My holidays: 'Shark Man' Riley Elliott

Riley Elliott drove through Ciudad Juarez, the Mexican/US border town that at the time was the deadliest place on earth because of the US war on drugs, during a Central American surfing trip. Photo / Supplied

'Shark Man' Riley Elliott shares his most memorable holiday moments.

What was your greatest holiday?

For work, it was going to Fiji to film an episode for my Shark Man TV series. For surfing, it was driving through Central America, on the road, sleeping on beaches and roughing it.

If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing?

You'll probably find me surfing, diving or sharking. The ocean is my favourite place and all of my holiday activities revolve around it.

If we could teleport you to one place in New Zealand for a holiday, where would it be?

Hahei Beach. For someone like me, the area is the best set-up of anywhere - out front is one of the oldest marine reserves in the country, there's overflowing ocean productivity outside the reserve in sheltered, island-protected waters for diving, spearfishing and scenic observation. Then just over the hill is the swell magnet of the whole east coast, Hot Water Beach.

What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling?

Crossing through Ciudad Juarez, the Mexican/US border town that at the time was the deadliest place on earth because of the US war on drugs. My friend Simon and I had driven the entire coastline of Central America surfing and on the return journey went through there. About 15,000 people had been killed just that summer through cartel-driven drug wars. The US border officials were flabbergasted as to how we got through alive. That was so influential on my life that I included it as a chapter in my book, Shark Man.

Complete this sentence: I can't travel without ...

... the small jewellery bag of good luck charms I have accumulated from my mum.

What was the most memorable meal you've had while travelling?

Fresh tuna ceviche on corn chips washed down with Coronas on a random beach in Mexico during my Central America surf trip.

What's the next trip you've got planned?

I have some projects to film with sharks in Hawaii, America and Fiji.

Riley Elliott hosts 'Shark Man' on TV One. Read up on Riley's adventures in his new book Shark Man, on sale now.