The Lifeguard store of Watermen

Original Watermen’s lifeguard store is stocked with all the lifeguard gear your agency may need to fully outfit your rescue swimmers, seal team units or beach or pool lifeguards. Our lifeguard apparel is made by lifeguards, for lifeguards, so we know what kind of top-performance equipment is needed for resisting the training, exercise, and strenuous activity lifeguards do on a daily basis. Whether use revolves around salt water, sun or chlorine, our gear is satisfaction guaranteed.

Our lifeguard store and lifeguard lounge outfits over 1,900 agencies across the globe, ranging from ocean lifeguards, city pools, water park guards to military Special Forces. Our swimwear is also proven to be quick drying, so lifeguards can comfortably go from the water to the tower and dry quickly with no problem. In our lifeguard store, you will also find Jr. Guard swimsuits and other lifeguard equipment. The store carries a complete line of Jr. Guard swimwear, from swimsuits, trunks and Jr. Lifeguard rashguards to backpacks and Da Fins surf rescue fins.

While some lifeguard stores haven’t upgraded their lifeguard uniform or apparel design in over a decade, Original Watermen is constantly improving on a new and better fit that are comfortable 15 hours a day. In the lifeguard store you will find the most up-to-date cutting edge fabrics and styles to comfortably fit your lifeguard unit. The Watermen Stretch short is made of a new four-way super stretch fabric, making it the most popular boardshort in the industry. For female guards, we have both one- and two-piece swimsuit designs. The Elasta Girl Super Stretch Short is made with the same high-tech four-way super stretch poly microfiber as in our men’s line, and can be used both as a regular short and a cover up. Within the lifeguard store, we can embroider most swimwear with your agencies name and logo – give us a call for more information.

The lifeguard store also carries a huge selection of water and ocean inspired tees and cold weather clothes. We are continually striving to improve and provide the best quality, fit, funtion and comfort in all of our lifeguard products. Our lifeguard store carries a new Watermen Pant that is worn by guards across the country, and can be used for training and working out in colder weather.

The lifeguard store at Original Watermen also carries a full range of equipment, including Da Fin rescue fins, the best lifeguard and big wave rescue sleds, lifeguard tubes and cans, backboards, packs and whistles and most lifeguard First Aid supplies. The Orginal Watermen lifeguard store has proven time and time again to have the highest quality standards concerning swimwear and equipment in the industry. 

Original Watermen strives to have the most resilient lifeguard shorts in the industry

Since the late ‘70s, Original Watermen’s lifeguard shorts have been proven to be a favorite in the lifeguard industry. Starting with the company’s first lifeguard shorts being sold to local Carlsbad watermen, then to California State Parks and now outfitting over 1,900 organizations worldwide, this equipment has been put to the test.

Our popular line of Retro Lifeguard Shorts is our most streamlined cut. Lifeguards love the fit because of the super soft Cool plus Liner instead of a mesh liner, which prevents chaffing. And of course, they are popular because of their five inch inseam. For the more conservative, we also have longer lifeguard shorts and boardshorts that will keep your agency comfortable, quickly dry, and are stylish. The Watermen Pro Lifeguard Boardshort is preferred by more than 75,000 lifeguards around the world.

Not to leave our waterwomen out, our line of women’s lifeguard shorts are just as elite. Our just-as-popular Elasta Girl Super Stretch Short is 100% poly microfiber and is a four-way Super Stretch short. The new stretch short fabric is the next wave of technology for lifeguard shorts and boardshorts alike, upgrading trends from previous nylon and microfiber materials. We also make women’s lifeguard shorts that are specifically made based on what California guards asked for – shorts that are quick drying, unbinding, and that can be worn as a cover short as well.

With Original Watermen’s apparel, you can rest easy that living in your watermen lifeguard shorts will be the most comfortable ones out there. Sure, our lifeguard shorts have cargo pockets designed to accommodate MTS and XTS series Motorola radios, but throw a cell phone in there instead and you have a pair of shorts so comfortable you can run all your errands in them too – and head straight to the beach or pool.

