The POD® Ware Journey - Human Ocean Connection Since 1988
From handcrafted timber prototypes in 1988 to the strongest leash connectors in the water today, POD is built on one idea: improve the way the human body connects with the ocean through equipment engineered for performance, durability, and real-world use.
About POD - Protect Our Destiny
Origin - Protect Our Destiny Since 1988
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Since 1988, POD has stood for Protect Our Destiny. Born in Australia, this philosophy has guided every decision for over three decades. We do not build gear for a season; we build it for a lifetime of water time. From handboards to fins to ear health and eyewear, the purpose is the same: to help you keep feeling, hearing, and experiencing the ocean for life.
POD was founded by water people, for water people, long before it was popular to talk about sustainability. The name says it all: Protect Our Destiny. Not a slogan, a design standard. The logo and the values have not changed; the work simply continues.
A designer-led micro-brand
POD remains a designer-led micro-brand. While the industry has shifted toward investor-led corporations, I stay at the forefront in every decision. Every product begins with material knowledge, functional logic, and real ocean testing.
POD design is purpose down to the finest contour. Alongside performance, the challenge is form: creating equipment that does not visually belong to any single era. It was not built for trends; it was built to last.
Logic - The POD performance philosophy
POD is built for Human Ocean Connection. That shows up in a simple system, performance engineered for Feet, Hands, Eyes, Body, and Board. Each category you see on POD Ware exists inside that system, not as separate product launches.
Mechanical Truth, not marketing fluff
We do not release quality tiers. We do not make a budget version and a pro version. We build one professional standard, the best we can engineer, and we offer it at a fair price for all. If it does not improve the user experience through mechanical truth, it does not carry the POD name.
"I do not release anything that is not worthy of my signature. If it does not improve the user's experience through mechanical truth, it does not carry the POD name." Shane Vassallo, Lead Designer and Founder.
Hand Body Soul® - the bridge between heritage and system identity
Hand Body Soul is the simplest way to express what POD has always been. The hand is control and direction; it is the interface with the wave. The body is movement and balance, hydrodynamics and flow. Soul is the feeling, the reason we keep going back to the ocean.
This is why POD products feel connected rather than random. They are not separate ideas; they are different solutions inside the same human ocean system.
Legacy - The milestones of logic
POD innovation is not built on hype; it is built on solving mechanical flaws the industry ignored. Below are the key milestones that define the POD approach.
1. Handboards - lift, speed, control
In the late 80s, handboards were flat slabs. I used timber prototypes to develop concave bottoms and keel control, then engineered strap positioning to match the natural swimming hand position. The goal was always lift, speed, and control with minimal splashback, the kind that flat boards cannot deliver.
30 plus years in the making, the WOW factor. WOW 13 is a compact performance model built for bodysurfing, designed around hydrodynamics, durability, and ergonomic control, including palm support that mirrors the natural curvature of the hand.
2. Swim fins - natural rubber, purpose-built performance
The PF Series is built on natural Malaysian rubber and purpose-driven design, comfort first, performance second, price last. We engineered three distinct models for specific uses and invented core technologies that channel water efficiently through rail-and-blade logic. Elite functionality and all-day comfort can coexist when the material and geometry are correct.
3. The POD Connection - reducing leash twist and failure points
Many leashes fail through induced rotation and stress points that build over time. POD connectors are engineered to stay true under load, reducing twist accumulation and maintaining integrity through repeated tension cycles.
4. EarSeal Pro - built for turbulence without fragile parts
The ocean destroys moving parts. POD rejected fragile modular systems and focused on durability, fit, and balanced sound. EarSeal Pro is designed to perform where it matters most, in surf turbulence, without the tech tax.
5. AquaLuxe and tactical gear - integrity of the seal
From curved lenses and consistent fit in goggles to HF-welded dry gear, the logic is the same: the seal must hold, session after session. If it cannot survive real water use, it is not a POD product.
Sustainability through quality
Our commitment to the environment dates back to 1988. The most sustainable thing we can do is build gear that does not fail early. Premium components, marine-grade stainless steel, natural rubber, and repairable systems keep products in the water and out of landfills.
Practical original designs - the POD standard
This same logic extends to every accessory we produce. Whether it's finsavers, heel protectors, neoprene socks, eyewear cases, or hardware components, each item is stripped of unnecessary complexity and engineered for a specific purpose to keep you in the water longer.
The final verdict
We leave the final verdict where it belongs, with you, in the elements. Whether you are a bodysurfer, bodyboarder, surfer, or swimmer, thank you for trusting POD to be part of your next session.
Choose POD®. Stay connected. Chase It® We Do.
Another page of interest is POD Bodysurfing Handboards History - Successful 30 Years.