Ian
Owner & head skipper
Ian has grown up in Padstow and spent his life going to sea fishing with his father Andrew from a young age. He has gained extensive local knowledge and has had over 20 years experience in operating commercial passenger vessels. As well as being more than qualified to skipper our vessels he is also a dedicated volunteer member of the Padstow Lifeboat crew.
Kevin
Maintenance manager & skipper
Kevin has been skippering for us since 2015. He has over 35 years experience at sea working on fishing boats and has been a volunteer member of the Padstow Lifeboat crew for over 25 years. Kev also keeps a close eye on our boat maintenance and makes sure they are all in top condition. In his spare time he enjoys stand-up paddleboarding and taking his boxer dog Bailey out for walks along the Cornish coast.
Jenny
Manager & wildlife guide
Since moving to Cornwall from Aberdeen in 2010 to study Zoological Conservation, Jenny has developed a great passion for the sea, building up a superb knowledge of Cornwall’s marine life. Jenny is an active member of the Cornwall Seal Group, collecting seal data on our trips – identifying seals by their markings and getting to know some of our regular seal visitors. In her spare time she also volunteers for the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, helping to rescue sick, injured and stranded marine life around our coast and is part of their whale disentanglement team.
Anna
Duty Manager & Wildlife Guide
Anna joined us in 2018 as a wildlife guide, took a year away then came back in 2020. She has a bachelor’s degree in Animal Biology and a master’s degree in Conservation and Biodiversity. Anna is also a BDMLR medic volunteer for her local area. If she’s not on the boat at work, she’ll be in the surf boat with her rowing team catching some waves or walking her dog Freddie along the beach. Her favourite species to see on our trips is the grey seal, especially after basing her masters project on their behaviour.
Ellen
Duty Manager & Wildlife Guide
Ellen joined the team as a Wildlife Guide in 2022 after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology. In 2023 she achieved her Masters of Research in Marine Biology, focusing on marine mammal distribution in Padstow Bay, collecting her data while out guiding on the boats. Ellen is also a BDMLR medic and has volunteered at the BDMLR Cornwall Seal Pup Hospital since 2019. Alongside her enthusiasm for spending time in the marine environment, Ellen enjoys trail running, climbing, and gymnastics. Her favourite species to see on trips is minke whale, because of passengers reactions when they see a whale for the first time.
Callum
Skipper
Callum has worked for Padstow Sealife Safaris since 2016. A highly qualified skipper, he has spent much of his life working on boats, including for the merchant navy where he worked as a deck officer. He also has a passion for Crossfit and is a qualified Crossfit trainer, teaching classes at a local gym and taking part in competitions around the UK. In addition to this, Callum is a talented musician, can play a number of instruments and often spends his weekends performing with his band ‘The Stowes’ who specialise in Celtic folk music.
Kerri
Wildlife Guide
Kerri started with us as a wildlife guide in 2020. She has a foundation degree in Marine Conservation and bachelor’s degree in Marine Zoology. In her spare time, she loves being by the coast; kayaking, paddle boarding or hiking. During the winter she spends her time volunteering for the BDMLR, rescuing seals that may need help around the local area. At the moment, Kerri is taking time out to spend with her baby boy Dylan, but we look forward to her rejoining the team again soon. Although she loves grey seals, seabirds are another favourite of Kerri’s, especially the Northern Gannet and loves to see them diving at speed during a feeding frenzy out at sea – a fascinating sight she will never get tired of seeing!
How we choose our crew
Every member of our team have proved they are up to the job. Each with there own specialised areas we make sure that every member goes above and beyond to ensure your tour is the best it can possibly be. We want every employee to add value to our already well oiled machine and that’s why we only employ the best of the best. Not just those who are properly qualified but have a true passion for Cornwall and its wildlife.
The guides
Our guides are typically students or graduates of marine biology, zoology or similar fields, to ensure they have a vast knowledge of Cornwall’s local marine species. We are committed to giving paid opportunities to those who study locally, helping them to gain experience in their field and take a first step onto the employment ladder working around wildlife. Many of our guides are also passionate volunteers who get involved with marine wildlife charities, allowing them to share their experiences of conservation with our passengers.
The skippers
The skippers are all local seamen with years of experience on the sea – most having spend the majority of their lives on the water and many volunteering for on Padstow lifeboat. Their ability to read the waves like a book means you’re as safe as you can be. The skippers know exactly how to maintain the appropriate distance from the animals we know and love to prevent disturbance. The last thing we want to do is distress them in their natural habitat. Reassured that although it may be a bit bumpy at speed, every movement our skippers make are cool and calculated – especially when it comes to encounters with wildlife.
Want to join us?
We have connections with Cornwall College and Plymouth University to offer students an opportunity to get a foot in the door with a wildlife focused job. Some are handpicked after getting to know us through local marine groups, others have emailed us speculatively with their CV, and if they have impressed us, we’ve been in touch.
So what are you waiting for? Contact us
Cornwall's amazing sealife
The true highlight of any Padstow boat trip is the chance to see a wide variety of sea life in and around the water. You might not have realised just how many species call British waters their home!
Padstow Sealife Safaris give you the chance to get up close and personal with these fascinating creatures. Depending on the time of year that you choose to visit, you’ll have the chance to see a number of different species.
Your safety and comfort are paramount to us. Learn how our boat trips super fun whilst being the safest possible.
Our boat trips operate on 11m Humber Quinquari RIBs with twin Suzuki 300bhp out board engines.