At Original Watermen, we strive to have the most resilient lifeguard shorts in the industry. When the trunks you wear are your everyday uniform, you need to know that you’re not going to lose them to – or in – the water. Other brands of shorts can lose their color or shape, among other boardshort fatalities that will make your lifeguards extremely uncomfortable. But when you are in the industry of saving lives, you know what other lifeguards are looking for and what they need to be comfortable in their lifeguard shorts throughout their 15-hour days. 

Visit our Lifeguard Store at www.originalwatermen.com to check out the full line of lifeguard shorts, clothing, swimsuits etc. we offer for men, women and junior guards.

Lifeguard clothing comes with new prints, styles, cuts and comfort

At Original Watermen, our lifeguard clothing is made to withstand the strenuous and enthralling conditions lifeguards and watermen face on an everyday basis. Seasoned watermen know the level of comfort that is needed for those laborious 15-hour days, and our lifeguard clothing is made by lifeguards who have spent a lifetime in the water patrolling, surfing, swimming, paddling – you name it. Original Watermen’s lifeguard clothing started in the late ‘70s with lifeguard boardshorts being sold to local lifeguards and watermen in Carlsbad, and quickly grew to suiting the State of California Lifeguards. Now, our lifeguard clothing line outfits over 1,900 lifeguard agencies with a full line of gear and equipment.  

Original Watermen’s lifeguard clothing ranges from swimsuits and boardshorts to cold weather clothes and tees. We strive to provide the best quality and comfort in our lifeguard swimsuits, and our clothing is no different. For those chilly morning dawn patrols, we have lifeguard clothing that will keep your team warm. Our Watermen Pant is worn by guards across the country, and can be used for training and working out in colder weather. Our most popular jacket in the watermen line is our Sherpa Fleece, which features our rad Original Watermen chest logo and has warm fleece throughout.

Our lifeguard clothing is specifically inspired by all things watermen, for watermen. It takes a lifetime to Earn Your Salt, and we strive to represent that theme in the artwork featured on our tees and hoodies. One of our classic tees featuring The Duke is an artistic testament to the legend who earned His Salt. And of course, in the spirit of Earning Your Salt, we must pay tribute to the God of the Sea himself, King Neptune, depicted on tees and hoodies. Our waterwomen are often drawn to our popular Mermaid tees – another legendary water mystery. Original Watermen’s lifeguard clothing aims to represent strength in both durability and artistically with our waterman themed prints.

Tees are 100% ring-spun cotton for high quality and durability, and are often times pre-shrunk to fit well – and also helps avoid size issues when shopping via our online store. We make sure our lifeguard clothing continuously sets the bar with new prints, styles, cuts and comfort. We are bringing back the retro shorts while printing new tees and hoodies on a regular basis. Having so many different options, your lifeguards will definitely find a suit and cut that fits their needs, while still patrolling in style.

For our full line of tees, hoodies, boardshorts and other lifeguard clothing, visit our Lifeguard Store at www.originalwatermen.com and place an order, or give us a call at (800) 414-3181. 

The Best Lifeguard Swimsuit Manufacturer

Hey, lifeguard!  Whether you're a guy looking for board shorts, short shorts, or a gal looking for a rescue bikini or a one-piece racer tank or x-back look no farther than the Original Watermen lifeguard swimsuit line. We know Original Watermen swimsuits have been the premiere supplier of the lifeguarding industry for more than 20 years. We know what you're looking for. We know quality, comfort, and function. We also know what looks good. Our Lifeguard swimsuits are made to last and to enhance you is ability as a lifeguard to do your job. And, okay, if you want to show off, that's fine; we're cool with that. Quality guard’s lifeguards should be proud of what they do and they deserve the best lifeguard swimsuits on the planet!

A lifeguard depends on proper and durable clothing and equipment to be effective in saving lives. You can count on us to be your go-to provider for all things lifeguard. In addition to a full line of lifeguard swimsuits, we offer cold weather gear such as jackets and hoodies, tees, pants, hats, as well as lifeguard equipment such as rescue tubes, sleds, and surfboards. We're not just about bathings suits, after all. Then again, all of this lifeguard gear goes better with the best swimwear.

