• Home
  • Features
    • Featured Articles
      • Black Art News
      • Artist Spotlight
      • Artist Interviews
      • Emerging Artist of the Month
      • Museum Spotlight
      • Art Terms
      • African American Theatres
      • Organizations
      • Spotlight Photos
      • Contests
    • African American History
      • Black Historical Facts
      • Monuments and Statues
      • Humpday Hero
    • Photoblog
    • Featured Products
      • Top Sellers
      • Art Print of the Week
      • Book of the Week
      • Sculpture of the Week
      • Movie of the Week
      • Affiliate Showcase
    • African Proverbs
  • Marketplace
  • Artist Directory
    • A-D
      • Alonzo Adams
      • Ernie Barnes
      • Cbabi Bayoc
      • Chalres Bibbs
      • Charles Bibbs
      • Bryan Collier
      • Doyle
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Black Art Depot Today

Your #1 Source for News About African American Art

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Home Black History Albert Jose Jones: African American Scuba Diving Pioneer

Kani Saburi Ayubu August 4, 2016 Leave a Comment

Albert Jose Jones: African American Scuba Diving Pioneer

Albert Jose Jones: African-American Scuba Diving Pioneer

Albert Jose “Doc” Jones is an amazing person. His personal accomplishments and the accomplishments of the organizations he founded are uplifting and inspiring. It feels as if he should be a household name. We want to recognize his achievements and celebrate his life and legacy. Doc Jones is this week’s Humpday Hero.

Background

Albert Jose Jones is a Washington, DC native. He is an alum of Dunbar High School (Washington, DC) and Howard University. It was the love and wisdom shared by the community that allowed him to excel despite being an orphan. These experiences fostered a commitment to volunteerism and a strong sense of community. Jones believes that there is a world of people who just need someone to have faith in them and show them the way. He lives by the mantra that anyone who has something to give should give to others whether it be knowledge, skills or support.

Dr. Jones earned a PhD in Marine Biology from Georgetown University. At Georgetown, he became a Fulbright Scholar and National Science Foundation Fellow. In addition, he served his country as a member of the United States Army. Jones originally learned to scuba dive, in 1957, while a member of  the US Armed Forces.

Albert Jose Jones: African-American Scuba Diving Pioneer

Dr. Albert Jose Jones Scuba Diving

Accomplishments

A scuba diving legend, enthusiast and pioneer is a great way to describe Albert Jones’ legacy. His diving career started in the Atlantic Skin Diving Council. When he originally joined, Dr. Jones was one of the organization’s only African-American members. Their lack of minority outreach led to him founding the Underwater Adventure Seekers Club (UAS) in the District of Columbia in 1959. UAS was the first diving club for African-Americans. This dive club encouraged minorities to learn how to scuba dive and swim. UAS was also one of the first clubs in the United States to certify all of its divers under the PADI system.

Dr. Jones’ success with UAS led to him co-founding the National Association of Black Scuba Divers (NABS). NABS serves as an umbrella organization for similar African-American diving clubs throughout the country. It provides the framework and direction for their member chapters. Its hard work under Dr. Jones leadership resulted in more than fifty diving clubs in the United States and many throughout the world being affiliated with the National Association of Black Scuba Divers. The association has certified over 2,000 divers free of charge. One of it’s most famous students and members is Shirley Lee. She was the first certified African-American female scuba diver in the United States. NABS has also taught over 5,000 people, mostly children, to swim free of charge.

As an individual, “Doc” Jones is a spear fishing champion, scuba rodeo champion, underwater photographer and a seventh degree Black Belt (Tae Kwon Do). His many personal achievements include being selected as the DAN/Rolex International Diver of the Year, the Beneath the Sea Diver of the Year and the Sport Diver Magazine Diver of the Year. In addition, he is an inductee of the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame and the Washington, D.C. Hall of Fame. Some other awards he has received include the Scuba Schools International Platinum 5,000 Award for logging over 5,000 dives and contributing to the development of recreational scuba diving in America. At last count, Dr. Jones has logged more than 6,000 dives in more than 50 countries.

Albert Jose Jones: African American Scuba Diving Pioneer

International Scuba Diver: Dr. Albert Jones’ Jacket Displays the Flags of Some of the Countries he Traveled to.

