Born to legendary Hawaiian waterman Buffalo Keaulana, and now a major force in his own right, Keaulana is the highly respected cornerstone of the Big Wave Risk Assessment Group.

Born and raised on the beach at Makaha, Brian has made major contributions to the surfing world not only through his own sporting achievements, but also through his ocean-safety expertise that he has shared with ocean communities around the world, saving countless lives along the way. His experience in the most challenging of ocean conditions is unsurpassed.

Pat, born and raised in the Hawaiian islands, is an Ocean Risk Specialist with over three decades of experience in risk mitigation.

He has shared and taught the I.A.C.I.S. process in multiple oceans around the world as Master Instructor with BWRAG and co-founder of MA’A (Mixed Aquatic Arts) with Brian Keaulana.

Pat lives and breathes the Hawaiian Values serving humanity in the world of Ocean Safety.

Greg, who hails from San Clemente, California, has won multiple XXL awards including Biggest Wave, Ride of the Year and Performance of the Year.

He is the only surfer to win all three of the sport’s premier big-wave competitions, including “The Eddie,” and was 2013 Big Wave World Tour Champion.

In 2018, Greg led multiple BWRAG summits to earn the title of Master Instructor, including the WSL Mavericks Safety Summit as well as events in Southern California, Peru, Chile and Puerto Rico.

Born in California and a resident of Hawai’i for the last 15 years, Pamela Foster is a registered nurse who worked in emergency medicine for more than three decades.

In 2010, Kohl contacted Pam to help start a hands-on CPR training program so that all surfers would be knowledgeable in how to save lives. This first meeting on a barn floor evolved into what is now BWRAG and being taught around the world.

Pam was the recipient of BWRAG's 2018 “Brian Keaulana Alaka’i Award for Efforts and Positive Change in the Community” for her dedication to spreading CPR knowledge.

“Surfing big waves keeps me grounded,” says Kohl. A founding member of BWRAG, Kohl was one of the leading players in the revival of paddle-in surfing in giant conditions. He spends much of his time tracking storms in the oceans as well as the mountains.

When it’s flat, he’s pretty grounded as well, installing solar energy systems, tending to his off-the-grid farm on the North Shore of Oahu and going to the beach with his two young daughters.

Originally from Ilhabela, Brazil, Andrea is a competitive outrigger canoe paddler, standup paddler, big-wave surfer and overall elite water woman. She has multiple Moloka’i to Oahu titles to her name in both canoe and standup paddling, and is a competitor on the World Surf League Big Wave Tour.

Andrea lives on Maui, where she is a paramedic, responding to emergencies in the water and on land. Brian Keaulana has been quoted as saying, "If I'm ever in trouble when I'm surfing, Andrea is the one I want saving me." She brings invaluable expertise to the BWRAG team in the field of medical intervention.

Jon Hoover is an experienced risk-management planner and water-rescue specialist with a resume extending from tidal bores in Canada to isolated big-wave locales like Cortes Bank and Morocco.

He has taught Ocean Risk Management to local, state, federal, and public safety organizations, as well as working with sailboat and outrigger racing communities to create safety standards and emergency action plans.

Jon has been serving his hometown community of Oceanside, California, as a rescue boat captain in the Harbor Patrol for the past 15 years.

Ryan Hargrave started lifeguarding in 1999 through the California State Parks system. While dialing in his skills on a PWC, getting his EMT and other rescue certifications, he continued to gather knowledge of high surf risk assessment throughout the world.

He works on the WSL Big Wave Water Safety team and has set up trip logistics for strike missions around the world to chase the biggest waves mother nature can serve up. Ryan helped to build out the water safety department for the Kelly Slater Wave Co. Surf Ranch and continues to work there as a PWC operator.

He currently teaches risk assessment and PWC operator courses for BWRAG and the military.