At Original Watermen, we pride ourselves in manufacturing the best Lifeguard swimsuits you'll find any day and anywhere in America. We want you to have the best so you can be set from months and years with only one purchase. We use only the highest quality materials so you can be confident about the durability of our bathing suits and our careful design means you'll always be comfortable and always look good whether on duty at the beach, a pool, or water park.

Come to originalwaterman.com and check out the whole line of lifeguard swimsuits, apparel, accessories and gear. We're sure you'll love what you see, and our customer service is second to none. At Original Watermen, our mission is to help you be a quality lifeguard, and in our own unique way hopefully add to the enjoyment of job.

For more lifeguard love, stop by www.originalwatermen.com for the only best lifeguard products on the planet. Whether its lifeguard board shorts, Lifeguard swimsuits, lifeguard rescue swim suits, apparel, or other cutting edge lifeguard equipment  give us a call for questions at 1-800-414-3181.

Lifeguard bathing suits and shorts and Junior Lifeguards at Original Watermen

Lifeguard bathing suits and shorts at Original Watermen provide only the highest quality and maximum mobility. Whether lifeguards are charging to the water or running on the beach, they are guaranteed comfort and support, while still patrolling in style. Original Watermen’s lifeguard bathing suits will have your guards going from the water to the tower comfortably and quickly, with fast-drying fabrics and stylish cuts and designs. We only use the highest performance materials in our lifeguard bathing suits, shorts and equipment, which have set the bar for performance for over three decades.

Our women’s lifeguard bathing suits come in one- and two-piece designs. Our one-piece swimsuit is designed for either lifeguard performance or recreational swimmers, while our Rescue Bikini is able to fully eliminate transparency and adds the needed support while running, specifically allowing superior comfort for guards’ 15-hour days. Also, our Men’s Watermen Stretch Boardshort is comfortable on and off patrol, and is worn by thousands of guards across the country. Your guards will want to live in these lifeguard bathing suits and shorts whether they are on or off duty. As our newest line of popular men’s boardshorts sets the bar for stretchy swimwear with the use of new, high-tech four-way stretch performance fabric that keeps you comfortable in the sun and sand.

Lifeguard bathing suits need to be a higher quality than average bathing suits to withstand the demanding conditions that lifeguards go through every day. At Original Watermen, our lifeguard bathing suits are the most resilient in the industry, outfitting over 1,900 organizations worldwide. Beginning with the first swimsuits and shorts being sold to local Carlsbad lifeguards, Original Watermen’s lifeguard bathing suits outfit ocean and pool guards from California State Parks to military Special Forces, testing and proving support and endurance. Also, we carry tees, hoodies, jackets and rash guards, among other lifeguard equipment that can fully outfit your team with any and all of your agency’s lifeguarding needs.

Original Watermen’s line of lifeguard bathing suits also outfits Jr. Guard agencies nationwide, and we carry all the equipment Junior Lifeguards need to learn and incorporate water safety. For Junior Lifeguards, we maintain the same standards and quality in junior swimsuits, shorts and clothing as for professional guards.  Most lifeguard bathing suits can be embroidered with your agency’s name and/or logo – give us a call for more information.

Check out our store’s entire line of lifeguard bathing suits, Junior Lifeguards on our Web site, www.originalwatermen.com, or give us a call at 1-760-599-0990.

Watermen, the Next Generation

I recently visited my friend Carl in Newport Beach. He and I both grew up there, in the same neighborhood where he now lives. He had newly returned after years living in the Midwest with his wife and four kids pursuing a career that at first was too good to pass up. After some time it became his goal to move back, before his kids were too old to have a chance to “grow up” at the beach. The opportunity finally came and he jumped on it.

