19.
His first dive took place on November 13 in Sydney, Australia, and over the next three weeks, he hopped from continent to continent, touching down in countries he had never visited before.
“The expedition introduced me to new cities in familiar continents,” he said. “I’ve been to Egypt before, but Alexandria was a new city. Malta, Argentina, and Antarctica were all first-time destinations.”
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Beyond the sheer ambition of it all, what made Scott’s feat even more impressive was the risk of decompression sickness he faced from traveling between dive locations. Most scuba divers reach depths of roughly 100 feet and have to ingest compressed air containing nitrogen.
Experts recommend waiting at least 12-24 hours before boarding a plane to avoid decompression sickness, a condition that can cause dizziness, muscle pain, and, in severe cases, paralysis or even death.
Scott’s remarkable trek included flying to dive sites across multiple time zones, and he credits his unbreakable spirit, in part, to his time in the Marines.
“My military background taught me to be fearless, adaptable, and flexible to changes—skills that were essential for handling the countless variables on this trip,” he shared.
“One of the airlines lost my bag, which had all my essential dive gear, forcing me to reschedule a dive. With such a tight timeline, every delay chipped away at my deadline, adding pressure I didn’t need. It was a reminder that no matter how much you plan, adventure always finds a way to test you.”
Luckily, Scott was able to complete his last dive in Antarctica, one of the most remote, highly regulated, and expensive places to travel. And while a GoFundMe campaign helped him cover some expenses (he raised over $4,500), the overall undertaking was still a costly endeavor.
“The trip itself—including flights, accommodation, food, dives, transportation, training, and gear cost me over $28,000. But I have no regrets; I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
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What makes Scott’s world record even more special is that in the U.S., an estimated 64% of Black kids don’t know how to swim, largely due to a history of racism and segregation that kept Black Americans from pools and public beaches.
What’s more, Black scuba divers make up only about 5 to 8% of scuba divers in the world, which puts the Thailand-based expat in a rare class of athletes.
“I had no fear of open water, which might explain why I nearly drowned a few times growing up,” he joked. “I overestimated my abilities and underestimated the power of nature. It took some training, but eventually, I got better. I dove headfirst into scuba—pun intended—and never looked back.”
Scott grew up in the Bronx, New York. He was in foster care until he was adopted at age 12.
According to him, most of his formative years were spent watching National Geographic and the Discovery Channel, which ultimately ignited his passion for exploring the world.
“Growing up, I was always that kid trying new things,” he told CBS Mornings. “It was that openness to do anything, eliminate that fear of trying new things.”
His first dive was in the Bahamas in 2014, and since then, Scott has scuba-dived in over a dozen countries, including Chile, Columbia, Panama, and the Cayman Islands.
For those looking to follow in his footsteps, Scott advises starting small and staying persistent.
“Start with a Discover Scuba Diving course; it’s a great way to see if you like it without committing fully,” he says.
“You don’t have to be the strongest swimmer to start scuba diving. The most common challenge I’ve seen, both in new and experienced divers, is equalizing their ear spaces [a technique to release air pressure in your ears]. Some new divers struggle with this and get discouraged, but it just takes practice. Don’t let it deter you.”
He also wants to see more Black divers in the water, which prompted him to write the children’s book Trent’s Adventures: Deep Sea Discover.
His travels inspired the book, which features photos he’s taken over the years. He also mentioned that he was working on other projects to share his passion for scuba diving.
“Trent’s Adventures was a passion project, and I plan to create more children’s books in the future. I also want to get back into scuba instructing and eventually host trips to help introduce even more people to the sport.”
He’s back in Thailand now, but that doesn’t mean he’s slowing down. Next on Scott’s bucket list is diving in Ito and Japan, exploring the Galápagos Islands, and experiencing the underwater beauty of Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
But for now, the Guinness World Record holder is taking a moment to celebrate his achievement and reflect on the incredible journey that led him from the Bronx to making world history.
“If I could talk to that kid in the Bronx, I’d tell him that it’s perfectly okay to be that quirky kid with all these hobbies. I’d also tell my younger self to keep dreaming big, stay different, and never stray from who you are.”
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