Dive Club Meeting 11/20/2025: Diversity in Diving

Name: Dive Club Meeting 11/20/2025: Diversity in Diving
Start: 2025-11-20T18:00:00-08:00
End: 2025-11-20T21:00:00-08:00
Location: The Hopyard American Alehouse & Grill

Schedule

Thu Nov 20 2025 at 06:00 pm to 09:00 pm

UTC-08:00

Location

The Hopyard American Alehouse & Grill | Pleasanton, CA

🌊 November 20th Dive Club Meeting: Diversity in Diving with Anesti Vega 🌍
Mark your calendars for an unforgettable evening at our November Dive Club Meeting! This month, we’re thrilled to welcome Anesti Vega, a passionate ocean advocate, decorated combat veteran, and leader in inclusive diving education.
📍 Where: Hopyard Alehouse Banquet Room, 3015 Hopyard Rd, Pleasanton, CA 94588
📅 When: Thursday, November 20th
🍽 Meet & Eat: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Grab some food, drinks & socialize)
🎤 Speaker Presentation: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
🗣 Social Hour & Q&A: 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
🌟 Speaker Spotlight: Anesti Vega
Combat Veteran | Oceanographer | Inclusion Advocate
Anesti Vega brings a remarkable story and mission to the dive community. A U.S. Army combat veteran who served with the 101st Airborne and 7th Special Forces Group, Vega transitioned from military life to become a marine science educator, expedition leader, and award-winning scuba instructor.
His passion for the ocean emerged through personal healing—experiencing neutral buoyancy underwater helped transform his PTSD recovery, and he’s since dedicated his life to sharing the healing power of diving. As Chair of the Scuba Council for Diversity In Aquatics (DIA), Vega works to break barriers and expand access to the underwater world for underrepresented and marginalized communities.
His accolades include:
🏆 2021 Sea Hero of the Year (Scuba Diving Magazine)
📚 2021 John Beakley Marine Science Educator of the Year
🌊 2022 DIA President’s Award

🧭 Topic: Diversity in Diving
Vega’s presentation will take us through:
The importance of inclusive and adaptive diving
How scuba can empower people of all abilities and backgrounds
His work as a Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA) Instructor
Real stories of transformation, exploration, and impact
This is more than a presentation—it’s a celebration of what diving can do to uplift, connect, and empower.
Bring your dive buddies, your questions, and your curiosity—we can’t wait to see you there!
📬 Questions? Email us at [email protected]