Cruise West Alaska Exploration Leaders

Meet Cruise West's Exploration Leaders

• Rudy Zamora
  Rudy Zamora is Cruise West's lead naturalist guide aboard the Pacific Explorer in Costa Rica and Panama. Rudy was born on a dairy farm in the highlands of Costa Rica, and his lifelong appreciation of that tropical nation's natural cornucopia has led to years of involvement with local and international conservation organizations. He dedicates an abundant amount of time educating and raising awareness about the incredible diversity and fragile state of Costa Rica's ecosystems and the importance of preserving them for ourselves and future generations. An accomplished musician and world traveler, Rudy has a degree in biology, and his field of expertise is tropical ecology and ornithology. For the last ten years, he has worked as a naturalist guide, with a special interest in bird watching. Recently, Rudy added the diversity of Alaska's wildlife to his repertoire, logging 80 new species of birds to his lifelong list.
  
  
• Paulino Perez
  Paulino adds depth to our Sea of Cortés itinerary that is unparalleled. Paulino has a degree in Marine Biology. He studied and is most familiar with the waters of the Sea of Cortés. As a local naturalist, he has an intimate knowledge of the unique flora and fauna found in the region. A nature hike with him on one of the protected islands in the Sea of Cortés is an eye-opening experience as Paulino reveals the diverse plant and animal species that thrive there. Paulino is an active conservationist for these ecologically fragile areas; he has served as an inspector for the Mexican protected areas on the islands in the Gulf of California. A skilled sailing, kayaking, and diving guide, he has been leading trips for the past 18 years. He is also an accomplished artist, often painting the inhabitants of the fragile underwater environment that he is so passionate about.
  
  
• Meriwhether Gill
  Meriwether is a marine mammal specialist. After growing up in South Carolina, Meriwether headed to Virginia's Hollins College to obtain a double major in Biology and Psychology. Her positive experience in the field soon led her back to the same university for a master's degree with an emphasis on Marine Mammal Behavior and Training. Meriwether's life has revolved around the ocean and marine mammals. Several years spent in the Hawaiian Islands working with the Pacific Whale Foundation (a non-profit organization dedicated to research, education and conservation) have given her intimate knowledge and experience with whales and dolphins. She is a naturalist and educator, with knowledge of a diverse array of marine flora and fauna, with an emphasis on Humpback whales, Hawaiian spinner dolphins, coral reefs and their inhabitants. Meriwether is a skilled sailing master and diving instructor with certifications in Open Water SCUBA (NAUI) and Advanced SCUBA (PADI), as well as an operator of excursion crafts with a U.S. Coast Guard Master's Near Coastal License.
  
  
• Jennifer Martin
  With an incessant love for travel and the great outdoors, Jen is one of our most seasoned Exploration Leaders. An earlier interest and degree in Pre-Veterinary Medicine quickly gave way to a desire for a life teeming with wildlife and exploration. Jen was first introduced to Alaska's wilderness as a licensed tour bus driver and guide in Skagway. Now with 7 seasons spent examining Alaska's rugged landscape and waterways under her belt, Jen is an authoritative guide and interpreter of the area. Many of you may have cruised with her before, as she has sailed all our destinations, save Prince William Sound, and has served on nearly every vessel in our fleet. She has led literally hundreds of trips and is a very adept and proficient naturalist and lecturer on a broad array of topics, such as marine life, native cultures and the geography of the land. She is a natural leader and teacher and has an energy and enthusiasm that is catching. As a full-time Exploration leader her experiences cruising through diverse climates and ecosystems range from those of Alaska's icy waters south to the Sea of Cortés, giving her an extraordinary breadth of knowledge and expertise. Jen has visited all 50 U.S. states, as well as many exciting places abroad including Europe, Asia, and Africa. This summer Jen will take on a new challenge with Cruise West as the Director of Guest Programs on board our flagship, the Spirit of Oceanus.