The deadly seas of Europe have already claimed the lives of so many refugees trying to flee the bloodshed in Syria.
Even as the water temperature cools to hypothermia-inducing levels experienced in the northern hemisphere winter, boatloads of asylum seekers keep arriving.
And that is exactly where 32-year-old surf lifesaver Simon Lewis thinks his skills will be required most.
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The captain of the St Kilda Life Saving Club in Melbourne was moved to act after he saw images like the lifeless body of young Aylan Kurdi and scores of other desperate refugees wash up on the shores of Greece.
"The people getting on the boat ... some of them have never seen water before," he said.
"And they're not doing it because they want to, they're doing it to get freedom."
Mr Lewis saw an International Surf Lifesaving Association video calling for trained professionals to volunteer aid to Syrian refugees along the Greek coastline, and decided to apply.
"When you see the images of the children, you know, absolutely fearful, and yet every day on our beach you get lifesavers who know how to calm those children down."
Mr Lewis will travel to Lesbos with five other international lifesavers.
The maiden mission is a joint venture with Greece's Lifeguard Hellas.
"They're constantly getting inundated, so we're giving them relief and then we're going out and conducting rescues and helping people get to shore."
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Simon only learned he was accepted three weeks ago and set up a crowdfunding site to help cover the cost.
He needed $6000, but has so far received more than $14,000 and counting.
"It's amazing that I have all these people who I don't know, supporting the story, and I'm blown away that I can contribute."
"That's going to go towards a new boat engine, an inflatable rescue boat, or other kinds of major equipment that we can do rapid response with."
And his mission has inspired his teammates, like 15-year-old surf lifesaving volunteer, Ben Wain.
"If he can go over and help people then I think it's a great idea," said Ben.
"If I had the opportunity to do that, I'd love to."
Simon's hope is that his skills will help prevent unnecessary deaths.
"I'm just one of many people who volunteer their time every weekend protecting our communities and this is just another location with another team," he said.
