WHO WE ARE
MEET YOUR COACHES
MORGAN HOESTEREY
More at home in the water than on land, Morgan Hoesterey has gravitated towards a life spent in, on and around the water.
Morgan was a 4-time High School All-American Swimmer and US Olympic Trials Qualifier, which led to a swimming scholarship at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. There, she became a Division 1 NCAA All-American, and eventually transitioned her athletic career from the pool to the ocean.
Hawaii was where she fell in love with everything having to do with the ocean, specifically surfing and freediving; and since then, she has traveled the world looking for salty adventures including freediving, adventure racing, sailing, paddling, surfing, and open water swimming.
At home in Southern California, she shares her experiences as a paddling and freediving instructor, and is always looking out for the next great adventure.
Current Certifications:
PADI Freedive Instructor
Oxygen Advantage Instructor
Emergency First Responder Instructor
CPR/First Aid
Lifeguard
SYDNEY TERRELL
Sydney is the Original Watergrom, and the reason the program exists. Born into a water family in Newport Beach, Sydney has been in the water her whole life. She started breath control training at age 7, and has been helping to develop the Watergroms program for the past 8 years.
For the past 5 years, Sydney has been a competitive beach volleyball player and uses her breath control training and knowledge to help her handle stressful situations on the volleyball court.
Current Certifications:
PADI Freediver
CPR/First Aid
REGAN SHAVER
Famous for her extraordinary dad jokes, Regan’s journey with water began with learning how to swim at just 4 months old. Growing up a true water baby, competing on swim team, and partaking in junior guards set her up for a very comfortable life in, on, around, and under water.
In high school, Regan became infatuated with marine life: She received her SCUBA certification and worked in conjunction with Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute to protect the overfished White Seabass population of Southern California. Under the guidance of the same Hubbs scientists, she also executed her own field research of the kelp forest and presented her findings at a regional conference for environmental sciences.
After graduating, Regan got her EMT license and traveled the world doing humanitarian work as an international lifeguard with the International Surf Lifesaving Association (ISLA). Her team’s operations varied from guarding beaches, to providing emergency medical aid, to training, certifying, and establishing lifesaving infrastructure along beaches that had none.
Called to spread the stoke, Regan has over a decade of coaching experience with surfing and swimming. Career highlights include teaching children with autism how to surf with Surfers Healing, and taking both the US Navy Blue Angels and US Air Force Thunderbird jet teams out surfing—twice! Coming full circle, she now owns a career teaching newborn babies and people of all ages how to swim.
Regan enjoys surfing, snowboarding, drawing, and napping. She utilizes her breath hold training for diving with sharks, blowing perfect bubble rings, and riding in elevators. Known amongst friends as the “Grown Up Grom,” her passion for watery pursuits are shared through her energetic and playful spirit.
Current Certifications:
PADI FREEDIVER
EMT
ISLA LIFEGUARD
WHITNEY ERICKSON
Whitney is an Orange County native who grew up surfing in Newport Beach. She has taught surf lessons at all levels and ages. Besides surfing, Whitney has experience with competitive swimming, water polo, Hawaiian outrigger canoes, prone paddling, and free diving. Outside of the water, Whitney is the Director of Operations at Open Water, a non-profit made up of a community of surfers, adventurers and advocates who have joined together to support those who protect us.
Favorite Watergroms challenge:
Rock Run
Adventure Quote:
“This is why we train!”
Current Certifications:
CPR, Padi Free Diver
