For over a decade, I have had the honour of representing Jamaica on the international stage, culminating in my role as co-captain of the Paris 2024 Olympic Team alongside the Sprint Queen herself, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. When I first competed for Jamaica, I was the island’s first diver in 40 years. Upon my retirement, the reality is that without immediate intervention, Jamaica could once again face decades without representation in the sport of diving.

This absence of athletes is not due to a lack of interest or talent. Despite there being no diving programme, qualified coaches, or fit-for-purpose facilities, the potential is undeniable. In two successful diving camps I hosted in Kingston, I witnessed natural ability among the participants, many of whom had never tried diving before. Beyond these camps, I have seen and met groups of young boys across the island who have shown incredible bravery and innate skill by teaching themselves to dive from bridges and harbours.

Jamaica has a wealth of raw talent, but it needs the infrastructure, guidance, and structured pathways to turn this potential into success. With the right resources and a sustainable programme, we can create opportunities for the safe pursuit of excellence in diving. The plan is to build a foundation for the sport in Jamaica, with the vision of one day seeing our athletes follow in my footsteps to the Olympic Games and continue the legacy we have started.

The most recent Dive With Yona camp, held in August 2025, was our most successful yet. We welcomed international participants from Trinidad & Tobago, Canada, Ireland, Ukraine, Ecuador, Greece, and the USA, marking a new milestone in reach and recognition. We also established our first partnerships with University of Technology Jamaica and Island Car Rentals, and were delighted to welcome a rising Jamaican talent, Sophie Bruce, at the start of her diving journey.

The camp concluded with a lively competition day, where our young local divers showcased their skills and progress in just a short time. This event created an exciting foundation for the launch of our Autumn/Winter Pilot Programme.