Callyn Holder

Crew & Staff

Bio to come.

Carmen Pendleton

Mate

Originally from Victoria, Carmen fell in love with the coast at a young age. She started out as a kayak guide, exploring remote and beautiful coastal areas. After a few years, she transitioned to whale watching, which deepened her connection to the marine world. Her passion led her to work with an ocean cleanup nonprofit and contribute to nautical publications during her co-op experiences.

In 2019, Carmen joined the Maple Leaf Adventures team and has thrived in various roles across all three vessels. She’s also actively involved in the ships’ maintenance during the winter and gladly shares her knowledge about the ships with guests. What Carmen loves most about her job is the endless variety; every day brings new and exciting experiences as she explores the coast, showcasing breathtaking sights to guests from around the world. Her dedication to protecting the coast played a crucial role in our groundbreaking Marine Debris Removal Initiative.

Carmen embodies the spirit of adventure and leaves us with an inspiring quote: “The day shall not be up so soon as I, to try the fair adventure of tomorrow (so I’ll see you nice and early for a cup of tea).”

Geoff Dunstan

Crew & Staff

Bio to come.

Jeff Reynolds

Expedition Leader and Naturalist

Decades ago, a jellyfish stung Jeff and changed the course of his life. He was a teenager, at summer camp in Halifax, Canada. “I realized I needed to learn more about the underwater world that caused me such pain,” he says.

We’re not sure how this knowledge informed his next jellyfish encounters, but he’s now a biologist with a degree focused on marine biology. His impressive experience includes classifying the biodiversity of glass sponge gardens using ROV footage, with world expert Dr. Vera Tunnicliffe, and helping to biologically classify Alaska’s entire shoreline.

Studying the ocean has also led to working on the ocean since 2007 as a sailboat captain, yacht crew member and keeper. An avid sailing racer, Jeff has successfully accomplished the Victoria-Maui Race in under 15 days and continues to race in and around Victoria when not working for Maple Leaf Adventures.

He’s also a kayaker, surfer, scuba diver and adventure traveller. To top off these skills, Jeff is one of our brilliant photographers at Maple Leaf Adventures. You can follow him on Instagram to keep up with his stunning images and escapades. Jeff’s website is jkreyphoto.com if you would like to get a hold of him regarding his photography.

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Biology – University of Victoria
• Small Vessel Operators Proficiency Radio Operators Proficiency
• Maritime Commercial
• Marine Fist Aid
• Marine Emergency Duties
• A1 Marine Emergency Duties
• A2 Marine Emergency Duties
• A3 Food Safe
• Bear Aware Workplace
• Hazardous Materials Information System Safety at Sea via the BC Sailing Association

Michael Hassall

Deckhand and Chef

Michael is a Deckhand and occasional Chef, whose culinary journey is as rich and diverse as the flavors he creates. Starting his career in a chain restaurant, he quickly earned his Red Seal certification. His adventures have taken him around the globe, from a prestigious role as Executive Chef at the culinary school where he honed his skills, to expeditions in Antarctica.
Michael’s passion for the coast is palpable, fueled by the majestic mountains, ancient forests, rich biodiversity, and vibrant culture of the West Coast. What truly inspires him is the camaraderie of like-minded crew with a shared belief in environmental stewardship and sustainable practices.

Recently, Michael transitioned to the role of deckhand aboard trips, though he still occasionally dons his chef’s hat. This shift allows him to spend more time in the field and with guests, deepening his connection to the coast and its people. It has also given him the opportunity to work with the Canadian Coast Guard. For Michael, the most rewarding aspect of his job is the people he works alongside. Each voyage is a unique blend of diverse talents and humble wisdom. No two days are ever the same, and he deeply appreciates the unwavering support and dedication of his fellow mariners.

Philip Stone

Mate & Photography Instructor

Photography has been a passion and a part of Phil’s life since childhood. What started as a hobby gradually grew to become a key part of his adventures and business.

Phil’s photographs appeared in hundreds of magazines and newspapers including Climbing, Snowboard Canada, Rock & Ice, Explore, National Geographic Traveler, Backcountry, Couloir, The Province, Globe and Mail along with many regional publications.

Combining a love of writing with photography Phil has written and published a series of guidebooks, an adventure sports magazine, and a community newspaper. Multi-talented, Phil can also be found behind the wheel of Swell, navigating the coastal waters as a Mate.

Polly Cox

Deckhand

Polly’s diverse career began in the rugged wilderness of northwestern Ontario, where she worked in forest fire operations for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, focusing on fire science and aerial fire detection. This ignited her passion for environmental conservation.

