Oryx

Mood: 70% Sunscreen, 30% Electrolytes, 100% Hype

After miles and miles of spreadsheets, a mild to moderate Gatorade addiction, and provisioning (the kind that should count as an Olympic sport), Oryx and her crew have never been more ready for students to come on board for an adventure of a lifetime. Lines are tied, lockers are full, and fenders are ready- welcome aboard!

While sunscreen and Nutella may go fast, what is about to happen on board Oryx will last a lifetime. Over the next few weeks, students will live, learn, and sail side by side, sharing sunrises, seasickness, and the type of laughter that makes you cry. What starts as a crew of strangers living awkwardly close will soon turn into lifelong friends, top-rated memories, and countless life skills learned. Now, (drum-roll please) meet the staff!

Annika- Skipper, Medical Director, Hype Man

Annika was born outside Las Vegas but has lived all around the US. She started sailing and diving aboard S/Y Vela in the Spring of 2022 and has been hooked ever since! Annika attends Loyola Marymount University in Southern California, studying Psychology and Environmental Studies, and is thrilled to live closer to the ocean! She has worked with yacht clubs to outfit and maintain various boats and loves sharing her passions and excitement with others on the water. Annika is also an avid diver, especially fascinated with sea slugs and kelp forests. During her summers in the BVI, she especially loves teaching others to wakeboard, spontaneous dance parties, and sail chat jeopardy nights. When not on a boat, she also enjoys rock climbing, soccer, and learning new things!

Fun Facts:
- #1 arch nemesis is the autopilot system
- Biggest hater of the self-tacking Jib
- Pen Pals with the Pope
- CEO and founder of Annika’s Jr Dinghy driving school for Jr Dinghy drivers who want to drive dinghies good (AJDDSFJDDWWDDG)

Luke- Dive Instructor

Luke grew up in the northern suburbs of the Chicagoland area but discovered his passion for scuba diving at just 10 years old while visiting the Big Island of Hawaii. In 2016, he joined ActionQuest for the first time through the Vega program, where he earned his Open Water scuba certification and found a new love for sailing and exploring the British Virgin Islands. After five more summers with ActionQuest, he finished his time as a student by earning his Divemaster certification. Luke then took the next step in his diving career by earning his Open Water Scuba Instructor certification in Coral Gables, Florida. He’s thrilled to return to the British Virgin Islands to share his enthusiasm for diving with new students. When he’s not underwater, Luke is pursuing a degree in Finance at the University of Miami. ActionQuest could not have had a bigger impact on Luke as a student, and he hopes to pass on that experience to as many new people as possible.

Fun Facts:
- Debating a career in professional Pickleball (Geriatric division)
- Going pro in competitive flag raising
- “Softest hair in the Action Quest fleet” -Mike Meighan

Siena- Mate, Medic, Fish ID Encyclopedia

Living in Northern California, Siena grew up an ocean lover. She started sailing and diving as a summer camp student and was lucky enough to join Seamester on S/Y Vela, sailing from Bali to Cape Town in the fall of 2023. Siena currently lives in Ireland, studying Biology and Biomedical Sciences at Trinity College Dublin to enter the field of marine biology and reef conservation. She can’t wait to take a break from the rain of Dublin to spend the summer in the sun, sailing, and swimming alongside all of the incredible sea creatures of the Caribbean!

Fun facts:
- Life goal is to nurse a sourdough starter older than the dinosaurs
- Has never, not once, flipped a Zest (she swears…)
- Strongly believes that every meal is a bowl meal
- LOVES pickles, not so much pickle-ball (sorry Luke)