And so we sat on Igloo ice chests in his new and still empty house. The furniture wasn’t due to arrive for another two days, along with the rest of the family. His early arrival was to take care of paperwork, but any excuse to get closer to the ocean was welcome. As soon he came into town the first stop after the bank to sign some documents was to pick up a surfboard—a custom job by another childhood friend who never left the neighborhood. As Carl and I sat in the house, it felt like we were back in the 80s. We hopped in my car and stopped at one of the same haunts for wax and then hit the beach. The south swell that day was an invitation to check out the Wedge. The place turned out to be packed. Mostly kids. Today seemed to be one day in particular that was a proving ground for future watermen. It was surprising how many were out there subjecting them to the threshing machine that was the Wedge on this particular day. Watermen of all kinds take a shot at this unpredictable break and find themselves unpleasantly surprised, but today a big group of groms were daring each other to push themselves. There were all kinds of would-be watermen there. Some with surfboards, some with bodyboards, others wearing fins. One kid even paddled out on a skimboard. I hadn’t seen that before and I almost yelled to him to come back. But then I remembered that when I was a kid, I pushed the envelope the same way. I learned from getting pounded a few times what my limits were. I was sure this kid would soon figure it out as well.

Both Carl and I stopped and watched these kids. It was hysterical. Some of them were getting blown 30 feet into the air from their body boards by the crazy backflow from the Wedge. Fins flopped in the wind as they somersaulted back into the churning wash. I sometimes felt a bit of alarm at the risk these kids were taking. Carl and I both admitted that our first thought would have been to scold our own kids for doing something like this, but we realized that we both terrified our parents the same way—well, on the rare occasion that our parents actually knew what we were up to.

We understood that becoming watermen was not about caution; it was about testing one’s limits. We knew that we’d eventually have to let go of the hands our kids the same as our parents let go of ours. We had to learn to walk on our own. We had to learn to stand on our own two feet both on land and on a surfboard.

Carl turned to me with a grin and said, “I can’t wait until the kids get here.”

Captain Splash

I once saw a guy jump off of a 40-foot-high platform into a kiddie pool of water. My first thought was “this guy is crazy.” But then it occurred to me that this guy did know what he was doing. In his own way he was, in fact, a waterman. He had to know the medium he was jumping into. Sure, it wasn’t what some might consider a waterman to be, but he did have a certain amount of style and grace as he leapt from the top of the platform and floated out evenly as he dropped. The splash into the water was every bit as calculated and skillful and experience-derived as the smoothest and most confident bottom turn or aerial move by a surfer at Pipe or anywhere else. Without water, this waterman would be nothing but a bunch of broken pieces. He had to learn how water behaved, how much it gave and how much it took. The water saved his life every time he jumped.

Okay, maybe this is a one-trick waterman. Yes, the graceful leap becomes a belly flop about a second and a half later, but it’s still a man and it’s still water. And it’s pretty damned impressive when you consider the feat. And when the Guinness Book of world records is a phrase bandied about you have to figure that few people have the stones even to attempt this. And it’s not just a matter of attempting it; it’s about learning how water works to support you. It is a matter of life and death. What may seem like a throwaway stunt is for this waterman daredevil a process that requires thoughtful consideration and experience. Nothing can be taken for granted. It’s no different from any other endeavor in the water by any waterman. The water needs respect. In this case, the respect is in the life-sustaining support the water gives to keep the waterman in one piece.

Come to Original Waterman for apparel suitable for watermen of every stripe. We’ve got you covered whether surfing, free diving, kitesurfing, paddling, or leaping into shallow plastic pools with colorful cartoon ducks on the side. Check out our full line of waterman apparel and other gear at originalwaterman.com or call us at 760.492.4

Original Watermen pays tribute to the brave souls

At Original Watermen, we strive to represent and acknowledge all people who live for singular excellence in any and all challenges they face. With our watermen-inspired boardshorts, trunks, tees, hats, hoodies, jackets and other apparel, we pay tribute to all the brave souls who stare down fear and facing it head on, without hesitation.

