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British Virgin Islands - 2014, Session 1

Staff Update Day 1

Location: West End, Tortola

Ahoy! For the past week, we have been getting Mary Morgan ready for our shipmates. Skipper Sam and Dive Instructor Mike and I have been loading the vessel full of dive tanks, flashlights, libraries of Fish ID books & other training materials, our lovely dive compressor, and don't forget about all the dry and fresh food! This morning we have put clean bedsheets and pillows on each bunk. We have organized all the PFDs and have them on the lines waiting for the shipmates. Our dinghy, Sumo, has been buffed and polished and ready for all the shipmate transportation needs. We have a mix of Dolphin and Rescue students, so we will have a great variety of learning and fun. The only thing that Mary Morgan is missing right now is our shipmates! Sam, Mike, and I are super excited for all the laughter, adventure, and friendships that will form during our 21-day voyage!

Here is an introduction to the staff of Mary Morgan:

Sam- skipper

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 AQ 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.

Mike- dive instructor

Mike came to ActionQuest in 2008 as a student on the Dolphin voyage. He learned to dive in England, where he grew up, and while studying, he has worked up to the level of Scuba Instructor. Mike completed a biology degree at Oxford University, specializing in marine ecology, and plans to continue with research. He is particularly interested in coral reef ecology, evolution, and conservation and has studied in the Caribbean. For the last two years, Mike has worked as a Scuba instructor and marine educator at watersports centers in Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, and the Maldives, and has also worked as a counselor for summer camps in the US.

Meghann- dive instructor

Meghann grew up in Auburn Hills, MI, and is currently residing in Edgartown, MA. Between the Great Lakes and scuba diving in the ocean, she has never been far from the water. Meghann previously worked at an adventure summer camp in the Florida Keys, working her way up to Advanced Open Water through Divemaster, and in 2010, she became a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer. Meghann joined ActionQuest in 2011 and is an instructor for our Advanced Scuba Diving programs. Meghann is excited to move to Vermont after the summer with her fiance and their new puppy!