Jim Alabiso (born 1 June) is the director of the Swim Across the St. Johns project and Up the River Downtown Swim and serves as the owner of Jumping Fish . Alabiso is an active open water swimmer living in Jacksonville, Florida competing in venues in Florida and California. He is a certified lifeguard , Scuba Diver and a member of USA Swimming , U.S. Masters Swimming , and the Duval Ocean Swimmers . His work in the open water inspired the play To The Sea that opened in Jacksonville, Florida in October 2015.