True watermen know it takes more than throwing yourself in the ocean once a week to feel the salt water. Watermen live and breathe a passion that is unlike anything else they’ve ever experienced. Watermen venture to uncharted waters, seeking new depths and new adventures. The fear that stems from the unknown is what keeps them going, moving further in to the ocean, taking on bigger or deeper waters to surf or dive. At Original Watermen, people often ask us, what does ‘Earn Your Salt’ mean? Well, earning your salt may have a different meaning to all watermen, but the basis remains the same – coming from deep within the self, the overwhelming passion to be in, near and one with the ocean and water. And coming from that, watermen respect and are humbled by this passion, and continue to seek the next possibility.

Some people go an entire lifetime without knowing what this passion is. Watermen can’t even always describe it, but when it’s there, you know. Original Watermen pays tribute to the brave souls who conquer their fears head – and board – on. Only true watermen know and strive for the connection between bravery and fear, but take on the challenge anyway, rising to the occasion. 

Original Watermen base their line of apparel and accessories around knowing that it will be put to the test by all the swimmers and surfers putting their equipment to the test each time they are out in the water. Watermen strive for the fear that comes with braving the unknown, and we make sure our apparel and equipment will be up to the task. For all things watermen need to engage in this passion, visit www.originalwatermen.com. Our large selection of waterman based tees, boardshorts, swimsuits, accessories and apparel is sure to be just as resilient the watermen who wear them.

The Purified Waterman

The guy arrived maybe half an hour early. I opened the door and he announced that he was from the purified water company, the waterman come to service our filtered water system. He was a young guy—early 20s or so—and looked every bit the surfer: tanned, fit, dark hair bleached by the sun, and board shorts. He carried a toolbox and a metal invoice case. “I hope I’m not too early for you,” he said.

I shrugged it off happily. The appointment window was 4 hours and I had begrudgingly assuming I’d have to wait until the last minute for someone to show up. “No, I’m actually a little shocked,” I said. “It’s sort of a cliché that the guy shows up as late as possible.”

“I’m trying to get done early,” the waterman said, sounding a little excited as he walked in the door.

I tossed off the first thing that came to mind after sizing him up. “Looking to catch the big swell coming in today?” I asked.

He looked at me with surprise. “How did you know?”

“Lucky guess.” I was looking forward to the same swell. I didn’t want to have to sit it out in my house waiting all day for the purified waterman to show up.

“So I guess you surf,” he said, sounding like a kindred spirit of a different waterman variety. Even his voice sounded a little salty for a kid.

“Yeah,” I said in pretty much the same tone though perhaps aged a bit more by the twenty years I had on him.

“Where about? I thought you might have looked a little familiar.”

“Harbor… Warm water… Carlsbad… all over really. Some buddies and I go to Mexico quite a bit.”
“Awesome.”

We ended up talking about surfing the whole time he was there. It was obvious he had the sea in his blood even though he said was a transplant from Iowa. He was crazy about the water from childhood. He had all the makings of a waterman—and it seemed a bit funny that water was his job.

“Oh, this job,” he said. “I guess I’m the all-around waterman. It was a toss-up between this or servicing swimming pools. I picked this because I think I’d have a hard time not jumping into the water all the time.”

I laughed. We talked a minute or two more and he was done.

“Well, thanks for being a valued customer… They want me to say that.”

“Well, I guess I’ll see you down at the beach a bit later.”

“Oh, yeah.”

We at Original Waterman hope to see you at the beach, and armed to take on the water with the best swim shorts, trunks, board shorts, bikinis, tees, hoodies, and other apparel. Visit us at http://www.originalwatermen.com for everything the watermen needs. Well, you’ll have to bring the purified water, though.

Original Watermen - the Premiere Source of the best Watermen Products

Original Watermen— www.originalwatermen.com — the premiere source of the best board shorts, trunks, tees, hats, hoodies, jackets, and other apparel would like to take a moment to acknowledge all people who strive for singular excellence whether in the water or on land. Earning your salt begins with a passion that comes from somewhere deep within the self. I discovered this truth on a trip to visit relatives who were decidedly not watermen, but had earned their salt nonetheless. One relative in particular—a cousin about my age—gave me a lesson in humility.

