Conservation
Protecting our oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams
Community
The world's largest open water swimming community
Cooperation
We are guided by our collective success, not individual gain alone
By The Numbers
It began with a swim one Saturday morning in Redondo Beach. A group of no more than 10 people—often as few as two—continued showing up week after week. Over time, word spread and the group grew. Two years later, we had our first 100 person swim. Another year later and we had spawned three new groups. Now, six years have passed and we are just getting started…
6
Years
14
Locations
2850
Members
Bryan Mineo / founder
Bryan lives for the ocean. Known as “The Swim Mechanic”, he leads large weekly open water groups from LA to Orange County to San Diego. His passion and creativity are highlighted in the OWO community—previously known as SMOG—he’s helped bring together over the past six years.
Having overcome a fear of open water himself, Bryan’s approach with OWO and his personal clients comes from a place of empathy and love for both transcending the barriers of fear and connecting people to open water swimming in order to find growth, confidence and joy.
Oceans In Peril
Our oceans are under threat from pollution, overfishing, and resource mismanagement.
One With the Ocean takes action at both the micro level with beach cleanups, and on a broader scale by raising awareness about recycling, plastics substitution, and ecosystem protection.
Saving What We Love:
- 8 billion metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year
- By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish
- 1 million sea birds and 100k marine mammals are killed by plastic each year
- 80% of ocean pollution comes from the land
Together, we Champion Change
Swimming in open water requires total emersion. It creates a common language that shapes our collective identity, emboldening the group to achieve what seems impossible.
By bringing visibility to water lies beneath the surface, our collective consciousness is awakened. What we see, changes how we see and what we care about.
Regular encounters with ocean life creates an intimate experience of love and appreciation.
Together, we achieve more than we can alone.
Memories about how a first dive inspired a lifelong love affair with ocean photography. By Joanna Lentini.
Bringing the Outdoors In
As the refuge and healing powers of the great outdoors are strictly off limits due to COVID-19, how do we get our nature fix in times of stress? By Joanna Lentini.
Both highly visceral and adrenaline-inducing experiences; punk and surfing share a lot in common. By Joanna Lentini.
Our very own Caroline Burckle shares her top tips to reframing during lockdown.
