News

Scuba divers are known for being well-trodden world travelers. But one man has taken dive log travel to record levels.

Diver travel influencer Barrington Scott has recently set the Guinness World Record for fastest person to scuba dive all seven continents in a row—in just 19 days, 19 hours and four minutes.

The intrepid diver covered more than 27,000 miles to accomplish the task, which took place in late November of last year. New additions to his logbook include stops in Thailand, Malta, Egypt, Malta, and Argentina. The record-setting plunge took place in the frigid waters of Antarctica.

“When I finished my final dive, I called my sisters first to share the good news,” Scott told Essence.com.  “I could feel the pride and excitement in their voices—it made the achievement feel even more real.”

Scott’s journey into the record books is a long time in the works. After dropping out of New York City’s foster care system as an adolescent, he joined the Marines and served in Afghanistan. Following his service, Scott earned a culinary degree and spent a year backpacking in Asia.

Finally, in 2014 he took the giant stride into diving in the Bahamas and never looked back. Scott eventually worked his way up to Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) and even authored a book on his adventures, Trent’s Adventures: Deep Sea Discovery, hoping to inspire young ocean explorers of all backgrounds.

“Breaking a Guinness World Record isn’t just about making history; it’s about showing that we belong in these spaces,” Scott shared on Instagram. “Black explorers, Black divers, Black adventurers—we’ve always been here, and we will continue to push boundaries.”

Learn more about Barrington Scott’s recent (and lifelong) diving journey in this wonderful profile featured in Essence.