Body Glove

When you think Body Glove, you immediately think Missouri, right? Although the South Bay region of Los Angeles is actually considered the home of Body Glove, the long story of the company actually traces back to a farm near Booneville, Missouri. It was there that founders Bob and Bill Meistrell taught themselves to swim and by age twelve had used their imagination to rig a makeshift diving bell out of a tin can and descended into the depth of the farm pond. This love for the water eventually lured the brothers to Manhattan Beach as teenagers in the 40s.

Bob and Bill instantly took to the ocean, joining other pioneers of California surfing including the legendary Dale Velzy and Greg Noll to form the Manhattan Beach Surf Club. Cementing their credentials as true watermen, Bob and Bill became L.A. County Lifeguards, then scuba divers, then vital participants in the First Los Angeles County Underwater Instructors Course (UICC) - joining the first group in the world to become certified scuba instructors.

Together, they borrowed 1800 dollars and bought out Hap Jacobs to become partners with Bev Morgan in 1953 and develop Dive N´ Surf into southern California´s premiere retail store dedicated to surfing and diving, while continuing to surf every day, lifeguard, and operate a commercial diving business. They eventually, classes and apparel at multiple locations and thereby create a southern California retail institution.