Tales of a Coconut Smuggler: Robyn Vincent
Coconut Smuggler celebrates saltwater hedonists all over the world who are committed to exploring and protecting the place they love so much.
We sit down with Robyn Vincent - a professional scuba diving instructor, underwater model, surfer, freediver and van-life enthusiast who has logged more than 3,000+ dives around the world!
Meet Robyn Vincent
Robyn Vincent (@around.the.world.with.robyn) has made a career out of her love for the ocean. She is PADI's Regional Manager for the South Pacific along with being a certified PADI IDC Staff Instructor and Mermaid Instructor! In addition to working for the world's largest scuba diving organization, Robyn is also a very passionate freediver, surfer and is constantly on the move with her van as she explores her current home of New Zealand.
Proving that Coconut Smugglers can live the life of their dreams, Robyn is always itching to descend beneath the surface and embraces her saltwater hedonist ways!
What is your favorite saltwater adventure?
OH MY GOSH! How does one choose between scuba diving, surfing, freediving and mermaiding? But I guess scuba has had my heart from the age of 12 so let’s go with that one as number one and all the others are tied for the second spot!
Is there a memorable moment from being in the ocean?
With nearly 3000 dives and counting it’s so hard to pull up just 1 memorable moment. Probably my first dives off of North Stradbroke Island (QLD Australia) at a site called Flat Rock on my Divemaster Training Course. It was a 5am start at the marina in the middle of winter, crossing the South Passage Sandbar was hectic. There was a pretty big swell. And I was worried that I had spent all of my (poor uni student) money on a DM course that was going to be awful. But the viz was 20m+ and blue, there were humpback whales singing in the distance, the alley was stuffed full of grey nurse sharks, and then a school of about 20-30 eagle rays cruised slowly overhead. It was a pretty surprising dive that I was not expecting for Brisbane Scuba Diving. The sites of North Stradbroke Island remain some of my favourite sites in the world for epic marine life encounters.
But being part of a PADI Global Content Photoshoot in Fiji was also just insane! Everytime I see a picture of myself used in one of PADI’s marketing campaigns or on their social media/website I have to pinch myself to check I’m not dreaming! Dreams really do come true and what a crazy place to make my debut as an underwater model!
What is your ocean spirit animal?
Man these questions are hard! I think I’d have to go with the beautiful Manta Ray. Every dive with one of these beauties is etched into my memory and made a mark on my heart. They are huge, they are graceful, when you get to look them in the eye and you can see they are looking back at you with the same intense curiosity it touches your soul.
If you were stranded on a remote island, what are the three things you'd want with you?
Can the Coconut Smuggler's The Duo, be one of my three items? How am I supposed to choose between both?!
Reef safe sunscreen also because let's be honest, I'm only going to be stranded on a tropical remote island!! And a knife. I think with these three I'd be set then!
What does “live wild and stay natural” mean to you?
To embrace all adventures, land and sea, whilst minimizing your environmental footprint whilst you are at it. Enjoy that van life holiday - but take your rubbish with you and stay in designated camp spots. Use the remote mountain river as your bathtub, but only use the very best eco-friendly products that are designed to not hurt the environment - yes they exist.
Wear that reef-friendly sunscreen in all your adventures, land and sea. Use that reusable water bottle. Eat less red meat and seafood. But get out there and fall in love with our beautiful planet. You can learn a lot from going off-grid and being fully submerged in nature, even if it’s only for a few days here and there. It’s good for your soul!
Do you have any hair tips or tricks for fellow saltwater hedonists?
I have ridiculously fine strands of hair, but enough of it, that knots up even in the slightest of a breeze. Use a hair treatment like Coconut Smuggler's Feeling Nauti Salt Shield, braid that hair as tight as you can, or bubble pony, or rip-tie it. And as soon as you are out of that salt water, take it out of the hairstyle ASAP, rinse with fresh water (if available - I often tip just a glass or two of fresh water just over my hair if fresh water is in short supply) and then put an aftercare treatment like Coconut Smuggler’s Landlubber Hair Serum in it straight away. Now the trick for me is to let my hair completely dry before I try to brush the knots out and then I’m good to go!
Follow Robyn's salty adventures on Instagram: @around.the.world.with.robyn