Blue Tide

We’re only a few hours away from our shipmates arriving, and we’re very excited to welcome them aboard! All the ActionQuest staff have been hard at work stocking and servicing our vessels in preparation for the exhilarating weeks ahead. Over the next three weeks, Mason, our mate on board, is hoping to IYT certify our shipmates in sailing that can open new doorways into the yachting industry, or provide better access to pleasurable experiences onboard charter vessels. The three staff onboard are all well versed in the various aspects of sailing, but of course, sailing is only half the program! Our spectacular SCUBA instructors Kaleigh and Ashley (AKA Smash), our dive director, will be helping those with prior certifications reach new limits as advanced divers. Courses aside, our goal as staff is to provide a fun and supportive environment that allows our students to discover their ability to learn and overcome challenges. We hope to build these surroundings not only from our daily activities such as water skiing, dinghy sailing, snorkeling, hiking but with responsibility, accountability, and team building! The next three weeks will be fruitful for all those living aboard Blue Tide and ActionQuest vessels.

We're looking forward to meeting our students soon and having an incredible time over the upcoming weeks.

Here is an introduction to the crew on Blue Tide:

Ashley (Smash)- Skipper/Dive Instructor

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 Seamester, where she sailed from the BVI to Tahiti on S/Y Argo. After graduating with a degree in marine biology, she worked onboard New Jersey’s official tall ship A. J. Meerwald, in Washington state on Zodiac, and has most recently spent time on Ocean Star during her refit period in Antigua. Ashley holds certifications as an IYT Yachtmaster and PADI instructor. Her favorite animal is the sea turtle, and she can’t wait to be in the BVI and diving with them again!

Kayleigh- Dive Instructor/Mate

Working full time with Global Expeditions Group has been Kaleigh’s dream job ever since she was a student in 2015 and is excited to give every student the same amazing experience she had as an ActionQuest shipmate. She loves sharks & snakes and is on the pre-vet track at Villanova University. Kaleigh is a PADI Scuba Instructor and teaches skiing to young kids during the winter.

Mason- Mate

Mason started sailing as a middle schooler in the Berkeley Marina with UC Berkeley. As he got older, he went back many times and eventually helped with the teaching of young sailors. Mason went on to sail in the Channel Islands and with ActionQuest in the BVI. As his love for sailing grew, he started looking for ways to make a career of it. This drew him back to ActionQuest and on to a three month Sea|mester voyage. After obtaining the necessary qualifications, he took the 100 ton USCG Masters license exam and now is a licensed captain looking to show others the joy of sailing and adventure. While not at sea, he has a love for reading stories of adventure and exotic places to be explored.