Wind Shadow

Closing out an amazing session two sadly means having to wave goodbye to some fantastic people; we are happy however that it won't stay quiet for long- we cannot wait to welcome our new shipmates today! Our yacht, the 51' monohull Wind Shadow, is currently being prepped ready for action; she is a cheerful lady and a solid sailor. Onboard we shall have Vega program shipmates completing their PADI Open Water diving course, students in the Carina advanced diving and/or sailing programs, the Quest program with some community service in place of diving, plus 2 Divemaster candidates taking their first splash into the professional diving arena- it looks like it'll be a phenomenal group. On top of the diving there will be sailing courses, Pico adventures, waterskiing, windsurfing, hiking, and of course a lot of fun-bathing at the beach barbecues. Stay tuned here for more to come from the crew as Wind Shadow tours the BVI.

Here is an introduction to the crew of Wind Shadow:

Simon- skipper/dive instructor

Simon is returning for his third year at ActionQuest, though also works for her sister program Seamester during the other seasons. He has been introducing divers to the amazing underwater world for over a decade now and has dived in 30+ countries around the world, from South Africa to Galapagos and Egypt to Australia (though not in his home country of Scotland surprisingly!). When not on or under the water, Simon enjoys long distance running as a way to explore new villages, towns and cities around the world and last year completed his first full marathon in New York. When teaching, he especially enjoys seeing a new divers face light up after their first experience in the water, as well as helping more experienced divers fulfill their own potential as dive professionals. Simon is a PADI Master Instructor, CPR/First Aid Instructor Trainer, Cave Diver, Technical Diver, and also has his MCA Yachtmaster Offshore 200t and has over 30,000 nautical miles of sailing experience.Simon is returning for his third year at ActionQuest, though also works for her sister program Seamester during the other seasons. He has been introducing divers to the amazing underwater world for over a decade now and has dived in 30+ countries around the world, from South Africa to Galapagos and Egypt to Australia (though not in his home country of Scotland surprisingly!). When not on or under the water, Simon enjoys long distance running as a way to explore new villages, towns and cities around the world and last year completed his first full marathon in New York. When teaching, he especially enjoys seeing a new divers face light up after their first experience in the water, as well as helping more experienced divers fulfill their own potential as dive professionals. Simon is a PADI Master Instructor, CPR/First Aid Instructor Trainer, Cave Diver, Technical Diver, and also has his MCA Yachtmaster Offshore 200t and has over 30,000 nautical miles of sailing experience.

Kayleigh- dive instructor/mate

Born in Warwickshire, United Kingdom, Kayleigh has spent most of her life traveling all over the world exploring new environments and cultures. Following her love of the ocean she completed her PADI Open Water course in 2012 and was immediately captivated. In 2013 she graduated from Plymouth University, UK, with a BSc Hons Degree in Conservation Biology. Shortly after she headed to Utila, Honduras for 6 mouths training from advanced open water to PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, IYT Dive Boat Mate, and International Association for Handicapped Divers (IAHD) Instructor. Aside from scuba diving Kayleigh loves to cook, she enjoys anything adventurous from trekking the Great Wall of China for charity to taking her dogs on country walks, and any excuse to get out the house. She is excited to ditch her dry suit for warmer climates.

Ben- mate

Ben grew up in Baltimore, MD and spent his summers on the Chesapeake Bay where he developed a love for the water. After becoming a certified diver in high school, Ben has dove in various islands throughout the Caribbean, but lists the Outer Banks in North Carolina as his favorite diving spot. Always a diver, Ben's passion for sailing was ignited after participating in a Seamester program during the Summer of 2015. He initially attended Methodist University in North Carolina to play baseball before transferring to the University of Maryland, College Park, where he graduated in December of 2016. He then moved to Key Largo, FL to participate in an internship with REEF Environmental Education Foundation, where he focused on invasive Lionfish. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, following the New York Yankees, and spending time with his two dogs.