OpenWater

Dedicated to the health and wellness of those who serve our community and our country.

We support the health and wellness of every First Responder and Veteran through unique training programs, fellowship, and open water experiences. Being in nature, physical activity, service work, nutrition, learning new things, and positive connections with others all have proven to positively impact mental health.

09/03/2026

🇺🇸 Listen to co-founder Danny Nichols (Danny Nichols) chat with Kane Johnson (Kane Johnson) about our annual 9/11 Honor Challenge. This event holds a special place in our hearts as we come together to remember, to honor, and to gather as a community.

We are ten days away from this year’s event.

Join us.

Register through the link in our bio.

See you there.

08/28/2026

🔥 Great Subs x Great Impact!

👉 On September 11 and September 13, enjoy a delicious meal at Firehouse Subs, and 20% of your purchase will directly fund OpenWater’s mission. Present this flyer at the time of purchase at the following locations!

😎 Participating Firehouse Subs Locations:
24100 El Toro Rd. Ste B, Laguna Woods, CA 92637
2701 Harbor Blvd. Ste D4, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
25713 Barton Rd, Loma Linda, CA 92354
26480 Ynez Rd. Ste B, Temecula, CA 92591
1019 N. Magnolia Ave. Ste D, Anaheim, CA 92801
13325 Main St. Ste 108, Hesperia, CA 92345
1610 Foothill Blvd., La Verne, CA 91750
11995 Foothill Blvd. Ste 110, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
29787 Antelope Rd. Unit 116, Menifee, CA 92584
7251 Warner Ave. Ste L, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
26592 Town Centre Dr. Suite 110, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610
10080 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA 92503
1550 W Valley Blvd. Ste 111, Colton, CA 92324
17646 Bellflower Blvd. Ste B, Bellflower, CA 90706

Firehouse Subs SoCal Firehouse Subs

08/26/2026

🇺🇸 We’re less than 3 weeks away from our 7th annual 9/11 Honor Challenge, presented by Sunwest Bank, and we’d love to have you join us! This challenge is one of our most meaningful community gatherings, and an opportunity to honor, reflect, and push ourselves.

‼️ Sign-ups are open, and your participation directly supports OpenWater’s mission. Whether you’re returning or joining for the first time, we’re excited to have you with us. Sign up in our bio TODAY!

🔥 Thank you to our event sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor:
Sunwest Bank Sunwest Bank

Sponsors:
Crown Ace Hardware Crown Ace Hardware
FR Health FR Health
Huntington Beach Fire Association
Blue Street Capital Blue Street Capital

08/22/2026

What a fantastic day on the water! Today’s surf social was a blast and we are stoked on this community. Thanks everyone who came out to surf with us! 🏄🏽‍♀️🏄🏽‍♂️

Next event: the 9/11 Honor Challenge on Sept 13. Register thru the link in our bio TODAY!

08/20/2026

“The intentionality behind everything OpenWater does is always something that I admire.”

Firefighter Engineer Kane Johnson shares how OpenWater’s unique programs, events, and mission are crafted for First Responders, Veterans, Active-Duty Military, and family members. The community is also invited to join us and to become a part of the mission.

You can watch the full The Rusty Anchor Journey podcast episode YouTube or on Spotify today.

08/18/2026

🔥 Stay up to date with our latest programs, upcoming events, human stories, and epic highlights. You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. While you’re at it, sign up for our weekly newsletter on our website! See you around!

👉 beopenwater.org

08/11/2026

We are thrilled to announce that we have been selected for the Samueli Foundation’s Breakaway Fund award! We are one of just 67 awardees (out of 636 applicants)! This highly competitive grant recognizes projects that demonstrate thoughtful design and lasting impact, and we are honored that our initiative stood out to the review committee. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Samueli Foundation for their generous support and belief in our mission!

08/04/2026

☀️ We have a handful of upcoming social events to wrap up the summertime. Bring your kids, your family, and try the prone board, outrigger canoe, paddle boards, or surf. Events take place from 0900-1100 - email [email protected] to let us know you’re coming.

August 8: Paddle at the Newport Aquatic Center
August 22: Surf at Huntington Beach
September 20: Surf at Huntington Beach

😎 See you there! And don’t forget to subscribe to The Rusty Anchor Journey podcast to watch this full episode.

veterans firstresponders

07/28/2026

Here is an inside look at what took place during our June Performance Camp! With participants coming in from the Oregon Coast to North Carolina, Virginia Beach and Southern California, our Class of 2026 is full of remarkable people. They pushed their limits, grew in extraordinary ways, and found fellowship and camaraderie amongst themselves. What an honor to witness their tenacity, spirit, and joy.

We are proud of the hard work they put in each day at Camp and we continue to cheer them on as they train for November’s Veteran’s Day Channel Crossing.

07/23/2026

🇺🇸 Did you know that OpenWater has a podcast named TRA’J (The Rusty Anchor Journey)? It’s hosted by long-time participant, mentor, and volunteer, Kane Johnson, engineer with the Huntington Beach Fire Department. This podcast takes you on an epic journey through the lives of first responders, active military, veterans, and high-performing humans who achieve extraordinary feats.

The latest podcast episode is out now, featuring our Executive Director, Whitney Erickson, and Kane who sit for a powerful conversation about service, healing, and the mission behind OpenWater
Listen on Spotify or subscribe to the YouTube channel!

Address

214 5th Street , Suite 201
Huntington Beach, CA
92648

Website

http://beopenwater.org/

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