Keaka Lime, born and raised in the Hawaiian islands on the North Shore of Oʻahu, is a Risk Mitigation Specialist with over two decades of experience in Risk Mitigation. He specializes in Ocean Risk Management and has shared, educated and taught the I.A.C.I.S. process to all facets of the world. Vance perpetuates the Hawaiian values as he continues serve humanity in the world of ocean and public safety for over 20 years.

Mark Healey is a legendary and intrepid big wave surfer, free diver, spear fisherman, conservationist, skydiver, bow hunter, yoga practitioner, photographer, filmmaker and Hollywood stuntman. He has devoted his life to the sea. In doing so becoming one of the world’s foremost professional Watermen.

Hailing from the North Shore of Oahu, Mark has surfed in every big wave event there is (iconically surfing the Lefts whenever possible, into Impossibles), from the revered Eddie Aikau Contest, to the traveling Big Wave World Tour. Mark is also nominated routinely every year in multiple categories for the prestigious annual World Surf League XXL Big Wave Awards. In 2021, Mark won the 2021 O’Neill Wave Of The Winter for his wave at Pipeline.

Will Skudin is an internationally recognized big-wave surfer. He has grown from “hometown hero” of his native Long Beach, New York to global surfing ambassador, and a fierce competitor on the WSL Big Wave World Tour.

Will is the co-founder and vice president of Skudin Surf and a co-founder of Surf For All, a non-profit organization which helps individuals with special needs access the joys of the ocean.

From Ventura, California, Andrew Reinhart has spent most of his career working in product innovation. His contributions to the early development of big wave safety, including flotation, impact protection, helmets and beyond, have been significant.

Growing up in the Patagonia childcare, Andrew cultivated a passion for activities from Mauka to Makai, where safety and security measures are paramount. Whether it’s climbing high alpine summits, sky diving, free diving, or surfing big waves, his life has revolved around pushing and exploring the edge of his personal limits.

Originally from Bahia, Brazil, and a resident of Hawai’i for the last 20 years, Danilo Couto along with Marcio Freire and Yuri Soledade was the first to paddle into Jaws at a respectable size. He won the 2011 XXL Awards Ride of the Year with the first bomb paddle-in ride at Jaws.

Danilo is one of the founding members of BWRAG. Chasing huge waves around the world is what drives him. Taking his kids stand up paddling in small waves in front of his house and cooking Mukeka (traditional Brazilian food) for his family is what motivates him to return home safely.

Grant Washburn is a San Francisco-based waterman and filmmaker with a passion for huge surf and weather data. He was among the earliest challengers at Maverick’s, where his obsession with big waves found a home. Grant has always loved documenting the surf, even as a kid in New England, and as an adult he directed his attention to the world’s greatest swells. More than thirty years later he remains committed to that mission. Grant contributes to BWRAG his knowledge of “ocean science” gathered from decades of deep water surfing.

Liam is an expat Australian, family man, and surfer who lives on the North Shore of O’ahu.

His history with BWRAG started soon after the 2010 CPR course in Kohl’s barn. Liam is currently involved with organizing and instructing BWRAG courses with the team down under.

One of the founders of SKULLBASE Water Safety, you cannot talk about water safety at Pe’ahi (Jaws) without Kolomona being the first name mentioned. This ocean guardian of one of the fiercest big-wave breaks in the world has been involved with BWRAG since its inception. No doubt he is the best in the business, as you can see by the resume of surfers who put their trust in Kolomona: Kai Lenny, Ian Walsh, Greg Long, Nathan Florence, Shane Dorian, Koa Rothman, Garrett McNamara, Andrew Cotton, the list goes on.

Kolomona provides instruction on BWRAG’s Spot Analysis, Safety Equipment, and Water Rescue modules.

Paige was born in Victoria, BC, Canada and grew up on Maui. She is an avid surfer, foiler, organic gardener, gym rat, dog mom, ocean and soil advocate, and is extremely passionate about regenerative farming. Paige holds multiple Big Wave world titles, 3 Pe’ahi Championship titles, and is one of the first woman invited to the prestigious Eddie Aikau Invitational.

