Shirley Lee is a pioneer in diving for women of all races and simultaneously for both black women and men. Her work in helping to structure organizations to support sport diving activities in the face of racial and gender bias has been critical to the sport diving community. Her work has been featured in Ebony Magazine and in books. Shirley was a major player in the organization and maturing of the Underwater Adventure Seekers and National Association of Black Scuba Divers. Her 54 years of dive experience and service may have started as the first female African-American certified sport diver.