Diving with a Purpose (DWP) is another organization Dr. Jones co-founded. DWP organized after a team including Jones helped place a 2,700 pound memorial at the wreck site of a slave ship called the Henrietta Marie. DWP consists of a group of mostly African-American divers who partner with George Washington University and the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture to find and document slave ship wrecks worldwide. Many of their findings will be on display in the Smithsonian Museum.

In conclusion, Dr. Albert Jose Jones aka “Doc” continues to serve as an extreme example of leadership, humility and commitment. Learn, Live and Celebrate his Legacy.

Featured Video
Albert Jose Jones: 2015 International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame Inductee
Albert Jose Jones: 2015 International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame Inductee

A short biographical film about the life of Dr. Albert Jose Jones. A 2015 inductee into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame.

Play Video
Click To Play
Subscribe

Interested in Black History? Enjoyed the article you just read? If so you may be interested in our Bi-Weekly newsletter entitled The Black History Blitz. Black History Happens Everyday and this is where we share that information with you.

Subscribe Now
Resources
The Very Personal Mission of the Founder of the First Diving Club for African Americans
Little Known Black History Fact: Dr. Albert Jose ‘Doc’ Jones
Leadership Profile: Albert Jose Jones, Ph.D. “Doc”
Jose Jones Biography

Kani Saburi Ayubu

August 4, 2016

0 Comments

Related

Filed Under: Black History, Humpday Hero Tagged With: African American History, black history, diving, scuba, scuba diver, swimming, washington dc

ABOUT COMPANY

The Black Art Depot

The Black Art Depot

Welcome to the World of African American History, Art & Culture    Learn More

ABOUT ME

Kani Saburi Ayubu

Kani Saburi Ayubu

Founder of The Black Art Depot Read More

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive news, new product offerings, specials and exclusive articles.

Categories

Featured Products

2018 African American Calendars

Laurie Cooper Art Gallery

Black Religious Art Collection

Featured Book

Warriors Don't Cry

Featured Movie

Africans Vs. African Americans

Recent Pins

Framed artwork available at our Decatur, Georgia showroom this week. If younlive within 30 miles of our office delivery is available as well. Featuring artwork from Frank Morrison, Monica Stewart, Kevin "Wak" Williams, John Holyfield, Lester Kern, Cecil "CREEd" Reed, Justin Bua, Andrew Nichols, Wishum Gregory and others! #blackart #atlanta #decatur #georgia...
A romantic release from Ted Ellis that shows an African American couple strolling hand in hand at night through the artist hometown of New Orleans after an outing....
A religious themed work of art by Ted Ellis that depicts an old fashioned baptism down by the river like Grandma and them used to do back in the day. Love this folksy release by New Orleans born artist Ted Ellis. #blackart #africanamericanart #church...
Love this work of art and the way it is framed! The colors really pop in this white frame with white mat. A vibrant and colorful work of art by Larry "Poncho" Brown reminding us what family is really about! #blackart #family #blackfamily...
"Nigerian-British scientist Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock won the 2020 William Thomson, Lord Kelvin Medal and Prize for her “exceptional services to science education and physics communication” this October, according to the Institute of Physics. This made her the first Black woman to win a gold medal in the award’s history. Aderin-Pocock was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of eight but she never let go of her dream to be a scientist and worked to see it to fruition."...
One Night in Miami? How am I learning that this may be nominated for an Oscar before I even knew it was a film. Can't wait to check this out on Amazon Prime on MLK Day. Love historical pics...and this one looks very interesting. Congrats to Regina King....sis doing everything nowadays... #blackhistory #blackfilm...
Nothing like quality time with Mom or baby girl! This special moment was captured beautifully by the magical hands of artist Kerream Jones. #motherhood #blackart #parenting...
The perfect picture frame for remembering Mama or to gift to someone who recently lost their mother. Beautiful and Powerful sentiments on this one....
I love the colors in this new release from D.D. Ike titled "The Sound of Joy and Gratitude". Always remember to be thankful and grateful!...
A beautiful ink drasing by the Chicago born and Atlanta based artist K.A. Williams II also known as WAK that depicts the late great Nina Simone!...
Follow Me on Pinterest

Join Our Community!



Monthly Specials

Monthly Specials

Copyright © 2021 · Streamline Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in