First Mate Taylor

Born and raised in Florida, First Mate Taylor brings a true local's passion for the state's coastal wonders to every trip. A dedicated educator and nature enthusiast, she combines her love for the sea with a warm, engaging personality that makes every guest feel welcome.

Taylor holds a B.S. in Aging Sciences from the University of South Florida and an M.S. in Health Sciences from Florida Gulf Coast University, and has spent the past four years as a math teacher — a background that translates seamlessly into sharing marine life and ecosystems on the water.

Her love of shelling fuels her excitement on tours, helping guests uncover the tiny treasures along the shores of the Ten Thousand Islands. Off the water she's reading, crafting or working out — and yes, she's a huge Taylor Swift fan, so the playlist may lean Swift.

Captains and crew rotate across the fleet and both home ports with the season and the tides, so we can't promise who'll be at your wheel on a given day — but every Sand Dollar trip runs with a local captain, USCG licensed & insured, and a crew that treats your day on the water like their own.

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