Blue Venture

As a returning skipper in my third summer in the BVI, I am excited to have two new faces on board. Cayley and I are full of excitement and enthusiasm and cannot wait to meet our shipmates. Cayley is from Canada and has been traveling all over the world this past year. Now that is boat is fully provisioned, and all of our gear is packed and organized were ready to share our home (Blue Venture) with our crew. It was a lot of fun this year getting to be involved in the office and watching the logistics of the summer unfold. After servicing over one hundred of AQ's scuba regulators, it clear that no expense is spared to ensure safety, and as we always say "it's all in the details." I have had a blast organizing the Marine Biology side of the program and am excited to introduce some new materials, that include preserved starfish and sharks for some very cool dissections. Another great part of the setup process was getting to collaborate with similar programs as ours and spend some time getting to know the other groups sailing with us. The BVI conservation department requires all staff to participate in a course to ensure that when we turtle tag, it is done safely, scientifically and most effectively. We feel 100 percent ready to go and can't wait to meet the crew of teenagers that will take over and sail Blue Venture through the BVI this summer.

Here is an introduction to the crew of Blue Venture:

Matt- skipper

After graduating from high school in eastern North Carolina, Matt's passion for science and the marine environment culminated in him receiving a research grant from NC State University. He continued his studies at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and held a combined degree in Marine Biology and Marine Technology. While at university, Matt became a PADI dive instructor and the Assistant Dive Safety Officer at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher. After graduating, he began traveling, teaching and sailing throughout the Caribbean. Matt joined ActionQuest in 2010 as a Marine Biology and Scuba instructor and now works full-time with both ActionQuest and Sea|mester.

Cayley- dive instructor/mate

Cayley hails from Vancouver, Canada. After graduating from the University of British Columbia with a double major in geography and Asian studies, she began splitting her time between diving in SE Asia and working as a tour guide aboard a whale watching boat in Western Canada. When she's not in or on the water, you'll find Cayley on the ski hills, or playing outside in general.