Black Dolphin Divers of Richmond, VA

Darlette Meekins
I am a native of Richmond, Virginia. I have a B.S. degree in Geology from Virginia State University and a Masters Degree in Geology from Iowa State University. I have been employed as a Geologist for both Mobile and Exxon Corp and a Geodesist for the Federal Government. I am currently employed as a Geographical Information System Professional (GISP) in the field of mapping with the state of Virginia. I enjoy reading, hiking, exploration, football, basketball, good conversation, and diverse people. My interest in diving is just an extension of my love to explore this beautiful earth, that we live upon. I am active in Church Activities, Community Services and my Sorority.

Herman Randolph
My introduction to scuba was unique. While my family was stationed in Germany, my Boy Scout Troop attended the 1958 World’s Fair in Brussels, Belgium. There was a demonstration introducing the new sport of scuba diving. Fortunately, I was one of the scouts selected to try this new sport. Twenty years later at the insistence of my brother, who had been certified for several years, I became certified.

Upon becoming certified in 1978, I joined Divers Inc. of Richmond Dive Club. For years, I traveled around thinking that I was one of only a handful of black divers. From New Jersey to Jamaica, “I would meet another black diver here and there but occasions were sporadic and far and few between. I must admit that I did enjoy seeing the faces of some divers when I showed up to dive.”

One weekend, while working the SEAS symposium, I met Dr. Jones and many UAS members. “I thought what a great idea; An Afro American dive club. I remember spending as much time at their booth as I did working at my booth!”

I am very active in my dive club. Over the past 27 years I have held the positions of activities director, safety office, board of directors, vice president and six times president. I have worked on many diving projects, including the planting of eelgrass in the Chesapeake Bay, a diver on the Yorktown Coffer Dam Project, The Historic Richmond Foundation and Great Ship Lock Canal Project. My travels as a diver have taken me to the Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua, Hawaii, Matzalan, the Virgin Islands, Cancun, Aruba, Curaçao and the majority of the eastern seaboard and Florida. However, my favorite dive site is the U-352 off the coast of North Carolina.
As a dive master, I am often the person who is diving with newly certified divers. “There is no greater feeling than seeing the smile on beginning divers’ faces as they begin their diving careers.”

While diving is the place I have received the most accolades, it is doing things like coaching kids’ track, being the first aid man and trainer for youth league girls’ basketball team, giving oceanography and diving presentations at the high schools and assisting the rescue squad juniors, I enjoy the most. My most cherished awards are the 1993 “Daddy of the Year” from the rescue squad juniors and the “2004 Henrico Rescue Member of the Year.” I like being busy and working with kids.

Clifton D. Hicks
I am a technical training instructor for Philip Morris U.S.A. in Richmond, Virginia where I have been employed for 25 years. I am responsible for training hourly and salary personnel in the safe operation of cigarette manufacturing equipment.

I have been a member of the Philip Morris Dive Club for 5 years and currently serve as the Treasurer. I am also pursuing my Dive master certification.

This year, I helped form the Black Dolphin Divers of Richmond, Virginia; Richmond’s first black scuba diving club.
During my 5 years of scuba diving, I have logged numerous dives. Through my diving experiences, I have visited places such as: Bonaire, St. Maartens, Cancun, Bahamas and Fiji Islands.

It is my goal:
1. To become a Dive master/Instructor.
2. Travel & dive in a new destination each year.
3. Someday start a scuba diving ministry.

Diving is my passion because it has allowed me the opportunity of meeting a diversity of divers around the world.

Portia Rawles
Dr. Portia Rawles is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, who works in the capacity of a college professor, clinician, consultant and researcher. She received her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and doctorate from Regent University. Her instructional responsibilities include: Multicultural Psychology, the Psychology of Trauma and Crisis, and Clinical Practica.

Born in Norfolk, Virginia and raised in Portsmouth I have had a positive connection with the water my entire life. I started diving due to my love for the water. I tried snorkeling on several occasions, which inspired my desire to see more of what is under the ocean. My hobbies include: playing the guitar, writing music, painting, drawing and rowing.

Renee’ Whittingham
A lifelong water lover from New York, I obtained my PADI certification in October 2006 due in large part to the support of Black Dolphin Dive Club of Richmond members. Happily NABS membership offered further encouragement to utilize my skills. Advanced Open Water certification is definitely the next goal. It is an honor to serve in my local club and community assisting young people to explore all SCUBA has to offer. I’m a veteran of the United States Navy and a federal retiree. I stay active with family, community service and several ventures including a travel business.

