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British Virgin Islands - 2012, Session 1

Staff Update- Day 1

Location: West End, Tortola

After two weeks of pumping tanks, making dinghies bright and shiny, organizing and counting dive gear, and staff training, Sam and I cannot wait for our shipmates to arrive finally! Bright and early this morning I boarded a plane headed to San Juan to meet a few of the traveling shipmates at the airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Its always exciting to be one of the first to greet the excited and sometimes slightly nervous shipmates as they transfer onto their final plane to Tortola, where the fun will start. Back in West End Sam was busy packing and organizing the Boss Lady getting her ready for the arrival of 13 other people. Food was loaded and stored, tanks lashed and filled, bunks prepped, and a final deck wash was given to make her shine! Tonight we'll be helping our shipmates cook tortellini dinner, and I'm to get back from the airport to finally start getting to know everyone. We can't wait to finally get off the dock and test out Boss Lady's sails tomorrow!

Here is an introduction to the crew of Boss Lady:

Sam- skipper/dive instructor

After graduating from Wake Forest University in 2004, Sam followed his passion for the water and travel, working as a Sailing and Scuba Diving instructor in Costa Rica, Thailand, and Belize. Sam joined ActionQuest, in 2007 and is now the director of the BVI Diving program. He holds certifications as an MCA Master of Yachts 200 Ton, PADI IDC Staff Instructor, and Advanced Medic at Sea. An avid traveler, he can be found seeking out new adventures abroad, from paragliding in the Alps to jungle trekking in Sumatra.

Marina- dive instructor/mate

Marina joined the ActionQuest team in 2006 as a shipmate. This will be her second year working as a dive instructor, Wilderness First Responder, and scientist for the Dolphin program. During the year Marina is finishing up her final year studying biology at Florida State University when she's not teaching diving or sailing with the sailing team.