Avizia

All Aboard Avizia!!

All the staff have been eagerly awaiting the second session after an awesome first group down here in the BVI. We’ve been replacing parts, getting new rigging, and cleaning everything in preparation for another adventure. I’ve got my new crew, and we are all pumped to get back out to sea. Food is prepped, fuel is full, and energy is abundant. We are all excited to share even more amazing experiences!

A little about your staff.

Skipper Mike.

Mike is from the sailing city of Newport, RI. With a love for the water, he grew up sailing optics and 420s, which eventually led him to become connected with the sailing community. He attended the University of Rhode Island and, after graduating with a degree in Marine Affairs, realized he wanted to work on the ocean and started his career on Superyachts. He became a second engineer and is looking to expand into captaining. Mike achieved his Sail and Power Yachtmaster back in March and May. After ActionQuest, Mike is working to achieve his MBA in Sustainable Innovation at the University of Vermont. He looks forward to sharing his passion and knowledge with his crew this year!

Dive Instructor Amanda

Amanda (scuba instructor/mate) grew up in Rye Brook, New York, right outside the city. She fell in love with the ocean from a young age while snorkeling on family trips to St. John, USVI, where she eventually got scuba-certified with her whole family. Since the beginning, Amanda developed a passion for being underwater and knew it was something she wanted to pursue. She spent many incredible summers as a student with AQ since 2016 and earned her Open Water Scuba Instructor certification in 2022. She learned a lot through her summers with AQ and is beyond excited to share this knowledge with students of her own! Amanda is pursuing a Psychology degree outside of AQ at the University of Miami. She loves Miami but is beyond excited to return to the BVI’s for another life-changing summer with ActionQuest! Her main goal is to keep the stoke levels high and create a life-activating experience for her students.

Dive instructor Whitney

Whitney (scuba instructor/mate) grew up in the coastal cities of San Diego, Shanghai, and Boston, laying the foundation for her love for the ocean. Set on becoming a scuba diver, she braved the chilly waters of Massachusetts to earn her first scuba certification at 15 years old. She continued to earn her following certifications in the warmer waters of Southeast Asia. After an epic gap year sailing from Palau to Thailand aboard S/Y Argo with Seamester, Whitney is now diving into her Environmental Science and Technology studies at the University of Maryland. She teaches college prep courses at nearby high schools when she’s not at the university. Whitney cannot wait to teach underwater this summer!

- Mike L