Every hobby has its pinnacle.

In deep-sea wreck diving, that pinnacle is the Andrea Doria—a grand Italian ocean liner that sank in 1956 after colliding with another ship in heavy fog off Long Island. She now rests 250 feet down, tilted on her side in darkness. Diving her is called “The Mount Everest of Scuba Diving” not just for the depth, but for the hazards—powerful currents, collapsing steel, and a maze-like interior of three decks that can trap even seasoned divers. Still, countless divers make the attempt, hoping to recover porcelain dishware, and other artifacts from the wreck.

I first learned about the Andrea Doria while reading Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson. The book tells the true story of two weekend wreck divers, John Chatterton and Richie Kohler, who in 1991 discovered a mysterious German U-boat 230 feet down in the Atlantic. In it, they describe the pinnacle of their sport—reaching the Andrea Doria—and how it represents the ultimate challenge in wreck diving.

Every sport has its Everest.
In mountaineering, it’s Everest itself.
In running? That’s up to you.

For some, it’s qualifying for Boston, running the World Marathon Majors, or finally racing that local event you’ve watched from the sidelines too many times. Others chase something more personal—finishing your first half marathon, or simply running every day for a year.

The beauty lies in defining your own Everest—the one just challenging enough to thrill you, and just meaningful enough to matter.

Whatever yours is, keep chasing it.

– George
Founder, Peregrune