Location: West End, Tortola
Ahoy and welcome aboard the mighty Second Wind! 🚤🌊 Today, we’re beyond excited to welcome 12 fearless, flipper-wearing, mask-toting adventurers to the crew. We’ve spent the past two weeks preparing the boat, stocking the snacks, double-checking the gear, and trying really hard not to trip over fins in the process.
You’re not just joining us for a boat ride, you’re diving (literally) into an epic adventure. Some of you are here to become rescue divers (aka the real-life superheroes of the sea) while others are tackling advanced certifications, because clearly open water just wasn’t challenging enough for you thrill-seekers.
So grab your fins, bring your best underwater game face, and get ready for 3 weeks full of bubbles, teamwork, and unforgettable memories. The water’s calling, and it says you’re gonna crush it. 💪🐠
Welcome aboard, let’s make a splash and meet the staff:
Matt Pidden (better known as Matty P to his shipmates) is one of the slowest skippers ActionQuest has ever seen, and he is excited to return for his fourth season at AQ. Matt grew up in Australia, Asia, and the UK, always by the water, surfing, sailing, and wingfoiling from a young age. Since then, he has gone on to race yachts worldwide, including a 36-day race from the Philippines to Seattle, 7200nm across the North Pacific (where his closest neighbors were on the international space station). Matt has nearly 20,000nm under his belt, alongside his Yachtmaster Offshore license.
Although Matt thrives in offshore racing conditions, his primary focus recently has been his studies. Having recently graduated from the University of Bristol with a degree in Computer Science (with skills he used to help develop software for AQ), he is looking forward to a well-deserved break before pursuing his Master’s in Robotics at Imperial College London after the summer. He’s excited to reunite with his ActionQuest friends and spend the summer cruising through the BVIs and Leeward Islands.
Sela is beyond excited to be returning to AQ as staff once again. After three unforgettable summers, she can’t wait to kick off her fourth, continuing to share her passion for teaching, diving, and sailing with an incredible team and adventurous students.
With 12 years of diving experience and four years of sailing under her belt, the ocean feels like a second home to Sela. Whether exploring the underwater world or navigating the waves, she loves helping others build confidence and skills in the water. When she’s not at AQ, she’s likely off on her next adventure—traveling, learning, and embracing every opportunity to explore the world.
Outside of her love for the ocean, Sela is also in her final year of nursing school, where she channels her passion for helping others into a future career in healthcare. No matter the setting—whether in the hospital or on the ocean—she is dedicated to creating environments where people can grow, push their limits, and thrive with the proper support and guidance.
Sela can’t wait to dive into another summer of adventure, growth, and unforgettable memories at AQ. She’s ready to help make this the best one yet.
Rachel is from Charlotte, NC, and has loved the ocean since her first open water dive at age 16. In 2022, she joined a Seamester Transatlantic program on S/Y Vela, where she became a Divemaster. Inspired by her staff and previous dive instructors, Rachel went to Bay Islands College of Diving in Utila, Honduras, to earn her PADI Scuba Instructor certification. The only other thing Rachel loves as much as the sea is theatre. She graduated from NYU and now calls New York City home as a freelance stage manager. She has worked on three Broadway productions, and when not backstage or underwater, she enjoys reading, writing, drawing, and exploring. Rachel is thrilled to be back at AQ this summer!
Nat has been an avid sailor and ocean enthusiast since her first sailing trip to the BVIs at age 3. Since then, the call of the ocean has been inescapable! She spent her formative years sailing the frigid waters of the San Francisco Bay and the nonexistent seas of Park City, Utah. Nat holds an IYT 200-ton Offshore license and PADI Divemaster certification, and is currently at a university in Claremont, CA. Her free time is spent shredding Utah and SoCal’s slopes, watercolor painting, and bird-watching. Nat can’t wait to bring her passion for teaching and waterproof sense of humor to the ActionQuest Team for her second year! Holy Cannoli! This summer is going to be so epic!