Click here to return to main Member Spotlight page

Shirley Lee
NABS C-81
Many believe Ms. Shirley Lee to be the first certified African American female diver. Shirley was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia where she resides today. She was an athletic child who loved the water. She became an excellent swimmer, and she worked as a lifeguard during the summer at area pools. Shirley’s passion for sports extends to downhill skiing, bowling, biking and roller skating.

In 1965, she met Dr. Jose’ Jones and asked him to teach her to dive. She became the first female diver of the Underwater Adventure Seekers (USA) in 1966. She received her basic certification in 1965. Ms. Lee has logged over 1,000 dives for which she received the PADI “1,000 Dive” pin. Her underwater adventures have taken her to such exotic destinations as Mexico, Jamaica, Egypt, Morocco, Curacao, Haiti, Bermuda, Borneo, Belize and Malaysia.

Ms. Shirley Lee is the most publicized female African-American scuba diver in America. Shirley Lee has been featured in several magazines and books: Ebony magazine in September 1988, Ebony EM in October 1989, “ The Wreck of the Henrietta Marie” in 1998 and “Spirit Dive” in 1999 by Michael H. Cottman, and “How They Got Over: African Americans and the Call of the Sea” in 2003 by Eloise Greenfield. In 1972, Shirley took first place in the Atlantic Skin Diving Council Rodeo, Women’s Category. She also placed first in the Women’s Division free diving, Middle Atlantic Spear fishing Championship. In 1999, Shirley received the Lifetime Service Award from the Underwater Adventure Seekers at its 40th Anniversary Celebration. She won first place in the UAS Swim for Fitness program in 2001 by swimming a total of 44 miles in 4 months.

Shirley was a member of the committee of UAS which organized and sponsored the first summit in Washington, DC which officially launched the National Association of Black Scuba Divers. She is still an active and member of UAS.