ISLA exists to advance professional lifesaving development in areas of need around the globe.
Out of a deep passion for open water and a strong desire to prevent drownings, ISLA aids people in championing the aquatic safety situation in their own coastal communities.
We do this through lifeguard training programs, lifeguard exchanges, equipment donations, purchasing connections, and utilizing the latest technology to sustain a global network of lifeguards that share information, techniques, stories, and culture. Our wish is to see friends and partners around the globe have the necessary tools to keep their water safe.
ISLA is a social justice-driven organization that is young, innovative, and not afraid to do things for the first time.
We are ultimately guided by the infamous mantra: “Safety third, winning and looking good are number one and two!” We adventure the globe with purpose, seeking to share life and help protect it.
The global drowning epidemic compels us to take action as we pioneer new ways to think about drowning in the developing world and effective solutions that will save thousands of lives.
ISLA uses both ground-breaking technology and tried and true techniques; we follow in the tradition of those before us without fear to push it to a whole new level, constantly seeking to improve ourselves and the work we do. We welcome challenges and strive to leave a positive impact wherever we go.
Our team lives on the edge, is ready for any adventure, and is prepared for any situation.
We live simply and we work hard, but that doesn’t stop us from watching the sun rise twice without sleeping, exploring new lands, surfing down volcanos, zip lining across the jungle, climbing into ancient caves, and trying the local brews with our new friends, all the while contributing to drowning prevention.
ISLA’s Beginnings
In 2008, four Huntington Beach Jr. Lifeguard Instructors; Peter Eich, Scott Hunthausen, Olin Patterson, and Henry Reyes wanted to create a movement that would bond their friendships for life and encompass their for passion ocean safety. That year, Scott had returned home from a study abroad semester in Nicaragua where he witnessed the alarming drowning rates (+70 people in just 4 days on a 120 mile stretch of coast) during the Semana Santa holiday (Easter)… Thus began ISLA.
Our volunteer base started with seven Junior Lifeguard Instructors from Huntington Beach, CA (The 4 Co-founders plus: Matt Henry, Rory Kelly, & David Wagner). Little did we know the vast amount of people from other lifeguarding agencies had the same idea…. so they joined us! ISLA has since grown into a dynamic team of lifeguards, doctors, nurses, firefighters, police officers, paramedics, & military personnel from various agencies throughout the globe!
The ISLA Innovation
"When we first started ISLA we focused on securing sponsors & grants, and we we were good at it! But, If we want to grow from 1-2 projects per year, and respond to all the global requests for aid… we’re going have to raise the funds ourselves! "
– Henry Reyes, ISLA President
ISLA Hall of Fame
"We only look so tall because we’re standing on the backs of giants!" ISLA would not be the organization it is today without the dedication from these individuals:
Peter Eich Raquel Lizarraga Matthew Henry Scott Hunthausen Rory Kelly William Koon Mike Hudson
Lifeguard Supervisors
Emilio Cavazos - USA/Mexico
Rank: LG-3 Watch Commander
Emilio Cavazos has been an enthusiastic part of the ISLA team since 2018; contributing to operations India, Mexico/SoCal, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and the Las Vegas Nevada ISLA Drowning Prevention Conference. He holds a Master’s of Science in Nursing and is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner in Southern California. Emilio has been an EMT-Lifeguard with California State Parks since 2012. He assists with medical education for State Parks and was awarded the Director’s Award of Special Recognition for an aquatic rescue he performed in 2014. His free time is mostly spent prone-paddling, body surfing, and maintaining his status as the co-captain of the ISLA tanning team.
Bébhinn Crowley - Ireland
Rank: LG-3 Watch Commander
Bébhinn Crowley has been a part of ISLA since 2015. She’s taken part in 5 ISLA trips around the globe. Bébhinn has also worked as a lifeguard in Ireland for 4 seasons and is a competitive lifesaver with Cork surf lifesaving. She has competed nationally and internationally. Bébhinn is currently a general nurse.
Vasili Pleqi - USA
Rank: LG-3 Watch Commander
Vasili Pleqi joined the ISLA team in 2014. He has participated in operations in Greece, Macedonia, Thailand, India, SoCal/Mexico, The Las Vegas Drowning Prevention Conference, and 5 trips to Nicaragua. Vasili has been a Jacksonville Beach, Florida lifeguard since 2012. He is also a member of the Clinical Research Team at the Mayo Clinic. Pleqi is known for his aquatic skills, his role in the 2017 film “Baywatch” and his consulting business, Malaka Inc. His passion for the water and medicine have allowed him to be a vital part of multiple ISLA teams.
