LOCAL DIVERS FIND CALM, CHALLENGE, AND COMMUNITY UNDERWATER
Story By: Rebecca Carlton-Mielke
Finding Joy Below the Surface
Far from the ocean, local divers explore a world that few ever see, and they find something deeper than the water itself. Beneath the surface, they discover adventure, calm, and connection. In the quiet of the water, recreational divers find peace, public safety divers find meaning in moments that demand courage and teamwork, and diving instructors find purpose. The water offers both escape and belonging: a place where breathing slows, fear fades, and clarity begins.
For Whitney Nash, diving grew naturally from a lifelong comfort in the water.“ I was spending time in Belize,” she said,“ and thought, if I am going to keep coming down here, I need to get certified.” A former high school swimmer, she earned her open-water certification about fifteen years ago and has been diving ever since.
Her first dives mixed awe with nerves.“ There is definitely anxiety,” she said.“ But once you are underwater, there is a sense of peace and calm. You are relying on your dive partner, your equipment, and your training.” What keeps her coming
JAN / FEB 2026 NEWS AND TRIBUNE SPORTS MAGAZINE PAGE NO. 23