Wetsuit Warehouse is the bold, urban evolution of the original Great White Sport & Surf – a shop born from sun, surf, and a lifetime of adventure. While Great White Sport & Surf has its roots in the laid-back coastal life of the sixties and seventies, Wetsuit Warehouse brings that same energy and passion to the heart of the Kalk Bay, easily accessed online and delivered to your doorstep, offering nationwide delivery.
Both stores were inspired by our founder, Jeremy Hare – a man who’s lived ten lifetimes of stories. As a kid, Jeremy loved nothing more than wandering the aisles of old-school sports shops, always discovering something new. That sense of excitement and exploration stuck with him, and it’s the spirit he poured into Great White, and now into Wetsuit Warehouse.
From chasing pirates up the East Coast of Africa, to surfing iconic waves like Sunset and Dungeons, to hauling in 1000lb marlin off the coast of Australia – Jeremy’s life has been anything but ordinary. He’s sailed the Indian Ocean, skippered yachts across the Atlantic, and even worked the prawn trawlers in Northern Australia. He grew up in Fish Hoek and Noordhoek, went to Fish Hoek High, and spent just enough time at UCT to realise the real lessons were outside the classroom. He had his 21st birthday in the middle of the Atlantic on St Helena Island, and somewhere along the way, lost a mast in a hurricane while sailing to the Bermuda Triangle.
In 1995, Jeremy returned to South Africa, opened a backpackers in Kalk Bay, launched one of the hottest pubs since the Brass Bell, and converted a yacht into a commercial tuna boat. On calm days, he’d fish. On wild ones, he’d surf. He even designed and built the “TarrynAmy”, the boat that helped pioneer the Yellowfin tuna fishery around Cape Point.
So why does any of this matter?
Because Wetsuit Warehouse isn’t just a shop – it’s an extension of that same adventurous, sea-soaked spirit. Whether you’re a surfer, diver, ocean lover or just someone who’s stoked to get outdoors, this is your new go-to in the city. We’ve brought the same authenticity and excitement of Great White into a slick, urban space – one where you can find everything from wetsuits to wax, booties to board bags, and a few surprises in between.
Just like Jeremy says, “You can get everything from bait to bikinis” – and now, you can get it delivered to your doorstep too.