Hey, I’m Lucy — founder of Sea Coins.

For as long as I can remember, the ocean has been a pretty big part of my life.

Growing up, weekends were spent at the beach. We were always in the water — playing in the waves, jumping off rocks, exploring rock pools, snorkelling or staying in until someone eventually yelled at us to come out. Family holidays usually followed the same theme. Tropical islands, warm water, coral reefs and as much time outside as we could possibly squeeze into a day.

And then there was Mum.

Mum was serious about sun protection. Before a beach day, all seven cousins would line up for sunscreen duty while Mum made sure not a single patch of skin had been missed. There was no quick spray-and-go situation happening on her watch.

Hats were another story.

They'd be firmly placed on our heads before we left, and then conveniently disappear the second we were far enough away that Mum couldn't see us.

Sea Coins first started as a creative project in 2023. I played around with jewellery for a while, but pretty quickly realised I wanted to build something that felt a lot more like me — something connected to the ocean, adventure and the way I actually lived my life.

Then, at the start of 2024, I packed my bags and moved to Gili Trawangan, a tiny island in Indonesia, to complete my scuba divemaster training.

Living on an island meant a lot of time outside and a lot of time in the water. Diving, swimming, snorkelling, boating — you name it. I bought myself a surf hat mostly because I needed better sun protection, and the more I wore it, the more I started thinking about it.

It worked, but I kept noticing little things I would change.

Why were these hats almost always made and marketed specifically for surfing? What about diving? Fishing? Boating? Sailing? Paddling? Swimming? Or anyone else who spends half their life around water?

I didn't want to create another surf hat.

I wanted to make an ocean hat.

Something you could chuck on for pretty much anything and trust that it would stay there. Something comfortable enough to wear all day, secure enough to actually take into the water and colourful enough that you'd genuinely want to wear it.

So I started pulling apart everything I liked — and didn't like — about the hats I'd used over the years. Different brim structures, straps, materials, drainage, coverage and fit all started making their way into one design.

Eventually, the first Sea Coins Ocean Hat came to life.

And we've been chasing the water ever since.

Today, Sea Coins is for people whose lives somehow revolve around the water. The surfers, divers, fishos, swimmers, paddlers, boaties, spearos, campers and travellers. The ones checking the swell before they’re out of bed, loading the tinny before sunrise, driving hours for a good campsite or jumping off the boat simply because the water looks too good not to.

We make gear designed to be lived in. Our hats were built for the way we actually use them — in the water, under the water, on the water and everywhere in between. Every detail has a purpose, from secure chin straps and brims that stay out of your eyes to extra sun coverage, water drainage and quick-drying materials. It’s simple, functional gear designed to let you stay out there longer.

But Sea Coins goes Beyond the Brim. It’s about the people, places and stories that keep pulling us back to the water — the early starts, long drives, salty hair, sandy cars, glassy mornings and big days outside.

That’s what How Do You Chase the Water? is all about. Because everyone does it differently. Surf it, dive it, fish it, sail it, swim it, paddle it, camp beside it, jump into it — or spend the whole bloody day sitting beside it.

There’s no right way.

However you chase the water, Sea Coins is made to come along for the ride.