Owen Lee: The Man Who Became One with the Sea

Team StayPV
Aug 9
4 min read

On January 20, 1928, Owen Lee was born into a world of noise, pace, and progress. But over the course of nine decades, he would walk away from all of it—choosing instead a life of tide and silence, of sea and self-sufficiency. His sanctuary? A hidden stretch of coastline called Playa Las Gatas, where the ocean meets the jungle in Zihuatanejo, Mexico.

Owen didn’t just visit paradise—he lived it. And through his work with Jacques Cousteau, his writings, and his unwavering devotion to the natural world, he became something rare: a man who was exactly where he was meant to be.

From California to the Calypso: A Life in Motion

Born in California, Owen Lee was a curious and unconventional spirit from the start. His passion for the sea led him into both academia and filmmaking, and in time, to one of the most remarkable opportunities a young ocean-lover could hope for: joining Jacques Cousteau’s team aboard the Calypso.

As a cameraman and documentarian in the 1950s and '60s, Owen traveled the world’s oceans, capturing life beneath the surface with a lens and a sense of awe. Alongside Cousteau, he helped pioneer a new era of marine exploration, documenting everything from coral reefs to deep-sea creatures. These weren’t just science missions—they were acts of reverence, and they left Owen changed.

From the deck of the Calypso, he saw both the grandeur and the fragility of the ocean. He witnessed underwater ecosystems most people would never see—and felt the growing responsibility to protect them. His work with Cousteau was thrilling, yes—but it also stirred something deeper: a longing not just to study nature, but to live in harmony with it.

Discovering Zihuatanejo: 1968

In 1968, Owen Lee first set foot in Zihuatanejo, a sleepy fishing village on Mexico’s Pacific coast. Back then, there were no high-rises, no tourists clutching guidebooks—just dirt roads, open smiles, and the rhythmic hush of the sea.

He soon found Playa Las Gatas, a crescent of protected shoreline accessible only by boat. The moment he saw it, he knew. This was it. This was home. He purchased a small piece of land on the far edge of the beach and built a one-room palapa by hand. There was no electricity, no running water, and no modern conveniences. But Owen didn’t want them. After a life of exploration, he was finally ready to stop moving—and start listening.

A Life Rooted in the Sea

For the next 50 years, Owen lived in near-complete harmony with nature. He rose with the sun, swam daily in the bay, fished his own meals, and wrote by candlelight. Shoes were optional. Stress was nonexistent. And every moment was lived intentionally.

Though he lived simply, Owen was far from isolated. Travelers often stumbled upon his cabin while walking the beach. Some were drawn by curiosity, others by rumor. All were welcomed.

He shared stories of the Calypso, explained the delicate ecosystem of the coral reef, and spoke of the spiritual connection he felt with the sea. He was a teacher, a storyteller, a conservationist, and a living part of the Playa Las Gatas mythos.

Prisoner in Paradise: His Memoir and Message

Eventually, Owen Lee captured his life philosophy and memories in a book titled Prisoner in Paradise. Far from a traditional memoir, it reads like a quiet conversation with an old friend. Through its pages, readers experience the solitude, joy, and spiritual clarity Owen found in Zihuatanejo. He writes about diving with manta rays, witnessing the birth of baby turtles, and falling asleep to the rustle of palms and the rhythm of the surf. But Prisoner in Paradise is also a call to mindfulness—to consider what really matters, and what it means to be free.

The title is ironic, of course. Owen was no prisoner. He was the freest man you could meet.

A Lasting Legacy

Owen Lee passed away on June 23, 2019, at the age of 91. By then, he had become a living legend—someone locals respected deeply and visitors never forgot. His cabin, though weathered by salt and time, still stands. It is not a monument in the traditional sense, but a living echo of the life he chose.

His legacy lives on in those who read his book, who walk the beaches he loved, who pause for just a moment longer to appreciate a quiet sunset. He remains a symbol of what it means to live fully, to live deliberately, and to live in awe of the world around us.

Owen Lee’s Life Reminds Us…

That you can chase the horizon with Cousteau and still find peace in a hammock by the sea.That true wealth is measured in freedom, not fortune.That paradise is not a place—it’s a way of being.

Through his lens, his words, and his life, Owen Lee gave us more than a story. He gave us a reason to slow down, listen to the ocean, and remember that the best things in life are often the simplest.