Our Staff

 


 

               Patrick Merrill                                         Blake Moore
             Vessel Programs Director                      Vessel Staff Manager
                                                                                      
 

Vessel Staff:


Kristin Belew, Lead Naturalist, Ocean Voyager                     
Hometown: Galveston, TX
Education: BS Marine Biology
Interests: Reefs, Fish, and Turtles

 



Jessica Beneteau, Lead Naturalist, Ocean Quest
Hometown: Ontario, Canada
Education: BS Marine Biology
Interests: Surfing, Music, Ocean conservation


Robyn Ehrlich, Lead Naturalist, Ocean Explorer
Hometown: Westfield, NJ
Education: BS Marine Biology
Interests: Having fun


Anna Garner - Vessel Manager, Ocean Intrigue
Hometown: Anchorage, AK
Education: Willamette University, BA Environmental Science
Interests: SCUBA. Biking, Gardening, Traveling


Anna Lieding, Lead Naturalist, Ocean Odyssey
Hometown: Hana, Maui, Hawaii
Education: B.S. Marine Biology, Brown University
Interests: Spear fishing, Research


Brock Munson, Lead Naturalist, Ocean Spirit
Hometown: San Juan Capistro, Ca
Education: BFA Visual Communication
Interests: Outdoors, art, music, movies and traveling

 
Josh Wittmer, Lead Naturalist, Ocean Odyssey
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Education: BS Environmental Science, Allegheny College
Experience: Duke Marine Lab, Bermuda Biological Station for Research, Bermuda Aquarium collections and quarantine, Americorps Watershed Stewards Project, SeaCamp/NHMI Big Pine Key, FL, REEF Key Largo, FL, Maui Ocean Center curatorial department diver, Hawaii DLNR research diver.
Interests: Diving, Underwater Photography, Rebreathers, Hiking, Education, Conservation, Relaxation, Research, Travel, Fishing, Surfing, Cephalopods, and Fish.

Jennifer Pletz, Naturalist, Ocean Voyager
Hometown: Delavan, WI
Education: BS Geography & Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison 
Interests: Camping, Traveling, Weather, Music, SCUBA, Art.
 
 
 
Name: Christy Kozama, Lead Naturalist, Ocean Quest
Hometown: Asheville, NC
Education: BS Marine Biology, College of Charleston, SC
Experience: Sea World San Diego, US Navy Marine Mammal Training Program,
Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute, and various other aquarist and research internships/volunteer programs
Interests: surfing, hiking, diving, snowboarding, cooking, travel, and exploring Maui

 
Michael Max Oster, Lead Naturalist, Ocean Quest
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Education:  BS Biology, Elon University 2004.
Experience: Head Educator - Schooner Sound Waters '04-'06.
Marine Science Instructor - Catalina Island Marine Institute '05-'07.
Putney Student Travel - Community Service Leader - Dominica Summer '07
National Geographic Student Expeditions - Wildlife Biology Leader - Belize, Summer '08
Interests: The Ocean, Diving, Snorkeling, Photography, Conservation, Education, Fooseball and Travel.
 
 
 
Gabriel Wilson- Lead Naturalist, Ocean Spirit
Hometown: Goldendale, WA
Education: BS in Wildlife Ecology, Washington State University
Experience: Wildlife Tech, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (Mule deer/White-tailed deer and Elk Project).
Wildlife Tech, Washington State Univ. (Mountain Lion Project)
Interests: The Outdoors, Hiking, Fishing, Hunting, Snorkeling, Diving, Kayaking, Building and Reading.
 
 
Amy Rudometkin - Naturalist, Ocean Quest
Hometown: Orcas Island, WA

Education: Central Missouri State University - Fine Arts, Business

Experience: Hiked the Appalachain Train (2001), Kayak guide and Naturalist - San Juan Islands, WA and the Channel Islands, CA.  Volunteer on various whale watching/wildlife tours in WA and CA. (2003-2009)
Interests: Conservation, Education, All things outdoors, Preventative Medicine, Art, Gardening, Hawaiian Culture,  and Happiness
 
 
 
John C. Carpenter - Naturalist, Ocean Voyager
Hometown: Newport News, VA
Education:  Recreation/Parks and Tourism, emphasis in Outdoor Recreation - Radford University
Experience:  Florida Sea Base - Brinton Environmental Center
Interests: Surfing, Bodyboarding, SCUBA, Mountain Biking, and Travelling
 
 
Morgan M. Smith- Naturalist, Ocean Odyssey
Hometown: Boulder, CO
Education: B.A. Biology - University of Colorado at Boulder; Master of Science- Florida Atlantic University
Experience:  Extensive fieldwork in Colorado, Florida and Costa Rica on birds, bugs and turtles; Hawksbill Turtle monitoring project - Big Island, HI; Science Instructor - SeaCamp-Florida Keys; Teaching Assistant - Florida Atlantic University and Harbor Branch; Masters Thesis research on sea turtles in S. Florida; Various Volunteer projects at animal sancturaries and rehabilitation centers; Primate Zoo Keeper - Palm Beach Zoo.
Interests:  Animals and the Ocean, SCUBA, snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, camping, relaxing, talking, learning, funny movies, good food, great friends.
 
 
 
 
Aleta VanZinderen - Purser, Ocean Discovery
Hometown:  Hill City, MN
Education: B.A. in Elementary Education, St. Mary's University in Winona, MN
Experience: Angling Unlimited, Sitka, Alaska.
Interests:  Music, Fishing and Whales