Mark Scully - Australia
Rank: LG-3 Watch Commander
Mark Scully started his lifeguard career over 40 years ago and has been an experienced professional lifesaver in different areas of Australia, The United Kingdom and the Chiba Province of Japan. Mark was also a Swansea Belmont Surf Club surf swimming coach and competitor. His accomplishments include Lifesaver of the Year, Inflatable Rescue Boat Driver of the Year, Club and Branch Competitor of the Year, and NSW State Examiner/Assessor of the Year. He also spent 30 years of his time volunteering as a freshwater lifeguard for the Freshwater Surf Lifesaving Club in Sydney, NSW and Swansea Belmont Surf Lifesaving Club in Lake Macquarie. Mark’s pool accomplishments are of note as well, having swam on scholarship at the University of Hawaii and competing at the NCAA championship level. Mark would later go on to serve as an Assistant Head Coach at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. He is currently head coach of the ISLA swim club.
Marine Safety Officers
Alannah Crowley - Ireland
Rank: FO-1 Project Coordinator / Instructor 2
Alannah Crowley has been an important part of the ISLA family since 2016. She has participated in operations in Indonesia, USA/Mexico, Greece, Macedonia, Cook Islands, China, Albania, and the Las Vegas Drowning Prevention Conference. Conquering 4 different continents as an International Lifeguard along the way. Her lifeguard career started in 2014 at Warren Beach and she is an accomplished International Surf Lifesaving Competitor with Cork Surf Lifesaving Club. Alannah holds a B.Ed in education and psychology. She currently resides in the UAE and is the lead ISLA consultant on all things Irish.
Lorah Kassai - Texas
Rank: FO-1 Project Coordinator / Instructor 2
Lorah Kassai has been with ISLA since 2015. She has been a driving force for Operations in Greece & Macedonia, Ghana, Nicaragua, Albania China, Costa Rica and the Las Vegas Drowning Prevention Conference. As the daughter of two fire fighter/paramedics, she had the honor of growing up in the life saving community and has been trained in ocean, swift water, high ropes, confined space, cave, and wilderness rescue. Her lifeguarding experience began in 2007 as a lifeguard on the Guadalupe River. Lorah holds a BS in Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology and minor in Sociology from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Lorah is ISLA’s Swift Water Rescue specialist and currently resides in Texas, USA. She is lovingly known as “La Mera, Mera” in many operational locations
Michael Lopez - USA
Rank: AO-1 IT Administrator
01001100 01101111 01110000 01100101 01111010 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01001001 01010011 01001100 01000001 00100111 01110011 00100000 01110011 01100101 01100011 01110010 01100101 01110100 00100000 01110111 01100101 01100001 01110000 01101111 01101110 00100001
- BS in Computer Science Management from Cal Poly Pomona
- Created the ISLA Global drowning Tracker
Flavia McBride - USA
Rank: FO-2 Lieutenant / Instructor 2
Flavia McBride has been involved in lifeguarding since the age of 10. Her career started as a Junior Lifeguard in 2006. She progressed to lifeguard Cadet, and then graduated to Lifeguard for the City of Newport Beach in California, USA. Flavia joined the ISLA team in 2010 and has completed 8 operations (and counting) in Mexico, Indonesia, Philippines, Nicaragua, India, and Ecuador. Flavia holds a Bachelors of History from UCLA and is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She is pursuing a focus in Neurology.
Guillermo Navarro - USA
Rank: AO-1 Public Information Officer
Guillermo Navarro started his ISLA career in 2016 and has attended operations in Turkey, China, India, Albania, and the Las Vegas Drowning Prevention Conference. He is a highly experienced lifeguard who has worked in various roles within the East Bay Regional Park District Fire Department Lifeguard Services for over a decade. Guillermo held the ISLA rank of Squad Leader before he was promoted to the ISLA Administrative team, where he now works as our Public Information Officer. Guillermo holds a BS in History from San Jose State University. He is also an EMT, LG instructor, LG-1 trainer, EMR-instructor, CPR/AED/First Aid Instructor, USLA Southeast Region Training Officer, and K-38 Operator.
Thomas Renner - USA
Rank: FO-2 Lieutenant / Instructor 2
Lifeguard Tommy Renner has been a part of the ISLA team since 2015. His leadership and aquatic knowledge have been shared on Operations in Mexico, Chile, Greece, Indonesia, China, and Albania. Tommy’s lifeguard career started in 2010 in Laguna Beach, California. Tommy is a Medical Doctor in the United States as well as a Lieutenant in the US Navy.
