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.

Gabrielle Lui
@gabrielle.lui

Boasting a rich history amongst the Ningaloo Reef, Gabrielle has worked as a scuba guide, an underwater photographer in the local whaleshark tourism industry, and a volunteer for Exmouth’s Marine Rescue. An award-winning underwater photographer (don't miss her print store!), she's a multi-talent who wears many hats. Yet, Gabrielle's heart lies in teaching freediving—a skill she's honed through teaching stints overseas. Known for her meticulous approach to theory, unwavering composure in the water, and her infectious positive energy as a teacher, Gabrielle stands out as a dedicated and knowledgeable instructor. As our lead instructor for 2024, we feel fortunate to benefit from her expertise and guidance. With Gabrielle, you're not just learning to freedive—you're learning from a true ocean enthusiast whose enthusiasm and expertise create a dynamic and engaging learning experience.

Meet our Photographers / Hall of fame

Aimee Jan
@oceanaimee

Not only is she the main star of our Freediving Photography Getaways, Aimee has been with us since our first course in 2019. 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.

Chris Hancock
@ten_toes_chris

Full disclosure - I just wasn’t ready to delete Chris off the website yet so I have added a hall of fame. If you were lucky enough to have Chris as your instructor you would understand why I don’t want to just delete him haha. He was a huge part of our little family, and his relaxed approach to freediving made all his students chill out, find that flow state and hit goals. While he is off elsewhere in Australia, I have already thought about flying him in to host retreats, so watch this space. We have a new Tee design coming out soon by Chris, and you can check out his art here .