Lets celebrate our women dive pros this month! Meet Grayson!
Were are you from originally?
I’m from Chapel Hill, North Carolina but currently attend the University of Chicago, where I am studying marine biology.
What brought you to Costa Rica?
My family came to Costa Rica on vacation two years ago, and have done several subsequent trips. I have done all my dive training here at Oceans Unlimited and wanted to continue progressing in a place I know and love.
How did you feel the first time you scuba dived?
My first ocean dive was here in Costa Rica. I was nervous at first, but once I got over the shock of breathing underwater all I wanted to do was swim around and see everything. I was amazed by all the life underwater, and by how good our guide (Brad!) was at finding hidden creatures like octopi, sharks, and eels.
Why did you decide to Go Pro?
I wanted to Go Pro because I wanted to continue learning about diving and the underwater world. I plan to continue learning about technical and scientific diving, and be able to use these skills in my career. I want to be able to share the underwater world with more people, specifically in a conservation sense, as I feel the biggest challenge to marine conservation is a lack of public knowledge.
What has been your most memorable moment when scuba diving?
My most memorable moment in scuba diving was in Barbados, where we did a wreck dive at the Stavronikita. It is a 375ft/115m ship that was sunk at 130ft/40m, with several large masts rising up to 70ft/21m. After close to 30 years underwater, the ship was covered in plants and coral, and was surrounded by fish and other marine life. We swam down the length of the ship, and were able to drop down to 100ft/30m through a vertical hole in the deck, where we could see into the top three levels of the ship. We couldn’t stay down for too long, as these depths had short no decompression times, but the half hour we spent there was truly amazing. I hope to dive more wrecks and be able to penetrate them in the future.
Sum up your teaching style in three words?
I would describe my teaching style as passionate, individualistic, and fun.
What do you enjoy about being a pro the most?
My favorite part about being a Pro is having a deeper knowledge of all things diving. I loved learning about the physics and physiology involved in diving, and know that I am better equipped to handle any problems or questions that may arise.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
As of right now, I’m taking one step at a time and trying to see where life takes me. In 10 years, I hope to be actively contributing in some way to ocean conservation through diving, public awareness, and possibly engineering. I want to see and dive the world before I settle down somewhere I love, but know that diving will always be a part of my life.
Wow! What a great story, and love seeing you featured as the first woman on this program, not to mention how full my heart is to see you discover a passion that we share. Love you tons and tons!!
Go, Grayson —
Grandpa