Jonathan Robinson - USA
Rank: FO-3 Captain / Instructor 3
Jonathan served as a marine safety lifeguard for the City of Laguna Beach for 7 years. He holds an EMT license, BS in Biology, and Master of Public Health. He runs a consulting business for implementing new technology for emergency services and disaster risk reduction. As an ISLA volunteer, Jonathan has partnered with projects in Nicaragua, Turkey, Thailand, India, China, Ghana and others. He has taught medical and rescue skills on 5 continents. He strives to combat the global health disparity of drowning by furthering field-training and integrating emergency medical response.
- MPH emphasis in Global Health Leadership from University of Southern California
- BS Biology, Minor in Chemistry, Pre-medical Emphasis from Vanguard University
- Certifications: EMT, Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor, AHA BLS/CPR Instructor, and NAUI Master Diver
Nick Schriver - USA
Rank: FO-1 Project Coordinator / Instructor 2
Nick Schriver had his first operational experience with ISLA in 2015. Nick has participated in global operations in Nicaragua, India, and the Las Vegas Drowning Prevention Conference. He started his lifeguarding career in 1994 at Lake Anza in Berkeley California, USA. Nick’s experience comes from his background as an Aquatic Supervisor for the East Bay Regional Park District Lifeguard Service, Fire Department. He currently works for the Oakland Fire Department as an Engineer of Fire. In 2015 Nick was awarded the Medal of Merit from East Bay regional Park District for his work during operation Nicaragua 2015. He is fluent in Spanish and is globally respected for his expertise in nocturnal aquatic deployments.
David Wagner IV - USA
Rank: FO-2 Lieutenant / Instructor 2
Wag’s is a 18 year veteran lifeguard with the City of Huntington Beach Fire Department in California, USA. Dave is an JG Instructor Supervisor and oversees the city’s “A” Division (14-17 age group) which consists of 5 ocean lifeguard instructors and over 200 students. During the winter months he works as a stunt double for “Larry the Cable Guy”, and On his days off he can be seen at 7-Eleven enjoying a double-super-duper Big Gulp of Pepsi.
- Ocean Lifeguard / JG Instructor Supervisor
- The film “The Lifeguard”(1976) was based on the true story of Dave Wagner.
Warrant Officers
Daren Jenner - USA
Rank: WO-3 Thailand Section Chief
Daren is a Bodysurfer and lifeguard living in South East Asia. He’s a former Firefighter/Paramedic/Ski Patroller from the USA. Daren organized/hosted ISLA’s Project in Thailand, and is now representing our operations in Thailand as a Warrant Marine Safety Officer.
ISLA’s Board of Directors
Henry Reyes - USA
Rank: AO-4 Founder & President
Henry Reyes is a Co-founder of the organization and is currently a Harbor Patrol Officer for the Santa Monica Police Dept. Henry started guarding at intercity pools at 15 years of age before becoming an Ocean Lifeguard with the City of Huntington Beach in 2000. With over 21 years of experience and a thirst for adventure, “Don Pico” has been leading teams of ISLA volunteers all over the globe.
- BA in Business Administration with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship from CSUF. AA in Aeronautics, Anthropology, Economics, & Philosophy
- Harbor Patrol Officer
Julie Sanchez - USA
Rank: AO-2 Finance Director
As the Marketing Director of ISLA, Julie has been with ISLA from day one. She holds a B.A. in Marketing Management from California State Polytechnic Univ., Pomona, and has 10+ years experience in the advertising industry. She is currently working at a top U.S Hispanic advertising agency, managing top Brands in development and execution of award-winning national marketing campaigns. Julie has seen ISLA grow from a small non-profit, to an international organization with partners and supporters worldwide. She has traveled with ISLA to several international trips as a volunteer and also serves as a translator for teams in Latin America. Her passions outside of helping others include soccer, sun and any kind of outdoor adventures with family and friends.
Dr. Justin Sempsrott - USA
Rank: AO-2 Medical Director
Justin Sempsrott is a graduate of the University of South Florida College of Medicine and did his residency in Emergency Medicine at the University of Nevada, School of Medicine. In 2006, he founded Lifeguards Without Borders and serves as their Executive Director. Dr. Sempsrott is also the Medical Director For Starfish Aquatics Institute and Brunswick County EMS in North Carolina and an Emergency Medicine and EMS Physician in coastal NC. He speaks around the globe on the topic of drowning. He has been an ocean lifeguard in Jacksonville Beach, FL since 1996.