I’m a professional ocean lifeguard and marine ecologist from Australia. I live on a street called Beach Road, which I suppose is a nice metaphor for my obsession with the sea. This obsession probably stems from my father, also a great ocean lover, who named me after the Hawaiian word for ocean. Pretty much all aspects of my life have an obvious connection with the sea and I find myself getting anxious when separated from the salt water for more than a few days. I grew up surfing and diving in the small coastal town of Kiama, on the south coast of New South Wales. I started lifeguarding straight out of school, a job that has taught me great respect for the ocean. When I’m not lifeguarding, I film, catch and tag sharks and rays as part of a collaborative project with the Department of Primary Industries that looks to conserve coastal shark and ray species.