Black History Month continues to spotlight groundbreaking achievement, and Hooda Brown Dawson Guinness World Record history is now official. Corhonda “Hooda Brown” Dawson, a Memphis native, ocean explorer, and proud graduate of Tennessee State University, has earned recognition from Guinness World Records for the fastest time to scuba dive all seven continents. She completed the challenge in 11 days, 19 hours, and 23 minutes.
The Hooda Brown Dawson Guinness World Record is not symbolic. It is verified, documented, and permanently recorded in global record books. According to her official Guinness listing, she completed qualifying dives across Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America between April 1 and April 13, 2025, meeting strict documentation and safety standards required for validation.
Hooda Brown Dawson Guinness World Record Officially Confirmed
The logistics behind the Hooda Brown Dawson Guinness World Record attempt were intense. Each dive required compliance with international standards. Travel between continents had to be executed with precision. Weather windows were unpredictable. Polar conditions in Antarctica introduced additional risk. A single delay could have disrupted the entire timeline.
Breaking a record at this level demands more than skill in the water. It requires elite travel coordination, physical endurance, mental discipline, and financial planning. Dawson did not simply participate in a challenge. She optimized a global route and completed it faster than any person in recorded history.
Mainstream coverage and diving industry reports have reinforced the significance of the accomplishment, highlighting how dramatically she surpassed the previous benchmark. The confirmation from Guinness solidifies her position in exploration history.

HBCU Excellence Beneath the Surface
For the HBCU community, the Hooda Brown Dawson Guinness World Record carries cultural weight. Black women remain underrepresented in scuba diving, marine science, and ocean exploration. By becoming the fastest person to dive all seven continents, Dawson expands visibility in spaces where representation has historically been limited.
As an alumna of Tennessee State University, her achievement reflects the global reach of HBCU excellence. Tennessee State has produced leaders across politics, business, medicine, and the arts. Now it adds world record ocean exploration to that legacy.
For students exploring STEM, environmental science, or global careers, this moment reinforces that exploration is not reserved for a narrow demographic. It is accessible to those willing to pursue it with discipline and boldness.
Readers can explore more stories highlighting HBCU achievement through our Tennessee State University tag and our HBCU STEM coverage across the platform.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Legacy and Community Impact
Dawson is also a lifetime member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, an organization synonymous with scholarship, leadership, and service. Her record adds another layer to a legacy of Black women expanding influence globally.
Beyond the record, Dawson is using her visibility to promote Lyfe’s Roux The Living Transfer, a free participation based experience designed to help people, particularly Black women, move from waiting to action. The Hooda Brown Dawson Guinness World Record becomes more than a statistic when paired with activation and mentorship.

Why This Record Matters for HBCU Culture
The Hooda Brown Dawson Guinness World Record matters because it reframes who belongs in global exploration. It broadens the narrative of Black excellence beyond traditional lanes and into environments that have historically lacked diversity.
For HBCU students, alumni, and supporters, this milestone represents possibility. It demonstrates that the foundation built at institutions like Tennessee State University can propel graduates into spaces few imagine, let alone conquer at record speed.
The time reads 11 days, 19 hours, and 23 minutes. The impact will last far longer.
