Portlandia

As our hours of prep work come to a close, the crew of Portlandia is busy putting the finishing touches on our boat and turning her into our own little home. We've made the beds, organized all the delicious food, and as our first shipmates trundle down the dock with their duffel bags, we can hardly contain our excitement. We are ready for a whirlwind adventure with a myriad of moments full of sunshine and laughter. We can't wait to see how we come together as a team, and how these next three weeks unfold.

Here is an introduction to the crew of Portlandia:

Emma- Skipper/WFR

Emmanuelle was born in rural Vermont, and from a young age has been involved in environmental conservation and education. After catching the sailing bug on a Seamester program in 2015, Emma pursued an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore certification, Wilderness First Responder certification, and has worked with GoBeyond in Ecuador and the BVI. She looks forward to her first summer with ActionQuest and sharing a love of sailing and adventure with her students. When not sailing, Emma can be found hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, or enjoying a hammock and a nice cup of tea.

Mike- Dive Instructor/Mate

Mike is from Newton, Massachusetts, and developed his love for the ocean during summer on Cape Cod as a kid. He became scuba certified in Gloucester, MA, where he realized exactly how cold the water in New England could get. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a B.S. in Marine Biology, during which he got his Rescue certification while studying abroad in Bonaire, and discovered the joy of warm water diving. Mike worked as a teacher's aide in his hometown of Newton for two years after graduating, after which he traveled to Utila, Honduras to get his divemaster and instructor certifications. When he is at home, he plays Ultimate frisbee in his free time, as well as canoeing in the Charles River.

Ashley- dive instructor/mate

Ashley was born and raised on the coast of New Jersey, where her passion for the sea first blossomed. During her sophomore year at Roger Williams in Rhode Island, she studied abroad with Sea|mester, where she sailed from the BVI to Tahiti on Argo. After graduating with a degree in marine biology she worked onboard New Jersey’s official tall ship A. J. Meerwald, and has most recently spent time on Ocean Star during her refit period in Antigua. Her favorite animal is the sea turtle and she can’t wait to be in the BVI and diving with them again!