Lisa Carroll
Decades of Change in the Florida Reef Tract: An Oral History Project
Florida is home to the only barrier reef in the continental United States. This project uses oral history interviews of coral reef stakeholders in Florida to showcase major changes in the reef tract over the past few decades. The stakeholders interviewed include scientists, fishermen, and SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) divers.
National Capital Contracting
On October 15, 2020, Zachary Mason interviewed Lisa Carroll for the Decades of Change in the Florida Reef Tract: An Oral History Project. Lisa Carroll, a resident of Tequesta, Florida, is the owner and operator of the Jupiter Dive Center in Jupiter, Florida. The dive center offers charter boat services, diving instruction, equipment rentals, and retail sales, and is known for its role in the local diving community. The interview begins with Carroll's biographical background, detailing her early years in New Jersey and her passion for the ocean, which led her to Florida in 1995. Carroll discusses her career transition from the food service industry to diving, which began as a weekend hobby before becoming a full-time endeavor. By 2004, she and her husband owned the Jupiter Dive Center, where she now oversees operations and plays an active role in the diving community. Throughout the interview, Carroll provides insights into the evolution of her diving experience, describing the certification process and the shift from snorkeling to scuba diving. She emphasizes the importance of the local diving community's role in marine conservation, noting efforts to report coral bleaching, illegal anchoring, and the importance of programs like BleachWatch. Carroll highlights the challenges faced in maintaining a business during COVID-19, emphasizing the adaptability and unity within the diving industry in implementing safety measures. Carroll also discusses environmental changes observed in the Florida Reef Tract, including the impact of lionfish, coral bleaching, and the increased presence of species such as goliath groupers. The interview concludes with Carroll's reflections on the role of diving in promoting conservation awareness and the growing participation of women in the sport. She shares her favorite dive sites and encourages others to explore diving as a means of connecting with marine ecosystems.
Please Note: The oral histories in this collection are protected by copyright and have been created for educational, research and personal use as described by the Fair Use Doctrine in the U.S. Copyright law. Please reach out Voices@noaa.gov to let us know how these interviews are being used in your research, project, exhibit, etc. The Voices staff can help provide other useful resources related to your inquiry.
The NOAA mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The Voices Oral History Archives offers public access to a wide range of accounts, including historical materials that are products of their particular times, and may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes.
Voices Oral History Archives does not verify the accuracy of materials submitted to us. The opinions expressed in the interviews are those of the interviewee only. The interviews here have been made available to the public only after the interviewer has confirmed that they have obtained consent.