Staff Update Day 1
Location: West End, Tortola
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 supplies and servicing our vessels in preparation for the exhilarating weeks ahead. 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 Sydnei 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 of the crew on Blue Tide:
Ashley: 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. Ashely 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!
Sydnei: Dive Instructor/Mate
Despite being born and raised in the cold city of Chicago, the warm beaches and ocean have always called Sydnei’s name. Now a sophomore studying graphic design at the University of Miami, Sydnei spends as much time as she can in the sun and near the water, diving year-round. During the school year, she teaches scuba classes at a local dive shop and goes out for fun dives when she has the time. She is a longtime alumnus of ActionQuest, starting in 2015. This will be her fifth summer back in the beautiful BVI. Out of the water, she enjoys reading, along with playing tennis and badminton.
Jake: Divemaster/Mate
This is Jake’s first summer working for ActionQuest, but he has been a shipmate the past three summers. Jake was born in Santa Monica, California but grew up in Bow, New Hampshire. In the fall he will be attending Rollins College in Winterpark, Florida. Outside of ActionQuest Jake enjoys running, skiing, and of course scuba diving.