Like many groups from Okinawa, Japan and Acapulco, Mexico to Key West, Florida and Sandycove Island, Ireland, the Kelp Krawlersof Monterey Bay in California are a friendly group of enthusiastic open water swimmers who meet year-found on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.
The Kelp Krawlers are a mixed group: some swimmers swim traditionally and some go into the seaweed-strewn waters with wetsuits. They meet at Lovers’ Point in Pacific Grove on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays.
They are occasionally visited by the always enthusiastic traditionalist and documentarist Rob Dumouchel (shown on left) whose blog continues to engage and enthrall both the pool and open water swimming communities.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.