If you try to associate my cousin Caleb and water, the most likely result is that you'd imagine he needs a bath. Caleb grew up on the back of a horse in back-country Idaho. He comes from a line of men for whom the term watermen might refer the guys who fill the troughs for livestock on a farm. For them most of the water they deal with comes out of their bodies, soaks into their clothes, and then sucks up dust.

We grew up in different worlds, but both of us have our heroes. Mine are the legendary big wave surfers. His are the top bull riders of the professional rodeo circuit. At a recent family reunion at the old family homestead in Idaho I finally realized just how much alike we really are. We both like great stories—the kind that you want to pass on to your children. We both like to boast about our accomplishments. The notches on my belt are meant to evoke the great watermen, his great bull riders. I have to admit that I thought my heroes were better than his—that is, until I went to my first rodeo the week of the reunion.

Caleb, it turns out, is a ranked bull rider, and at 28 something of a veteran of the rodeo circuit. He got me a seat next to the bucking chute so I could see the action up close. When I saw the crew ready the bull I was suddenly intimidated. The bull was huge and each step shook the ground, rattling my seat. I then watched Caleb climb onto the bull and strap himself to the massive beast with one hand. Was he crazy? I get nervous on a big day at Pipe or Mavericks, but for Caleb every day is a big day. The crew tightened the belt on the bull. He snorted and bucked hard against the chute, jarring the heavy steel framework. I flinched a little and hoped no one noticed. The rodeo clown caught my attention and was now in the ring right below me. There he was an unknown soul in greasepaint about to go opposite the horns of the beast, though his courage would remain largely unsung. This scene became to me the watermen equivalent to Waimea on a really big day. For Caleb and the clowns this was routine.

Bam! The chute flew open and the great fury drove itself into the arena. For a moment it wasn't my cousin on the back of that monster; it was a terminator. I glanced at the timer up on scoreboard counting down from eight. It was the longest eight seconds I could imagine. I tried to picture myself out in the water where every wave I faced was a giant, every drop-in a white-knuckle ride. For those eight seconds I rose to the occasion. I knew that I would not sink back from the giant wave. I knew I had the skill to ride my own monstrous beast. I knew I had it in me to be one of the true watermen the way Caleb is a true bull rider.

The counter reached zero and Caleb managed to leap off the bull without getting flung like a ragdoll to the ground and stomped. Two clowns screamed and waved until the bull began to wander away from Caleb, who then made his way out of the arena. From that moment on I never saw my cousin quite the same way again.

Rise to the occasion to become numbered among the true watermen. Along the way, come to www.originalwatermen.com and check out our complete line of Waterman swim shorts, board shorts, swimsuits, apparel and accessories.

A Waterman Named Waterman

Marcus White-Waterman is how he introduced himself. “Really?” I replied, not quite realizing until after I spoke that my incredulity could cause offense, or at least an uncomfortable moment of silence. I doubled down: “Really? That's your name?”

“Hyphenated, actually,” he said. “White and Waterman. Sometime in the past a proud woman refused to surrender her name when she married, but didn't want to ignore her husband because his name—Waterman—meant something in the community.”

White-Waterman. The name fit his appearance. He looked like a creature of a white water ocean: bleach-blonde hair, deeply tanned skin, a lean almost slippery physique. He looked to be pushing 50, but as full of life as anyone I knew half his age. In my mind I tried to guess what it was he might have done in the water; clearly he did something there and completely infused his appearance. “So you seem somehow to live your name, Waterman. Do you surf?”

“Of course, I should call myself mainly an under-waterman these days. I free dive…deep.”

I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows. I knew the world of free diving. I'd lost a close friend to free diving. We were two ordinary boys as kids, but as we grew up differences emerged. Unlike me he was a daredevil, always pushing boundaries. He was a natural waterman, seemed almost to have gills—until that one day he didn't come back. It was a strange coincidence that I would meet Marcus White-Waterman this day standing in line at the supermarket. I normally don't chat up people around me. Subconsciously I must have seen my friend in him.

