For trauma survivors, learning to swim can be a powerful act of reclaiming control and autonomy. If you’re a Black woman aged 55 or older and you want to take that crucial step, the Back2theWater swim retreat is your chance to do it this summer.
The Back2theWater retreat will be held in Cartagena, Colombia from August 17-27, 2025. This event will make swimming a relaxing, healing, and even joyful experience for you - bringing deep trauma to the surface of your mind, body, and spirit and allowing it to be gently released.
Reserve your spot .
You've always known water is a healing substance and that swimming can be a form of calming meditation, but your aquaphobia has kept you from fully realizing these benefits. Sure, taking a shower or bath can help, but it's not the same as the empowering experience of moving through the water with grace and strength. This retreat is your chance to give yourself the gift of empowerment through swimming.
In this 10-day wellness retreat, you'll go through a four-day curriculum of beginner-friendly swim lessons led by certified instructors in a nurturing, relaxing setting with access to a private pool. You'll get help with letting go of aquaphobia and healing from the generational trauma you've experienced due to the historical and systemic barriers BIPOC individuals have faced in swimming education.
The curriculum includes relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, mindful movement, and other holistic strategies that will help you remove the mental barriers that have been preventing you from feeling at ease in the water. You'll also take part in group safety briefings and water-based warm-up sessions. At the end of the program, you'll go on a guided open-water swim.
“Breaking through aquaphobia isn’t just about acquiring a skill - it’s about reclaiming power, autonomy, and joy,” a spokesperson for the retreat explained. “It’s about saying ‘yes’ to fully enjoying life, whether that means a dip in the local pool, diving into new travel adventures, or simply conquering a personal challenge you once thought was impossible.”
During the retreat, you'll have opportunities to explore Cartagena's history, culture, and cuisine after the day’s lessons. Two nutritious, delicious meals per day are included in the cost of the retreat. You’ll also have the option to take home a personalized video blog of the retreat as a keepsake.
If you aren't able to go on the Back2theWater retreat but are passionate about its purpose and goals, there are opportunities for you to get involved with the retreat organizers. They're currently looking for sponsors and speakers to support and help raise awareness about the event.
If you're knowledgeable about health and wellness for Black women, generational trauma, trauma-informed care, or a similar subject, you could become a speaker for the Back2theWater organization.
If you lead a company whose mission aligns with the retreat's goals, you could become a sponsor. The organization offers four sponsorship tiers, each with its own benefits like logo placement on event materials, co-branding opportunities, and media mentions of your company.
You can get more information about these opportunities .
The Back2theWater retreat was founded by Diamond Crystal, also known as “The Gallivanting Grandma™,” a wellness influencer and travel ambassador for women over age 55 who want to pursue their wanderlust. Besides the Back2theWater retreat, Crystal has organized the Wonderlust Wellness retreat for Black women who are housesitters.
“The journey from fear to freedom is profound, and for senior Black women, it holds the promise of better health, healing, and happiness in the water,” Crystal said. “It’s time to reclaim our connection to swimming and open up new possibilities - in both our minds and the world around us.”
Learn more about Back2theWater's mission to empower marginalized groups through the joy of swimming .
