Johnny "Monster" Maher Travels

Bula Matuse Family!

It’s been a while since I’ve written a post, so jotted down a synopsis of life as of late…

After spending a year in Hawaii I moved back to La Jolla for a few months to lifeguard WindanSea and Blacks, which is where I came up with the idea to start a custom surf travel company called SeaMonster with fellow Matuse family member, Sebastian Slovin.

Along with the travel company, I also decided to put my writing to the test, creating a blog full of useful information for ocean enthusiasts called HungryWalrus.com. As soon as the blog template was built and ready to fill with content, I hit the road, and have been traveling for eight months.

Photo: Zach Noyle.

Photo: Morgan Massonn.

Started the trip working as a boatman on Tavarua Island, Fiji, before bouncing around a few of the Hawaiian Islands to hang and surf with friends. In Hawaii I got a call to take a group of really nice clients on a SeaMonster surf trip to Playa Colorado, Nicaragua. From there I headed to La Jolla for a couple days to celebrate the life of Ted Smith, one of my good friends who passed away surfing WindanSea while I was in Nicaragua. After the ceremony I went to Morocco for a month with Matuse family members Mike Millin and Sebastian.

Spent an incredible night in London, and a couple more in California, on my way back to Hawaii from Africa. When I landed on Kauai the entire place was under water with the worst rain they had in years, so I went with my gut feeling, and after a couple days on the island, booked a last second ticket to Tahiti for a swell – and decided to stay.

Photo: Domenic Mosqueira.

Been surfing Teahupoo everyday for the past month with good friends. In-between surf sessions I’ve been diving, and enjoy living a really simple life in the Teahupoo valley.

My Philo 1mm body armor is great protection from the sun and multiple reef slams down here.

Not sure where I’m going from Tahiti, but am planning on heading back to WindanSea in a couple months to lifeguard.

Photo: Michael Sangiolo.

So fortunate to be able to keep moving, and really appreciate all the support from my Matuse family and friends. Best suits in the world!

– Johnny Maher