Why Knot

As the sun rises on another beautiful Caribbean morning, you might be curious to see what is happening in a small area known as Sopher’s Hole on the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.

We have been hard at work getting the good ship Why Knot ready to take our students on the experience of a lifetime:

The Action Quest Rescue Dive Side:
- Rescue and Neptune programs!!!

Our holds will be jam-packed with delicious food,
our water tanks be loaded to the brim,
and we cannot wait to set sail and be underway!

Introducing your Rescue and instructor team:

Rescue Ri: Skipper and Dive Instructor

Hailing from the southern tip of Africa, Ri grew up spending most of his summers in the balmy Indian Ocean’s waters off the coast of the Garden Route. From an early age, he lived in several African countries but would always head to the same little seaside summer holiday destination, Hartenbos, where he fell in love with the ocean!!!

From his very first ocean dive on Aliwal Shoal, he knew he would one day be a dive instructor. It also ignited his passion for ocean conservation and interest in learning about the different marine life to be found under the sea.
After completing his dive master in Mozambique, Ri started backpacking through Southeast Asia. When he discovered the tiny island paradise of Gili Trawangan, he became a PADI Open Water Instructor. After that, he headed to Thailand to begin diving somewhere different and made it to Koh Tao.

Post the strange years around 2020, Ri received a much-needed message from Mackenzie, saying AQ needed staff. Once again abandoning corporate life, Ri immediately gave in his notice in anticipation of the Caribbean.
Having returned to Koh Tao in the interim, and now returning for his 3rd summer at ActionQuest, Ri is very excited to once again be sailing and diving the BVI with you!

Player Fields: Dive Instructor

Born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, Player is a passionate water enthusiast and dedicated diver. He is a sophomore at the University of South Carolina and has spent his entire life around the water, from surfing to scuba diving. His diving journey began in 2022 when he attended ActionQuest after getting his Open Water Diver certification, eager to get his Advanced Open Water. Driven by a love for exploration and the ocean, Player continued his training, achieving Rescue in 2023 and Divemaster in 2024. In 2025, he reached a significant milestone by becoming a certified Dive Instructor, eager to share his passion with others.

Charley Barnes: Dive Instructor and Dive Side Medic

Charley grew up in the mountains of Colorado, where life meant being outside, mountain biking, exploring trails, skiing, and sharing her love for nature with anyone willing to join the adventure. Family trips to the ocean sparked a deep connection to the sea, and during a visit to the Cayman Islands, she earned her Open Water scuba certification and was instantly hooked on the underwater world. After graduating high school, Charley set out to explore more of the world, traveling from the mountains of Nepal to the beaches of Thailand and throughout Central America and Peru. Along the way, her love for the ocean and adventure only grew stronger. Over the past year, Charley turned that passion into a profession, working toward becoming a dive professional and recently earning her Open Water Scuba Instructor certification. Last summer she spent 40 days living and diving aboard Ocean Star, an experience that confirmed what she already knew: she belongs on the water. Charley is beyond excited to join the ActionQuest team this summer and can’t wait to dive, explore, and share her love for the ocean, adventure, and discovery with her students.

Until tomorrow’s update, we hope you have enjoyed a little introduction and do hope you stay tuned for all the exciting experiences we will be sharing over the summer!