My journey with scuba diving has been shaped entirely by the kindness and generosity of others. From the very beginning, I relied on scholarships, support, and people who believed in me. Because of them, I found something that changed my life. Ever since, I have carried the desire to give that same opportunity back to someone else.

I want to start with my story, because it’s the reason this means so much to me.

I began diving a little over 10 years ago while attending Glendale Community College in Arizona. Who learns to dive in the desert? But that’s where it all started, and as a born-and-raised Arizonan, it will always hold a special place in my heart.

I often say I was lucky, but it felt like more than that. It felt like everything aligned at exactly the right moment.

While working toward my associate degree, I signed up for the only marine biology class offered at my college. That’s where I met Dr. Robert Reavis, a moment that would quietly change the course of my life. By coincidence, I had coached his daughters at the YMCA where I worked, and I had even been his lifeguard (and yes, I had to tell him more than once to stop doing underwater breath holds. If you know, you know).

He was not just a professor. He was also the Dive Safety Officer and taught scuba courses. I signed up for his class not once, but twice, and both times it was canceled because I was the only student. I could have taken that as a sign to give up but instead, he saw how committed I was and chose to teach me anyway.

He took the time to instruct me one-on-one. His wife let me borrow gear so I could afford to continue. At the time, I was working full-time while going to school and relying on a program called Y Achievers to help cover costs. I didn’t have an easy path, but I had people who made it possible.

Within a year, I completed my Advanced, Rescue, and Scientific Diving certifications with him. But what I really gained was so much bigger than certifications. I gained confidence. Direction. A sense of belonging in a world I never imagined I would be part of.

When I look back, I realize I would not be a diver without that moment, or without him. My life, my career, and the people I have met along the way all trace back to someone choosing to help me when they did not have to. That kind of generosity stays with you.

And that is why I’m here now.

Today, I am finishing my Divemaster certification and working toward becoming a PADI scuba instructor this May. This next step is not just about advancing my career, it is about creating opportunities for others the way someone once did for me.

I have begun to partner with organizations and dive shops in San Diego and Arizona to offer low-cost or free scuba instruction to people who might never otherwise have access to the ocean. I will not be accepting payment for teaching. I want to give my time freely, because I know what it feels like to need that kind of support.

Everyone deserves the chance to experience the peace, wonder, and transformation that happens underwater. Everyone deserves a doorway in.

The funds raised will go directly toward my instructor course fees and help cover the time I need to step away from work to complete my training. I will be covering my own travel expenses.

I carry so much gratitude for the people who helped me get here. This is my chance to turn that gratitude into action.

If you choose to support me, you are not just helping me become an instructor. You are helping open the door for someone else, just like it was once opened for me.

Thank you for believing in me, and for believing in the power of sharing the ocean with others.