Robin Edwards
Born under the sign of Cancer, I love everything about the beauty and life of the underwater.
I am a native of Richmond, VA. I work as a Human Resources and Human Rights Coordinator.
I am very active in my church and community. I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, watching college basketball, and decorating shows. I also take great pleasure in my work with the mentally challenged.

Roger Stephens
I am a retired Coast Guard veteran of 23 years. While in the service, I began to take a genuine interest in scuba diving. I was PADI certified in 1999 and began diving at different port of calls striving to perfect my skill. I’ve had the opportunity to dive at many fascinating places such as, San Juan, PR, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Barbados, Bonaire, and Aruba. Becoming a member of the Black Dolphin Dive Club has given me an opportunity to meet and dive with other African Americans with similar interest and introducing the underwater adventures of SCUBA diving to our youth. I am currently employed by the U.S. Coast Guard as an Electronics Technical Support representative for Aids to Navigation. I am also a student completing my degree in Electronic Technologies.

Shane Barge
As a young man I always held a fascination for the ocean and all of its wonders. As a child growing up watching Sea Hunt, Jacque Cousteau and Flipper on television, I imagined diving in the deep blue sea. My first water experience came on one summer day in Stamford Ct., the first time I swam the boat channel 300 yards. I became a certified diver in June 1998. Over the next two years I improved my diving skills by obtaining my Advanced, Nitrox, Medical-First Aid and Rescue Diver certifications. I have over 800 dives logged and will complete the Dive Master Course in 2006. I have dove in Barbados, Cozumel, Bonaire, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Belize, Dominican Republic, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos. I have also dove in Connecticut, Morehead City NC, Virginia Beach VA, and Florida from Jupiter to Key West. I love Florida diving, especially the shipwrecks and spear fishing. I enjoy underwater photography and video. In the course of my training, I’ve found that a lot of the principles of diving can be applied to my life.

Simeon E. Newbold, Sr.
simeonnewbold@comcast.net
snewbold@saintpauls.edu
I entered into the marvelous world of diving in the spring of 1982. On May 16, 1982 I received my open water certification at John Penecamp in Key Largo, Florida after three months of intense classroom, pool, and ocean training. In those days part of one’s training was to ascend from sixty feet without the use of scuba gear; a skill no longer taught (It really is not that difficult). Buddy breathing, which is a lost art today thanks to the Octopus (only instructors had them), was a major requirement for certification. Starting with Jane Schmitt, my first instructor, I have always had women dive instructors (After twenty-four years I’m still attempting to analyze the meaning of that). How I entered into the awesome sport of diving is indeed a fascinating story.

Unlike a significant number of people the notion of scuba diving was not even a remote possibility because of my illogical belief about sharks. I too believed that sharks were just waiting to attack each time a diver descended into the open ocean, any ocean! Moreover, I truly believed that the sport of diving was so inherently dangerous that only white people would be stupid enough to have engaged in it; prior to my open water certification I’d never seen nor heard of a Black scuba diver. That was indeed my unsolicited ignorance.

It was a bluff from a friend’s brother that he and I would not have the nerve to try scuba diving, which started it all. At that time my friend’s brother and one of his friends had ventured into the sport of diving without certification and/or training. Manhood and youthful ego at stake we accepted the challenge. Needless to say nerves was our biggest burden and it took the better part of one year before my friend and I signed up for scuba diving training. Since that time, twenty four years later, I’m the only one of the four who continued in the sport (my friend’s brother passed away a few years after our certification).

State wide I’ve dove parts of Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida. I have also dove Jamaica, Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Cozumel, Bonair, and Barbados. Not bad for a young man who had been bluffed into diving.

Vocationally, I am an Episcopal Priest. Professionally, I’m a college professor who as well serves as an advisor to the president of the college. I’m a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Ronald (Ron) Bush
Hometown: Clarksville, TN
Currently reside in Newport News, VA
Certified: PADI Advance Open Water 2007, Member of the Black Dolphin Divers of Richmond, VA
Certified: PADI Open Water in 1989 while assigned to an U.S. Army unit in Panama, Central America
Dives: Between 50 – 75
Also a member of Ski Breeze of Hampton Roads, VA. A member of the National Brotherhood of Skier’s (NBS), Eastern Region.
I enjoy diving because of the mystery of the ocean and freedom to interact with the marine life. I enjoy the brilliant colors displayed by the marine life and the coral reefs. Watching how they interact together is very exciting. I especially enjoy the tropics because of the warm temperatures and great visibility. It is also great to have the opportunity to explore a sunken ship every now and then.