Her love for scuba diving turned into a profession, taking her from the freshwater lakes of Ontario to the coastal beauty of British Columbia and the idyllic shores of Grand Cayman. As an instructor and dive boat captain, Polly shared her underwater passion with enthusiasts. A transatlantic voyage took Polly to the United Kingdom, where she guided on the waters of the Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas, and the Northeastern Caribbean, even spending seasons with North Atlantic Humpback Whales in the Dominican Republic.

Polly’s roles as purser, instructor, deckhand, and dive guide have equipped her with extensive knowledge in guest services and vessel operations. Her rich boating tradition includes racing and cruising on the Great Lakes, Ontario’s inland waterways, and Caribbean regattas. Whether sailing, diving, paddling, or on land adventures, Polly’s commitment to conservation and her love for exploration shine through.

She eagerly shares her enthusiasm with the Maple Leaf Adventures crew and their guests, enriching journeys with her dedication to the environment and adventurous spirit. Polly is an invaluable member of our team, enriching the experience of all who travel with her.

Sarah Powell

Mate

Sarah was born in Victoria and grew up boating and fishing along the Pacific Coast. Every summer was spent cruising the ocean in her family’s boat. As an adult, Sarah had a difficult time giving up her summer jobs on the water, despite completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology.

She decided to join the Canadian Coast Guard full-time and pursue a career as a mariner, where she sailed every corner of the coast, from Southern Vancouver Island to the Canadian Arctic.

Sarah has spent over a decade in the whale-watching business, sharing her excitement and passion for the marine environment she calls her home. She loves showing people things they’ve never seen before. “Unexpected encounters are always the highlight of exploring”, Sarah says. From fishing and diving to hiking and skiing, Sarah can usually be found outdoors exploring with her dog Perez.

Simon Ager

Deckhand

Though he was born in landlocked Alberta, Canada, Simon has dedicated his life and career to being on the water. With over 1,500 days at sea on global marine conservation campaigns, he has a keenly developed sense of the interconnectedness of BC’s coastal environment.

Deeply moved by his experiences studying Pacific salmon populations, Simon is committed to educating and protecting the stunning, yet fragile ecosystem he calls his home. 

At sea, Simon has a wide range of experiences that allow him to play many roles. Whether he is wearing the hat of a Mate, Able Seaman, Photographer or Ships Manager, he always looks forward to meeting like-minded people who are excited about experiencing the natural beauty of the BC coast.

Simon loves a good laugh, Van Gogh, and any flora that will attract the bees! He hopes to one day become a National Geographic Photographer. 

Sophie Vanderbanck

Deckhand

Sophie is a biologist and passionate marine conservationist. Her deep connection to the ocean began in the lagoons of Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean, where she grew up.

She studied Natural Resource Conservation at The University of British Columbia and in Haida Gwaii at the Haida Gwaii Higher Education Society. During this time, she also worked for Dr. Suzanne Simard as a field assistant, helping set up Dr. Simard’s “Mother Tree Project”.

Growing up in a family that stocked their bookshelf with marine species identification textbooks and snorkelled to collect animals for observation in their fish tanks set the stage for her love of working at the Ucluelet catch-and-release Aquarium. Here, she worked as a naturalist, sharing her passion for marine life, and managed the Ucluelet Aquarium Marine Debris Initiative, collecting microplastic data on local beaches.

Sophie now works at Strawberry Isle Marine Research Society in Tofino, and is involved in marine mammal research, education and rescue in her local waters. Some of her projects include offshore pelagic surveys, killer whale monitoring, sea star wasting surveys and eelgrass mapping. When she’s not doing research, you can find Sophie on a kayak guiding in Clayoquot Sound or The Broken Group Islands, sharing her love for the ocean with others!

Terese Ayre

Steward

Terese otherwise known as “Tree” to the Maple Leaf Adventures family, is both a tall ship sailor and a graphic designer. Her visual and three-dimensional skills make Terese a valued member of the maintenance team every time there is sanding, varnishing, painting and detail work to be done on the ships.

After a career in Vancouver in graphic design, she changed her life and signed up as a trainee on the tall ship Picton Castle, out of Nova Scotia Canada. On this 179-foot barque, she sailed around the world, learning seamanship and sailing skills and exploring new continents. Since her return to Canada, Tree has crewed aboard the schooner Maple Leaf and more recently aboard the tugboat Swell. She lives in Victoria and divides her time between graphic design and crewing with Maple Leaf Adventures. In addition to deck-handing and ship maintenance at Maple Leaf, Terese has designed t-shirts and other materials and helped in the office in many ways. Terese also dedicates time to volunteering with the Maritime Museum of BC.

Education & Certifications

• Small Vessel Operators Proficiency Radio Operator Card
• Maritime Commercial
• Marine First Aid
• Marine Emergency Duties
• A2 Food Safe

Zahailey Golden

Crew & Staff

Bio to come