Times of the Islands Summer 2016

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To the Europeans in the Caribbean at the time, this survival story was not entirely surprising, as the swimming ability of Africans was well known. Early explorers of the West African coast 500 years ago often came across amazingly proficient swimmers — an astonishing sight because so few Europeans back then could swim at all. The explorer Pieter de Marees said about Africans from the Gold Coast that their freestyle allowed them to, “swim very fast, generally easily outdoing people of our nation in swimming and diving.” Bruce Wigo, CEO of the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, says evidence shows Africans had developed a highly proficient front crawl stroke with side breathing and perfect high elbow arm recovery. He notes wryly, “Africans were doing the Australian crawl before the Australian crawl was invented.” Slaveholders quickly recognized the unique aquatic capabilities of newly arrived slaves in the Caribbean and regularly used them to dive for pearls and recover treasure from shipwrecks. Indeed, the Europeans, and later, Americans, were so impressed that they sometimes had slaves teach them and their children how to swim properly and efficiently, a skill that had eluded them since medieval times. In a tragic irony of history, the ability to swim by people of African descent was lost over time in the West Indies with a few notable exceptions, such as lobster Ianthe Pratt Primary School students learn to swim with SURFside Ocean Academy lifesaving instructor Paul. and sponge divers in the Turks & Caicos and elsewhere. Still, while many visitors to these Islands joyfully plunge into the clear turquoise water and glide with confidence without a second thought, for far too many residents the ocean has become something to avoid. In fact, it has become a cliché to express amazement that so many people living on islands surrounded by water can’t swim. While to a degree true and unacceptable, there is nothing to be gained by dwelling on the idea. Instead, why not reverse history and reinvent the culture of swimming? MORGAN LUKER These proud high school students in North Caicos finished a four-day Swim & Survive course at Sandy Point beach. Pictured also are TCI Swim Federation swimmers and teachers Ben Stubenberg and Kevin Bethel. (Not pictured, Chloe Zimmermann.) 66 www.timespub.tc
Local swim schools, TCI government agencies, and private donors are doing just that by collaborating on a single goal: Expand the ability to swim for all residents throughout the Turks & Caicos regardless of ability to pay. Following are some of the swim initiatives that are making an impact on the broader TCI community: • Since 2012, Caicu Naniki Sports Adventures (founded by Ben Stubenberg and Chloe Zimmermann) has been teaching youngsters at the Provo Children’s Home on Saturdays how to swim and survive. • Since 2013, SURFside Ocean Academy (founded by Morgan Luker) has been working with the Edward Gartland Youth Center to give swim lessons to some 40 teens a year. Many of the students repeat the 10 session program and have become proficient swimmers. • Since 2013, FB Total Adventure (founded by Jill Swann) has been working with Extraordinary Minds to teach autistic kids the basics of swimming, along with teaching very young children water safety. • In 2014, the Turks & Caicos Islands Swim Federation designed and implemented a Swim & Survive program to help prevent drownings for Raymond Gardiner High School in North Caicos, per request from Vice Principal Tony Hislop. With financial assistance from David and Elizabeth Stone, 3 TCI Swim Federation members responded with four sessions that taught 38 students and 8 teachers to swim at Sandy Point. • In 2015, the TCI Red Cross began to incorporate a short learn-to-swim program for 15 summer campers in the ocean and the pool. The campers got a special treat when the TCI Swim Federation arranged for three-time Olympic Gold Medal winner Rowdy Gaines to join the local volunteer swim teachers to give them a swim lesson. • For the past 10 years, the annual Commonwealth Beach Games held on Governor’s Beach in Grand Turk always incorporates a learn-to-swim element using local swim teachers, most recently from SURFside and Caicu Naniki. • For many summers now, the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) has incorporated a learn-to-swim program for its Junior Park Wardens using Provo swim teachers. Last year, DECR teamed up with Provo swim schools and Tina Randall to highlight World Oceans Day by offering free swim lessons at the Bight Children’s Park. This year, Caicu Naniki, SURFside, and Waterplay are teaming up with donors on a new initiative to work directly with selected schools to teach swimming and expand the numbers even more. The pilot program will begin with DISTRIBUTOR FOR EVINRUDE & MERCURY OUTBOARDS, PURSUIT WORLD CLASS CAT, SUNDANCE AND BOSTON WHALER BOATS Lures and Live Bait Marine Hardware & Gear Fishing Gear & Supplies Marine Paints & Varnish Marine Batteries Sebago Docksiders & Sperry Topsiders Shoes BLUE HILLS ROAD PROVIDENCIALES TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS, B.W.I. PHONE: 649-946-4411 FAX: 649-946-4945 Times of the Islands Summer 2016 67
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Happily ever after starts here. Cel
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The cool side of classic. 7 2 W E S
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Turks And Caicos TurksAndCaicosProp
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VOTED WORLD’S BEST ALL-INCLUSIVE
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WHERE EXCLUSIVE IS ALWAYS INCLUSIVE
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RASHAWDESIGNS.com TIMES MANAGING ED
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Times of the Islands Summer 2016

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