Talk to an Expedition Specialist
1.800.EXPEDITION (1.800.397.3348)
Our team is the key to your incredible adventure
Explore Baja California in the company of top experts. Team specialties include marine and terrestrial biology, botany, geology, and more. Benefit from their knowledge and passion for Baja California to observe and understand more of all you’ll see. And enjoy their company; you’ll find them highly engaging and fun to share a drink or dinner with, as well as a hike.
Naturalist/Expedition Diver
Originally from Oregon, Alyssa has always had a strong relationship with nature and the outdoors. In search of a life full of adventure, she found her passion for the ocean while studying at Oregon State University. She graduated in 2012 with a B.Sc. in marine biology, a minor in chemistry, and a PADI divemaster certification. The year following graduation included extensive traveling and diver training, gaining experience in Greece’s Ionian Sea, the Caribbean waters of Honduras and Bonaire, and the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador.
Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Andrew was born in Adelaide, South Australia and (mis)spent his youth surfing and kayaking in the ocean, as is the case for many Aussies! After graduating from medical school there, Andrew spent a year working as a surgical resident in Santa Barbara, California where he was introduced to rock climbing. Taking up this new activity with a passion, he began to explore the mountainous regions of the world and volunteered his medical skills in Nepal and India where he has since led numerous treks. After documenting his experiences there on slide film, Andrew began contributing photos to what was then the Lonely Planet image library, and thus began a ‘sideline career’ using the creative side of his brain.
Undersea Specialist
Carlos J. Navarro is a biochemist specializing in marine biology, a M. Sc. in Environmental Management and a freelance wildlife photographer/author. Carlos has spent most of the last 30 years living along the shores of the Sea of Cortez and participating in numerous scientific, conservation and environmental education projects on the vaquita, marine invertebrates, sea birds, great white sharks, baleen whales, jaguars and crocodiles. Carlos’ six years of jaguar research provided the basis of ONCA MAYA, a non-profit organization dedicated to jaguar conservation based in Cancun, of which he is a founding member and still serves as a scientific advisor. He loves being underwater, either free-diving or using SCUBA gear and have had the chance to explore the underwater realms of Alaska, Mexico, Svalbard, the trans-Atlantic ridge islands, the Caribbean and both coasts of South America from Panama to Chile and Brazil to Argentina.
Naturalist
Jill grew up in the suburbs of San Francisco, California. She has an incredible respect for the ocean that was founded on family vacations to Baja California, and nurtured in the tide pools along the coast of Big Sur.
Naturalist
Josh is a Canadian ecologist who grew up on Vancouver Island British Columbia, Canada. He studied marine biology and ecology with a focus in marine mammals, food web, and community dynamics at the University of Victoria.
Assistant Expedition Leader
Growing up in Connecticut, a love of the outdoors was cultivated in Luke from a young age, as he spent most of his time on the water exploring its coast. His mother, a laboratory scientist and master naturalist, and his father, a fine-woodworker and sailor, enrolled him in Audubon summer camps, encouraged and nurtured his fishing skills, and allowed for hours of uninterrupted time in the woods. Throughout high school and college Luke worked as a first mate on a classic Sportfishing vessel out of Montauk, NY. He also worked in guest services at a local seaside hotel where he developed a rich appreciation of all peoples.
Expedition Leader
Born near Seattle, Washington, Rab enjoyed a highly unconventional childhood as the son of a veterinary science professor. He spent his youth paddling canoes through Canada’s hinterlands, deepening his love and understanding of the natural world. After earning a degree in natural resource management from the University of Montana, Rab focused his efforts on natural history education.
Wellness Specialist
You might think Sabina works as a spy as she holds four passports! She was born in Switzerland before her family immigrated to Canada. Very early on Sabina knew her passion lay in the world of ballet and she left home aged 9 to study at the National Ballet School in Canada. After years of dedicated training she enjoyed a very successful 20-year career, twelve of which were as a principal dancer with the esteemed San Francisco Ballet.
Naturalist
Born in the mountains of East Tennessee, it was easy for Steve to fall in love with the wonderful natural environment that surrounded him. What started as a childhood passion to scan the creeks and ponds for all they would reveal evolved into a studied desire to understand the environments around us.
National Geographic Staff
Dr. Tierney Thys is a National Geographic Explorer, biologist, filmmaker and Research Associate at California Academy of Science. She has a biology degree from Brown University and PhD from Duke and has received numerous grants from National Geographic for a host of diverse projects including: satellite-tracking giant ocean sunfish, mapping connections between nature and human wellbeing through brain imaging and quantifying nature’s effect on incarcerated populations. She also serves as Daily Explorer in the popular kid's online game, Animal Jam, which currently has 180 million registered players in 7 countries. As past Director of Research for the documentary studio, Sea Studios Foundation, she helped produce the award-winning PBS series Strange Days on Planet Earth and Shape of Life. Thys is a frequent TED speaker, TEDed contributor e.g.The Secret Life of Plankton(Wildscreen Panda Winner) and a board member for the innovation think tank, ThinkBeyondPlastic and Journal of Animal Sentience.