Gemini II

So here we are again, one of the most exciting days of the session for the AQ staff. Anticipation would define the general feeling as all of us are looking forward to the oncoming AQ shipmates to be. We have had an amazing first session and are ready to repeat the wonderful experience again.

Currently, we're putting the final touches on each of the boats; ours called Gemini, a gorgeous 50.5 ft Beneteau monohull. Just like the horoscope, Geminis element is the wind, and she has proved herself worthy of this name this past session. We can't wait to get her back out cruising through the Sir Francis Drake channel and visiting all of the beautiful and scarcely touched islands.

As we pile in all of the goods, it's wonderful to see all of the staff working as a great unit. Most are old-timers, either staff from past years or students that have come back to AQ as staff but there are some new faces around; some of our Divemasters have stayed with us for the second session and are ready to work their socks off as part of our lively and hardworking staff.

Here is an introduction to the staff of Gemini:

Annie- skipper

Annie Rae is excited to return to the BVI for a second summer with AQ! Annie hails from the Eastern Shore of MD, and since childhood has spent as much time on boats and in the water as possible. After working for four years as an outdoor educator and captain on the Chesapeake, she has been sailing for independent charter companies, working on oyster farms, and has most recently worked as crew for Seamester. Annie has her USCG 100 ton Masters and is a Wilderness First Responder.

Jake- mate/dive instructor

Now celebrating his fourth year with ActionQuest, Jake is the Divemaster instructor and director of diving for sail side A. Brought into diving by his mom, Jake has experience diving all over the world, from the murky, freezing waters of the Great Lakes to the warm, clear waters of the Caribbean. After returning home from a life-changing trip with ActionQuest in 2005, Jake knew he had to become involved with the program, and now, as an instructor, Jake strives to provide his shipmates with the same incredible experience he had. Jake recently made the move to Sarasota, Florida, to take his dream job working for ActionQuest full time.

Laura- dive instructor

Although Laura is a British national, she was born and bred in a little coastal town in Spain. This mix of culture is one of the reasons why she is very interested in traveling and expanding her knowledge of new cultures and customs. Laura will be working at ActionQuest as a dive instructor this year. She began diving at the age of fifteen when she was first introduced to the underwater world by her father. Her love of diving drove her to her local shop (actually most of the time it was her mother), where she began interning and working for her courses. Laura then decided she wanted to teach people how to do the best thing she has ever done and found herself on the other side of the Atlantic (more specifically, the Dominican Republic), where she passed her PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor Exam. Now after working in dive centers, she is very excited to be part of the AQ team and is looking forward to a wonderful summer.