Staff Update Day 1
Location: West End, Tortola
Finally, we are all ready for our shipmates and so excited to meet them all! We have added some homey touches to Squeakybrat, and today, the flags have been raised, and the colors of ActionQuest are proudly flapping on the mast. She is a beautiful monohull with lots of character, as her name suggests! The food supplies have been carefully stored away in the galley, ready for some willing chefs to create a tasty culinary experience. There is a real buzz in the air as the ActionQuest team make their final preparations and amazing team spirit as we help each other. The boats are all lined up down the dock, and our boat is nestled happily somewhere in the middle. All there is left to do is for myself (Emma), Kris, and Brit to welcome the new shipmates onboard their new home! Let the adventures begin!
Here is an introduction to the staff of Squeakybrat:
Kris- skipper/dive instructor
Kris was born in Rotterdam, Holland, and spent most of his formative years growing up in the Middle East and England. He graduated from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom, with a Master's degree in Oceanography, having spent a semester abroad in the United States studying at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington. Following a strong family connection to the sea, Kris was naturally inclined towards a life revolving around the Oceans. Since 2008, Kris has spent his summers working with ActionQuest in the British Virgin Islands, teaching a mixture of Marine Sciences, diving, and sailing. In 2009, Kris joined the Sea|mester team as a member of the Marine Science Faculty, Diving Instructor, and Captain. Kris' professional credentials include PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, IYT Master of Yachts 200 tons, and also serves as a member of faculty at the State College of Florida.
Brittany- mate/dive instructor
Brittany was raised on the South-Eastern coast of Virginia and spent the majority of her time near the water. She was certified as an Open Water Diver at the age of eleven and fell in love with being so close to marine life from that moment. Graduating from Old Dominion University with a Master's Degree in Education, Brittany enjoys watching students learn and develop new knowledge. With these two passions, becoming a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor seemed like the perfect next step. Since 2008, Brittany has been working with ActionQuest and Sea|mester as a Scuba Instructor. She hopes to pass her enthusiasm for marine life and sailing onto all of her students. Along with PADI certifications, Brittany also holds IYT 200 ton Yacht-Master certification.
Emma- mate/dive instructor
Emma was raised in Devon, in the South West of England, where she spent much of her time near or on the water. She discovered her love of diving in the much warmer climate of Australia on the Great Barrier Reef, where she completed her first PADI Open Water certificate. She has a passion for teaching and learning, having graduated with a degree in education at Bath Spa University, and continuing on to train as a teacher at the University of Exeter. Emma worked as a teacher in London until she decided to combine her two passions to become a PADI Open Water Diving Instructor. She has dived in many different countries around the world and fell in love with the British Virgin Islands, where she trained as a Divemaster. Along with PADI certifications, she also recently gained her STCW 95 certificate in boat safety. In her spare time, Emma likes to paint landscapes and seascapes of places she has visited and been inspired by. Her artwork can be seen in the Royal Parks in London, where she was recently commissioned to paint a wildlife picture for their information boards.