DK grew up on the north shore of Maui. He spent most of his time at a young age learning the ways of the ocean and life safety. From then on, DK has been involved with lifesaving / water safety and has saved many lives, not just in big wave surfing but around the world. He has made a powerful impact helping and sharing knowledge about life safety in and out of the water. DK has been instructing with BWRAG since 2015. He is a career firefighter with Maui Fire Department and loves being in the ocean when he has down time.

Shaun grew up on the island of Maui, Hawai’i. He spent most of his time from a young age in the water surfing and learning the ways about the ocean. Through out the years, Shaun became in love with big wave surfing, that is where Shaun took the next step and learned how to save lives in and out of the water. He did that just to make sure everyone at his home break Pe’ahi would get back home safely. That eventually lead to him getting involved in the life safety industry. Shaun is also a full time firefighter for the Maui Fire Department.

Flores, a Puerto Rico native, began his surfing career as a Junior National Champion and gained recognition by working with filmmakers and photographers, earning numerous magazine covers and opportunities to collaborate with sustainable brands. He is now a high-profile ambassador for Patagonia, played a role in achieving the designated 11th World Surfing Reserve in Aguadilla Puerto Rico, and has taken on leadership roles in initiatives such as the Ocean Risk Management summits and directed the Waves for Water Caribbean Hurricane Initiative, merging his love for surfing and environmental advocacy.

Otto is a BWRAG-certified MRV Risk Technician who led the water safety team at the 2022 ISA World Stand Up Paddle & Paddleboard Championships, and introduced the BWRAG methodology to the Puerto Rico surf community.

Greg is the owner and operator of the scuba diving business Taino Divers, located on the beach in Rincon, Puerto Rico. Greg is a USCG 100-Ton Master Captain, PADI Master Scuba Instructor, and a MFA/CPR Ocean Rescue Instructor with over 30 years of experience. He is an avid freediver and bluewater hunter and an FII certified waterman survival and Level 2 freediver. Greg is a BWRAG-certified MRV Risk Technician. He ran water safety for all the major surfing events in Puerto Rico for the last 20 years. Greg also has been competing in SUP surfing championships for 15 years.

Joe Sheridan has run the Waterman Survival Program in Puerto Rico with hundreds of students over the past 12 years. Joe is an instructor trainer with Freediving Instructors International and teaches the Level 1, Level 2, Waterman Survival Extended Course, Advanced Freediving Safety and Instructor Course. Joe continues to set the bar for the highest standard of safety and effective breath hold survival training. His genuine teaching style stems from prior military leadership and running an independent rep agency for the past 30 years in the surfing, fishing, and outdoor industry on the East Coast. Joe's passion for teaching helps empower his students to reach their full potential with humility and confidence underwater on a breath.

Michael Vicens is a former air traffic controller and commercial pilot turned entrepreneur, who currently owns and operates one of the first foiling focused schools in the world. With a passion for the ocean and a commitment to safety, Michael has taught thousands of clients how to safely enjoy the ocean and have fun while doing it.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Michael has been in the ocean for most of his life, participating in a wide range of activities including surfing, windsurfing, spearfishing, freediving, wing foiling, and downwind foiling. His love for the ocean and desire to share his knowledge and skills with others led him to start his own school, where he can teach others to safely enjoy the thrill of foiling.

Ricardo Taveira is a PADI Master Diver Trainer, Apnea instructor and big-wave surfer with over 30 years of surfing experience. Ricardo teaches the Apnea & Surf Survival course in order to help surfers of all levels around the world to improve their breath-holding skills. Originally from Brazil, Ricardo is an American citizen and Hawai’i resident since 2005. He is the owner of Hawai’i Eco Divers & Surf Adventures, a dive shop and ocean education center located in Haleiwa Town on the North Shore of O’ahu. Ricardo dedicates his life to teaching and sharing his passion for the ocean with his students and costumers through his dive education programs and ocean safety courses.

