Salty Hearts Freediving
Established in 2019, Salty Hearts inspires ocean enthusiasts of all skill levels to embrace diving with confidence and mindfulness.
Our ethos at Salty Hearts is to shape the future of Freedivers creating happy, safe ocean dwellers who become comfortable under the surface on one breath. Through a deep understanding of the mind/body connection and our natural world, we cultivate a profound connection to the breath, enhancing overall well-being.
As a passionate small family business, we bring years of expertise to every interaction. With a commitment to excellence, we maintain small student-to-instructor ratios, ensuring personalised attention and a comprehensive learning experience focused on knowledge, safety, and skill development.
Our mission is to inspire a healthier mindset and safe, calm approach to Freediving, all amongst the Nyinggulu.
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“The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”
-Jacques Cousteau
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Meet our Team
Kyra Andrijich
@kyraandrijich
Kyra lives and breathes Freediving, her passion lights her up. With depths reaching 60 meters, she's not just a Freedive Instructor Trainer (meaning she can teach up to instructor level) or the visionary behind Salty Hearts Freediving; she's the self-proclaimed Dive-Mum of our community. Approachable and delightfully quirky, Kyra effortlessly puts everyone at ease. Drawing from years of teaching Freediving abroad, she's a treasure trove of wisdom. But it's her love for breath-work that truly sets her soul on fire. Guiding pranayama practices for Freediving is where she finds her bliss. Her mission? To ignite knowledge, ensure safety, and share the boundless passion of Freediving with the world.
Leon Evangelistis
@nerophos
Leon is the backbone of Salty Hearts, even if his physical presence isn't as frequent these days. At home, he's our anchor, providing round-the-clock support (whether he likes it or not). Without Leon, Salty Hearts simply wouldn't exist. Personally, I couldn't navigate the demands of business, teaching, and motherhood without him. Being of Greek heritage, Leon finds connection to his ancestors that lived and foraged the sea. While his charisma shines bright on land, his expertise runs deep. When Leon instructs freediving, he has a remarkable ability to connect with each student. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned diver, he sees you and brings out the best in your dives. These days, you'll often find him at the helm of our boat, seemingly mischievous but always ensuring our safety.
Taya Graham
@aletheagraham
Freediving changed Taya’s life in the best way, and she became an instructor to help you to do the same. With an ocean and swimming background her love for the water started when she was a baby, Freediving came into her life in 2022 and took her on a wild journey. With an obsession with the mental approach Freediving teaches, her depth progressed as well as her love for spearfishing. She has taught students in Australia and on international retreats around the globe. She finds the most reward in watching students not only grow their freedive skills, but also carry the confidence, calm, and awareness it builds into every aspect of their lives.
Our Getaway co-host
Aimee Jan
@oceanaimee
Not only is she the main star of our Freediving Photography Getaways, Aimee has been with us since our beginning in 2019. There’s a polaroid on my desk of our first Salty Hearts Students ever! Including Aimee who was there photographing the day. She was named 2021 Ocean Photographer of the year from Oceanographic magazine (she actually hates us telling people, thats how humble she is) She has had her images published in several publications including Australian Geographic. With years of experience photographing wildlife amongst the Ningaloo she also hosts trips overseas to swim with Blue and Sperm Whales. Creating content above the water via @coralcoast_creatives you can also check out her prints and ocean inspired jewellery here.