“It was nice chatting with you,” he said as he grabbed his groceries. “If you're interested I live on the sea and I offer classes near the Oceanside marina.” He pulled out a scruffy looking card and handed it to me. It looked like it had been wet. “First lesson is on me.”

I smiled. Me a waterman? I knew there was so much more to the word waterman then just free diving and surfing to be called a seasoned man of the sea. However, maybe somehow my friend found me. Maybe his spirit prompted me to start speaking to a stranger in line at the supermarket. Maybe he's now another hyphen added to Mr. White-Waterman.

Come to www.originalwatermen.com for things a Waterman might need to engage the passion. Check out our big selection of waterman board shorts, 60’s swim shorts, and other watermen accessories and apparel.

Watermen defined: True Watermen are a rare breed

Some think true Watermen appear in glossy magazine ads, on gigantic billboards and edgy television spots. While this may be true for a select few, most original watermen do not clamor for the spotlight.  They seek what they know, the Ocean.   Elite Watermen are not interested in proving themselves to the world; they are humble and let their actions speak for themselves. 

A Waterman is not a rank; it is a lifestyle.  Surfing started, with true Watermen, fishing, diving, living on coconuts and the ocean’s bounty.  Watermen are connected to the ocean like mangrove forests.  While many try to become what they consider one with the ocean, only those with salt water in their veins achieve aquatic greatness

When a true Waterman spends too much time on land, they need the purification of water.  The smell of the sea brings olfactory memories of sleepless nights sailing through heavy seas, big fish caught with small spears and possibly the very meaning to their existence. 

They don’t need a fresh water shower. Watermen are comfortable with salt on their skin, hair and eyes. 

The sea calls to everyone, but watermen speak the language of the sea.  Surfing does not make Watermen.  Watermen are of the sea.  They feel strange on land, wish mermaids were real, and don’t tell fish stories, but live them. . 

True Watermen are a rare breed – oceanic gurus.

Watermen Fear and Salt

There comes a time in a watermen’s life when they find themselves in a situation where fear takes over, and the waterman is dealt a rough hand in a game of poker against the ocean itself. The brain begins to grasp the options at hand and place them in queue, respective to greatest chances of survival. Then without voluntary control, the sympathetic responses in the brain begin activating the fight-or-flight response, which is programmed into humans and animals alike since the beginning. Watermen, being a humble breed, will not handle a life or death situation the same way as their peers. Instead, watermen are quick to manage biological emergency responses, and draft the best plan of action for survival.

What are we talking about here? We are talking about the fear of possible death among a deep, powerful, unpredictable, and merciless sea. It’s the fear an offshore sailor experiences when they have no other choice but to take down all sails, lock all hatches, and go below not knowing if they will make it through the storm. It’s the fear a waterman gets when the waves suddenly grow too fast to reach the shore safely. It’s the fear a free diver experiences when realizing he/she is lost in a shipwreck with only minutes of air left in his lungs. It’s the fear a lifeguard has when conditions become overwhelming, being left to wonder whether saving that particular person is within limits of possibility. It is the fear a beachgoer gets when realizing the shark that just dismembered a limb may be coming back for seconds. It’s the fear a poor swimmer encounters when they grasp the fact that the rip current they just got pulled in to may be their last. For non-water type people reading this, relate this to the feeling when your life is flashed before your eyes, and the next actions you make will change your fate.

To earn Waterman status, not only must you excel at all things water, but you must frequent these situations with caution and respect for the unknown. Each time a person experiences this fear and respect of the ocean, they “Earn Their Salt”. This happens grain by grain, until they are entirely comfortable in that situation and the flame for the fear of the sea is reignited. The task is never complete, but those with the most salt are often the best, well rounded, humble, and genuine Watermen. This is why at Original Watermen, we ask you to ask yourself if devoting your life to Earning Your Salt is something you really seek.