Ian ʻAkahi Masterson has been working with BWRAG since 2015.

As an instructor for the Hawai’i Thrill Craft (PWC) and Tow-In Surfing Certification courses, he has taught on O’ahu, Kaua’i, Maui, and Hawai’i Island, as well as having run classes in California for the World Surf League Rescuecraft Team and the Association of Tow-In Surfing Professionals.

Hailing from Ko‘olaupoko, O‘ahu, Masterson has dedicated his life to sharing the ocean knowledge and skills gifted to him by family, peers, mentors, and legendary watermen and women he has known growing up in Hawai’i.

Sam Pa’e has been working with BWRAG on several occasions as an instructor for the Hawai’i Thrill Craft (PWC) and Tow-In Surfing Certification courses, a former WCC instructor, NASBLA Instructor, and USCG AUX Instructor. He has taught on O’ahu, Kaua’i, Maui, and Hawai’i Island, as well as having run classes with the PMRF Rescue craft Team, New Zealand Water Patrol, Japan Water Patrol, and Hawaiian Water Patrol. Raised on the Westside of O‘ahu, Pa’e has dedicated his life to sharing the ocean knowledge and skills gifted to him by family, peers, mentors, and legendary watermen and women he has known growing up in Hawai’i.

Glenn has 43 years and running as a Water Safety Office, Aquatic Manager, and Water Safety Educator. During this period, Glen has taught a variety of aquatics activities & courses, and achieved the status of American Red Cross Instructor Trainer for both Water Safety and Lifeguarding. Glenn played an integral role in helping to open the very first Aquatics Facility for the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in ‘Ewa Beach Hawaii and served as its Aquatic Director.

Joel Acevedo is a water rescuer specialist and professional diver. He is an instructor in Zoll Medical CPR and AED, American Red Cross BLS, and Stop The Bleed. Joel is a founder of Rescue Surf, which works to create safer surf lineups in Chile. As a fisherman's son raised close to the sea, Joel’s life has revolved around the ocean, working as big-wave contest water safety and serving in the Chilean Navy as a helicopter rescue swimmer for the past 20 years.

Joel provides instruction on BWRAG’s CPR, First Aid, and Water Rescue modules.

Growing up in New South Wales, Dan dreamed of being a pro surfer. That dream landed him on the World Tour, with a deserved reputation for committed surfing in heavy conditions. Dan still searches out heavy water waves, advocates for our oceans and mentors young surfers through the Saltwater Institute and the Big Wave Risk Assessment Group.

Born and raised in Japan, Taku-san moved to Hawai’i in 1991 on a Green Card and has been surfing North Shore and all around the Globe. He has worked as a lifeguard for City and County of Honolulu since 2006 and is current stationed at Mākaha and Māʻili Beach Park.

John hails from New Smyrna Beach, Florida and has over a decade of experience teaching water safety and rescue to the public safety departments of Southeast Volusia County to go along with over 40 years of experience in the ocean as a surfer and swimmer.

He served as the Emergency Medic for Kandui Villas Surf Resort for numerous one-month stints including training the staff in CPR, First Aid, and Water Rescue.

John co-founded and runs the Florida Surf Film Festival along with co-hosting Surf Stories on the Surf Splendor Podcast Network.

A.J. hails from Port Orange, Florida and has over two decades of ocean rescue lifesaving at one of the busiest agencies in the country.

He has multiple surf lifesaving national titles, has completed a two-person, prone paddle relay, 82 miles from the Bahamas back to Florida, and took 1st in the stock prone division at Chattajack 31.

A.J. and his wife own Fetch Watersports & Safety where he was the swim course director for the Uana Pan American Open Water Championship, creates and manages open water sport courses to include interagency communications, lifeguard training and management, course consultation, production of surf lifesaving competitions and instructs CPR and First Aid courses.