Meet The Crew
Kaya
Kaya was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She spent her life fishing, crewing, and livingaboard boats traversing the British, US, and Spanish Virgin Islands, particularly CulebraIsland where her family vacation home was located. Kaya was introduced into the world ofscientific SCUBA diving at Florida International University where she obtained herBachelor's degree and worked in a seagrass ecology lab. Kaya graduated summa cumlaude, with undergraduate research experience, and membership into Phi Beta Kappahonor society. Her marine biology career continued soon after in the Virgin Islands, whereshe completed her Master's degree and expanded her diving experience, becoming acertified technical diver with TDI advanced nitrox and decompression diving. More recently, Kaya’s marine science career focuses on tropical coral and fish ecology.Her diving experiences have been incredibly unique with hundreds of scientific divescompleting surveys for coral health, coral reef fishes, lobster, and more. Kaya is also ahighly skilled captain and holds a USCG 100-ton Master license. Apart from her oceanexperiences, Kaya is fully bilingual and grew up in a family of passionate foodies includingseveral professional chefs. Her food passion started with Puerto Rican cuisine, but grewafter traveling the world where she learned and became passionate about authentic foodsfrom Vietnam, Thailand, Mexico, Italy, Japan, Greece, Peru, South Korea, Morocco, andmany other countries, cooking and learning from locals at homestays throughout hermultiple backpacking journeys. Kaya can provide signature dishes from many regions ofthe world and cater to a broad array of pallets.
Chris
Chris has been sailing since he was a small child growing up surrounded by the barrier islands and marshes of the Carolinas. His first jobs were teaching sailing and then crewing larger monohulls which led to several months aboard a 120’ schooner in New Zealand at 18. At the College of Charleston, he doubled in Anthropology and Geology with a minor in Archeology while first working as a Divemaster and Aquarium Diver, and then later joining the scientific and marine crews aboard oceanographic research vessels. Chris continued working aboard research and survey vessels through grad school while completing his Masters in Geology at UCSB. In this time, he made the first maps of tens of thousands of seafloor methane seeps in offshore California, the Gulf of Mexico, and Siberia. He also began taking friends on epic bareboat sailing adventures in the Channel Islands while advancing his scuba background and exploring his new obsession of kitesurfing.
Following grad school, he continued working in the marine geophysical survey and oceanography industries beginning in Antarctica. In 2013, he established his own freelance consulting business, and to date has worked in all the world's oceans and continents while maintaining an excellent offshore safety record. A passionate maritime tour guide, Chris holds a 100-ton USCG Master Captain license and loves introducing his charter guests to the wonders of the Virgin Islands. A life-long extrovert, Chris loves meeting people from all walks of life and sharing stories. He spends his free time traveling, kitesurfing/foiling, trying to break out of the beginner ranks of free diving and wing foiling, and playing in the ocean with his wife Kaya.
Kaya and Chris met on a marine science job in Culebra, PR in 2015 and were soonspending every free moment together. After the job, Chris followed Kaya first aroundPuerto Rico, and then began visiting her between jobs. Conspiring with her sisters, Chrissurprised Kaya during a visit to see family in Ireland when she finally agreed to be hisgirlfriend. They have since crossed the US via campervan, traveled through dozens ofcountries, and lived in CA, FL, PR, and the USVI together. They have made a point oftaking regional cooking classes as they have traveled the world, and take pride in beingadventurous eaters. They are both passionate marine scientists with teaching experienceat the university level, and love introducing their guests to the wonders of the ocean world.
Waldo
Text about Waldo coming soon!!!
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