Our story: from surf reports to crystal clear dives
The spark
Lu‘uLive began in the water. Our founder, Matthew Feeley, grew up surfing the shores of Hawai‘i, where he learned to live by the forecast. Like most surfers, he relied on apps like Surfline to know exactly when the conditions would be world-class and when it was better to stay home.
But as Matthew transitioned into the world of ocean engineering and discovered a passion for diving and spearfishing, he noticed a frustrating gap. While surfers had precise seven-day forecasts, divers were left with guesswork.
The Problem
Matthew dreamed of those legendary days in Hawaii—the ones with crystal clear, 200-foot visibility where you feel completely in tune with nature. Instead, he often found murky water and wasted trips. He realized that across Hawai‘i (and the world), thousands of divers were stuck in a cycle of "randomness," constantly texting group chats to ask, "How's the visibility at Electric Beach?" or "What's it like on the East Side?".
It simply wasn't fair: Surfers had the data, but divers had to rely on luck. Matthew knew that with his background in ocean engineering and his experience managing complex operations at SpaceX, there was a better way to map the underwater world.
Building the dream
Lu‘uLive, named after the Hawaiian word for “dive”, was born from the mission to bring transparency to the tides.
Matthew started chatting about his idea with friends and turns out he wasn’t alone in wanting something better for divers. He assembled a team of fellow water enthusiasts and people passionate about building in Hawai‘i to build the first-of-its-kind ocean forecasting platform specifically for the diving community.
Kent Salcedo
Founding Software Engineer, full stack dad
Honolulu, HI
Passionate about supporting local tech companies in Hawai‘i, Kent joined Lu‘uLive as our founding software engineer. You probably won’t see him in the water but that’s because he’s busy building up the tech scene in Hawai‘i and hanging out with his wife and three kids.
Margot Chock
Product, Marketing, and vibes enforcer
Honolulu, HI
After several hit or miss days taking her camera out for some underwater shots, Margot felt the pains of trying to predict underwater conditions, especially visibility. The chance to build a better option for divers and use her product experience in Hawai‘i was simply too good to pass up.
Recognizing the potential to impact scuba divers, free divers, and spearfishers globally, they joined the team to help build and refine Lu‘uLive.
Where We Are Today
We’re excited to announce that Lu‘uLive is part of BlueStartups Advisory Cohort 18!
Lu‘uLive is evolving from a beta web app into a movement. We are combining ocean and live camera data, community-driven insights, and local expertise to help you plan the perfect day underwater.
We aren’t just building an app; we’re building a community of divers who believe that our time in the water is precious. Whether you’re a local spearfisher or a visitor looking for your first Hawaiian scuba experience, we’re here to make sure your next dive is an incredible one.
Join us, and let’s see what’s under the surface.