The Crystal Seas Team

We feel that our staff greatly reflects on our company and simply spoken, our staff is fantastic. We take great pleasure in knowing that we have one of the most experienced teams in the kayaking industry and continuously work at educating and challenging ourselves to higher levels. We know what we do inside and out and it shows, from the exquisite meals that we prepare on our multi-day camping expeditions to accommodating a guest whose travel plans have gone awry.

Our staff consists of friendly outdoor enthusiasts, each one bringing a unique flavor to the team. Every year we are happy to see our past guides return and excited to bring new faces on board. Many of our employees are graduated college students who have majored in the sciences. We seek out only the best, most qualified individuals who display the same leadership, integrity and enthusiasm for which our company was founded upon. Many of our guests return year after year and we see this as a reflection of our wonderful staff.

Please allow us to introduce a part of our team…

Johannes - Johannes started guiding tours in the San Juan Islands by himself at the young age of nineteen. With an eye towards commitment and quality, he has been a significant factor in making Crystal Seas Kayaking what it is today. You can still sense his commitment to providing our guests with the highest quality kayak tours imaginable. Mail keeps pouring into the office addressed to Johannes, reminding us of how ‘top rate’ Crystal Seas has become.

Patrick - Patrick has been with Crystal Seas since 2000 and has made our outstanding multi-day program what it is today. He went from spending his summers guiding in the San Juans to pioneering our multi-day program in Costa Rica, to planning the logistical part of our tours. He grew up in the hills of Colorado and has traveled the West Coast by bicycle, hiked the rainforests of Central America with local indigenous people, explored the Middle East and has ‘checked out’ every nook and cranny in the San Juan Islands in search of ‘amazing’ inter-tidal life and ‘perfect’ beaches to catch a sunset. You’ll never forget one of Patrick’s fabulous gourmet meals, as his specialty lies in his seasonings!

Eric - A San Juan Island native, Eric does a little bit of everything around Crystal Seas. He pioneered our Florida Keys program, our bicycling program and is best known for his great sense of humor around the office. Recently, he traveled to Costa Rica to get in touch with his Latin roots and expand his knowledge of the Spanish language. Eric is down to earth, fun and an amazing guide.

Angie - Angie’s friendly voice behind the phones at Crystal Seas is a pleasant reminder of the personal attention you will receive when contacting us. Her ability to plan your vacation, reply to your mail and phone calls, direct and respond to the guides needs and keep everyone smiling is simply miraculous.

Tim - A Colorado native, Tim has been with us since 2001. He guides in the San Juan Islands, Edmonds and pioneered the Everglades tours in Florida. Not only will he show you the ins and outs of all the wildlife surrounding you, but with his white water skills and gear savvy, you'll return from a trip with him with the confidence to paddle anything.

Leo - Leo came to Crystal Seas with teaching skills that he acquired from being an education major in college and his love for the outdoors that he gained by being raised at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in Washington. He now lives in Key West guiding our tours in the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge. Not only will he lead you though a fascinating maze of mangroves but he will keep you laughing at his tales of Key West life.

Emi - Emi has been with us since 2002. She grew up in the Pacific Northwest and graduated from Western Washington University with an Environmental Education degree. She guides in Costa Rica, the San Juan Islands and is an expert at leading our family tours. Her friendly and infectious laugh will leave you feeling like you have made a friend for life!

Emily - Emily came to Crystal Seas after following in her big brother's (Christian) footsteps. Now that she has graduated college with a degree in Ecological Perspectives and Latin American Studies, she guides in the summer in the San Juan Islands and spends the winter in Costa Rica guiding and teaching English to Costa Rican children when she’s not on the water.   

Chris - An English Major from West Virginia, Chris began his adventure with Crystal Seas as a summer job. Today he spends his summers as one of our top bicycle and kayak guides in the San Juan Islands and guides in Costa Rica during the winter on the Nicoya Peninsula. Chris’s love for the outdoors has led him on hikes though the Cascades and across North and Central America . Anyone who knows Chris knows he is a class act!

Noel - Noel grew up in the Pacific Northwest as an avid outdoors enthusiast and educator. After graduating from Western Washington University with a degree in Environmental Education, he now guides in Costa Rica in the winter and moves north to the San Juan Islands where he impresses our kayaking and bicycling guests with his spectacular gourmet camp side meals.  

Now that you know a few of us, feel free to contact us if you have any pre-trip or post-trip questions, comments or would simply like to keep in touch! mail@crystalseas.com