NABS SPOTLIGHT DIVER
The NABS Spotlight Diver Committee is proud to recognize Corhonda Dawson, affectionately known as “Hooda Brown.” Nominated by the NABS family and selected by the committee, Hooda exemplifies resilience, service, and fearless pursuit of purpose. Hooda is also the recipient of the 2025 NABS Presidential Award.
Raised in Memphis—the birthplace of blues and rock ’n’ roll—Hooda is a divorced mother of two scuba-diving daughters and a living example of what it means to turn adversity into adventure. Guided by her mantra, “Therapeutic Use of Self,” she is a catalyst for transformation, inspiring everyone around her to grow, heal, and act boldly.
Hooda’s journey began in an unexpected place: the pools of Memphis, where she worked as a lifeguard for the City of Memphis Parks Commission. There, she learned to stay calm under pressure, read people intuitively, and act decisively—skills that later fueled her entrepreneurial success. By age 23, she founded her first therapy agency, Functional Independence, and at 24 became the youngest female awarded a Home Health License by the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission, leading multidisciplinary teams to serve community needs with innovation and heart.
After her divorce, Hooda found healing in the ocean. What began as a Groupon intro to scuba in 2012 became a life-altering calling. From murky quarries to crystal-clear seas, she earned advanced certifications in wreck, cave, deep, ice, and dry suit diving. She has dived the Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans—and in November 2024, Antarctica—becoming the first African American woman to scuba dive in every ocean.
In April 2025, Hooda cemented her legacy by earning a Guinness World Record for the fastest time to dive on every continent (11 days, 19 hours, 23 minutes).
But Hooda’s impact goes far beyond records. As a citizen scientist with Diving With A Purpose, she advocates fiercely for ocean conservation, participating in NOAA Roving Surveys and coral identification efforts. Her mission is clear: make ocean health relatable and accessible—especially in urban communities like Memphis—because, as she says, “People can’t care about things they know nothing of.”
A proud graduate of Tennessee State University and a lifetime member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Hooda lives a life rooted in service. From teaching the importance of swimming as a survival skill to reminding us that 72% of the oxygen we breathe comes from ocean algae, she connects the ocean’s health directly to our own.
From Hooda to the NABS family:“If things didn’t work out the way you planned… remain open to learning new things. Learning creates small, steady wins that rebuild confidence and quietly guide you forward. You are the author of your story. If you’re starting over, it can still lead to something extraordinary. Put on your own mask before assisting others.”
Hooda Brown is proof that a Black girl from Memphis—with no ocean in sight—can become a Divemaster, a black-diamond snowboarder, a global ocean advocate, and a barrier-breaking icon.
Congratulations, Hooda Brown, our NABS Spotlight Diver!
Hooda!
What an excellent outlook on life and way to keep it moving forward! Natural curiosity; Service to All Mankind; a centered soul; commitment to legacy building; and gratitude for all that this life serves up. All wins.