Water Safety Australia | Drone Shark Surveillance, Event Safety & Rescue

What We Do

Our Services

From advanced aerial surveillance to elite water rescue, CWSA delivers comprehensive safety solutions across NSW — with the same playbook ready to roll out nationally.

Shark Surveillance

Advanced drone technology providing real-time aerial monitoring to detect and track marine life, keeping beachgoers and event participants safe.

Learn More

Event Water Safety

Comprehensive water safety management for surf competitions, ocean swims, triathlons, and coastal events of any scale.

Learn More

Search & Rescue

Rapid-response water rescue operations with JetSki-based extraction, trained personnel, and coordination with emergency services.

Learn More

Why We Exist

This is personal.

We grew up on these beaches. We surf them every day with our kids. North Haven, Grants Beach, Rainbow Beach, Bonny Hills — no lifeguards, no patrols, no safety infrastructure. After multiple shark attacks close to home, we decided to build the system that should already exist.

It started with people we know

Samba coached Kai McKenzie before Kai lost his leg to a great white at Port Macquarie in 2024. We know the family of the Point Plomer attack victim. A close mate was attacked at Port Macquarie. These aren't statistics to us — they are neighbours, mates, and kids we've watched grow up in the surf.

So we built what should already exist

The CWSA Operations Centre brings together sonar shark detection, thermal imaging drones, species identification with size estimation, environmental risk assessment, and a jet ski rapid-response crew dispatch system. Patent pending. Deployed Australia-wide.

“Detection without response is just information. CWSA provides the response.” CWSA Operating Principle

Our Story

About CWSA

Coastal Water Safety Australia was founded by two locals from the Mid North Coast who saw a gap nobody else was filling: real-time shark detection paired with the trained crew, gear and protocols to actually respond. We combine drone surveillance, sonar, and thermal imaging with elite water rescue capability — turning data into action when seconds matter.

We are headquartered in Port Macquarie and starting on home turf — surf competitions, ocean swims, triathlons, council patrols and beach events across New South Wales. From the Mid North Coast and Newcastle to Sydney and the Far North Coast, NSW is our launch state.

Over the coming years we'll roll the same playbook out nationally. Our long-term mission is simple: build the most intelligent shark safety and response system in the world — so our kids, and generations of kids after them, can enjoy the ocean without fear.

Leadership

The Founders

CWSA is led by two of Australia's most experienced ocean professionals.

Samba Mann

Founder & CEO

Senior Head Coach for an adaptive surfing program and the architect of coaching structures for World Title campaigns. Samba was the eyes-in-water for Matt Formston's ISA World Championship — they won the World Title together. Matt now holds the Guinness World Record for the biggest wave ridden by a blind surfer and works at Optus, the same Optus whose satellite communications powered Clever Buoy. Samba has coached ex-military veterans through Soldier On (PTSD recovery via surfing) and personally coached Kai McKenzie, the young Port Macquarie surfer who lost his leg to a great white in 2024.

World Title-winning coach to Matt Formston (ISA World Championship)
Senior Head Coach — adaptive surfing program
Soldier On coach — PTSD recovery for ex-military veterans
Personal coach to Kai McKenzie
Shark mitigation specialist

Nathan Hall

Co-Founder & Emergency Operations

Twenty years as a volunteer firefighter on the frontline of emergency response and incident management, then up into emergency planning and coordination. Add to that 15 years of accomplished competitive and offshore sailing — countless hours reading sea state, wind and weather, and making fast decisions on open water. Nathan brings operational discipline at every level — the structured emergency response thinking that ensures CWSA operates with real protocols, not just technology, paired with a sailor's instinct for the ocean. When the alarm goes, Nathan is the one making sure the right people, gear and channels are already in place.

20 years as a volunteer firefighter
15 years competitive & offshore sailing experience
Frontline emergency response & incident management
Emergency planning and inter-agency coordination
Operational protocols & safety management systems
Open-water seamanship, navigation & weather reading

Frequently asked

Water safety questions, answered.

Quick answers to the things event organisers, councils and beach managers ask us most often.

What water safety services does CWSA provide?

CWSA provides drone shark surveillance with sonar and thermal imaging, end-to-end event water safety for surf competitions, ocean swims and triathlons, and rapid-response jet ski search and rescue. We also offer council and beach safety services across New South Wales, with national expansion underway.

Where is Coastal Water Safety Australia based?

CWSA is headquartered in Port Macquarie on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. We service the entire NSW coast — including Sydney, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay and the Mid North Coast — with crews and equipment ready to deploy Australia-wide.

How does drone shark surveillance work?

Our drones combine high-resolution aerial cameras with thermal imaging and sonar inputs to detect, identify and estimate the size of marine life in real time. Pilots monitor the water column from above, providing instant alerts to ground crews and beach managers so they can act before a shark reaches swimmers.

Can I hire CWSA for a one-off event?

Yes. We provide water safety crews, drone surveillance and jet ski rescue capability for events of any scale — from local surf comps and triathlons to major ocean swims and beach festivals. Get in touch and we'll scope the right safety plan for your event.

How fast is CWSA's emergency response?

Our jet ski crews are designed for rapid in-water extraction and coordinate seamlessly with NSW Ambulance, Marine Rescue and Surf Life Saving. On-site response at events is measured in seconds, not minutes — and our 24/7 standby capability supports council and emergency-services activations.

Is CWSA different from Surf Life Saving?

Yes. Surf Life Saving Australia is a volunteer organisation focused on patrolled beaches. CWSA is a professional water safety contractor delivering technology-led shark surveillance, event safety and rescue services for clients including event organisers, councils and private operators. We complement, but operate independently of, SLSA.

Does CWSA travel for events outside NSW?

Yes — while our home base is Port Macquarie, our crews and equipment travel for major events across Australia. We're actively building the same NSW playbook in QLD, VIC, SA and WA over the coming years.

Keeping Australia safe and surfing every day for good health.

Detection without response is just information. CWSA provides the response. Whether you're organising a surf competition, managing a beach, or need rapid-response water safety in NSW — we're ready.

+61 422 056 999 samba@watersafety-australia.com nathan@watersafety-australia.com

Email Us +61 422 056 999

Send us a message

Tell us about your event, beach or rescue requirement — we’ll get back within one business day.

Your name * Email * Phone Service required Event or required date Location Tell us what you need *

We’ll only use your details to respond to this enquiry. See our Privacy Policy.