Thank you NetGalley for the copy of the book. This story is beautiful, sad and eye-opening. The author takes you on her own personal journey to find her place in the world and brings in so much history incredibly weaving them together. In the end I feel like I took in a history book worth of information, yet in the most enjoyable read possible. Her writing style and imagery makes it easy to take in the things she has seen along the way. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys stories on personal discovery, history, archeology, diving and well anyone who wants a great non fiction read.

This is more of a woman's journal than an actual book. Tara Roberts is African-American and is interested in the ships that brought slaves from Africa to the US but sank en route. Of course, I've heard of the Titanic (bunch of white folks) or the Lusitania (same) but what about the Henrietta Maria? I hadn't heard of it either - it was a slave ship that sank in the Atlantic.
I learned so much about our African-American brothers and sisters through this book. I rather naively thought we were equal - because in my mind we are - but I was so wrong. I think she said only about 1% of scuba divers are black and they are very interested in the skeletons of the ships. These trips are supported by National Geographic and Tara had to pass several tests - including doing a number of dives (was it 30?) before she would be considered for the program.
Because most of the ships sank 150+ years ago, there are few remnants of the slaves, but the chains and manacles are still there - which remind Tara of the horrors those slaves felt as the ship was sinking and they could not escape.
I applaud her courage for taking this on.

A powerful memoir by Tara Roberts, an African American woman whose life takes a transformative turn after seeing a compelling photograph of black men and women from DWP (Diving with a Purpose) at a museum. This image ignites a passion within Tara to explore and reclaim the lost histories of the slave trade by learning how to scuba dive and join the ranks of DWP. With unwavering determination, Tara secures a prestigious grant from National Geographic, propelling her into the role of an explorer and storyteller. Her journey takes readers from the vibrant reefs of Thailand to the historic waters of South Africa, from the lush landscapes of Costa Rica to the sun-kissed Caribbean and back to the United States. Each location serves as a backdrop for her relentless pursuit of shipwrecks and submerged narratives, all while uncovering fragments of her own identity and purpose. A poignant exploration of heritage, resilience, and self-discovery.