About Us
Steve - Owner and Ocean Swimming Guide
Steve has always had an affinity for the ocean. That started with childhood family trips to the beach (his parent's often had to forcefully remove him from the ocean kicking and screaming), attempts at surfing in his late teens/early 20s (he was absolutely rubbish at catching waves but didn’t care and loved being out in the water and having banter with friends) and fishing trips with his Father (he would much rather swim with fish these days).
It wasn't until Steve took up Triathlon 15 years ago that he discovered the joys of ocean swimming. Since then ocean swimming has gradually morphed into a passion/obsession which has been fueled by several magical marine wildlife encounters. His favourite so far occurred in 2021 when a pod of Orca decided to swim over and check him out (you can see the video from that encounter below).
Steve loves encouraging others to join in on the fun and it brings him great joy when a person completes their first ocean swim, and they are left buzzing. Steve reckons the exercise induced endorphins, being out in and feeling connected to nature, marine wildlife spotting, meeting new people and having a laugh really does make ocean swimming holidays hard to beat!
Richard - Ocean Swimming Guide
Richard spends his spare time on and in the water. A passionate sailor, he grew up exploring the coasts of New Zealand and abroad on a family cruising yacht. Diving, fishing, and swimming were all part of his daily life. He recently participated in the 2 Handed Around the North Island yacht race, which he describes as a perfect blend of sleep deprivation, moments of terror, and the sublime!
Richard’s passion for ocean swimming started with a desire to get fit. Beginning in the pool, his initial goal was to swim a few lengths non-stop. Soon after, he ventured into the waters around Mount Maunganui's coastal islands. For the past 10 years, he has visited these treasured locations almost weekly, swimming alongside orcas, eagle rays, stingrays, dolphins, octopuses, a variety of fish, and occasionally friendly sharks.
It was here that Richard met Steve and a growing community of ocean swimming enthusiasts who share his love for the sea. His extensive experience, combined with his adventurous spirit and deep knowledge of marine life, makes him an excellent guide for those looking to explore ocean swimming.
Richard prioritises safety and is well-versed in best practices for ocean swimming. He ensures that every swim is not only enjoyable but also safe for all participants. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced swimmer, Richard is dedicated to helping you experience the wonders of ocean swimming.
Vivien - Ocean Swimming Guide
In her early teens, Viv would wake her mum/dad up to make sure she wasn’t late for 5:15am training sessions at the pool.
Growing up by the beach, Viv was always in the water and loved surfing with her dad and friends. She eventually swapped competitive swimming for surf lifesaving competitions and worked as a paid and volunteer lifeguard for over 10 years along the Bay of Plenty coastline.
Viv has always dabbled in open water swimming, some of her most memorable (and admittedly also love/hate/never again) experiences being swimming 10km in lake Taupo, swimming around Mayor and Motiti Islands (also with Richard and Steve) and trying to swim in the shape of a giant Orca.
Now living in Bondi, Sydney, Viv enjoys the year-round (mostly) warm water, which means no wetsuit needed and one of her favourite swimming moments of all time was spending 45 minutes swimming with dolphins.
She loves swimming in the ocean because of the great people that it attracts. She believes that even on the days when the water’s a bit murky or it’s boring or freezing cold, you never regret a swim, and there’s nothing like swimming in the ocean with friends and marveling at wildlife.