Meet the crew
The crew brings decades of boating experience, marine science, and Outer Banks knowledge to each tour.
Captains
From lifelong watermen to USCG-licensed masters, these are the people steering the trip and sharing the sound with you.
Owner and USCG Master Captain
Captain John moved to the Outer Banks in 1984 where he and his wife, Wendy raised their three children. He became a United States Coast Guard Master in 1998 and bought the Nags Head Dolphin Watch in 2008. Currently, he is on the Board of Directors for the Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research. Even after more than 40 years of living here, he still marvels at the beauty the Outer Banks has in store and cannot wait to show some of it off to you.
USCG 100-ton Master
Captain Carl is a United States Coast Guard licensed 100 ton master, and has been following the path of the Bottlenose Dolphin, Manatee, Whales, and other marine wildlife from the east coast to the Gulf of Mexico for the past twenty years, and is looking forward to having you on board.
Safari tour captain
Captain Johnny Booth is one of the captains of the Safari tour. He is a local legend with over 62 years of experience working on the waters of the Outer Banks. He is an experienced commercial fisherman, avid outdoorsman, and is passionate about the history and conservation of the area. He is as local as it gets with family tracing back to a shipwreck back in the 1800s and will gladly share stories about life on the island long ago, just ask!
USCG 50-ton near coastal master
Captain Jeff Brown moved to the Outer Banks in 1994. He currently holds a USCG 50 ton near coastal masters license with sailing endorsement and a British Virgin Island Boat Masters 2. He is an avid fisherman and sailor. He enjoys every opportunity to cast the lines and embark on a new adventure.
USCG 25-ton Master
Captain Christian Benedi fell in love with the Outer Banks at a young age. His family began vacationing on the beautiful beaches when he was an infant. After moving here in 2008, he spent several years snowbirding between the waters of the OBX and the Florida Keys. His love of being outside, along with his fascination for marine life led him to earn his USCG 25-ton master license, where he currently captains for the Nags Head Dolphin Watch.
2026 Crew
Each crew member brings marine science, conservation, field research, or education experience to the dolphin watch.
President and lead principal investigator, OBXCDR
Jessica Weiss Taylor has a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science from Rutgers University and a Masters of Coastal Environmental Management from Duke University. Her Master research focused on studying the specialized feeding behaviors of bottlenose dolphins in Sarasota, FL. She has also participated in several field research studies of bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, Stellar sea lions, and predatory fish in Florida, South Carolina, Australia, Alaska, and New Jersey. Jessica has worked as a naturalist with the Nags Head Dolphin Watch since 2007. In 2008, she incorporated the Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research, a non-profit dedicated to the conservation of bottlenose dolphins in the Outer Banks, and currently serves as President and lead Principal Investigator of the organization. Jessica has 7 years of teaching experience in Dare County Schools; through the OBXCDR, she has presented educational programs related to dolphin conservation to local schools and organizations. While not out on the water, Jessica lives with her husband, Jay, and their two children in Kill Devil Hills.
Naturalist and marine conservation educator
Anna DeWitt recently graduated from Cornell College with a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a minor in Environmental Science. Growing up in Iowa, she did not live near the ocean, but she has always been fascinated by marine life and coastal ecosystems. During college, Anna gained experience studying a variety of environments, including prairie, wetland, estuarine, and coral reef ecosystems. She conducted research at the Baruch Marine Field Laboratory in South Carolina, where she studied estuarine species and their habitat use, and also completed marine field research in Belize focused on coral symbiosis and reef ecosystems. Through these experiences, she developed a strong passion for marine conservation and the incredible biodiversity found in ocean environments. Anna is excited to work around marine wildlife and share her enthusiasm for the ocean and coast.
Marine science naturalist
Faith Keller is a graduate of Stony Brook University where she earned her Bachelors in Marine Science. Her love of the water started on Lake Ontario where she grew up and she has a rich appreciation of nature and marine environments. Since 2025 Faith has lived in 4 states: New York, South Carolina, Florida, and now North Carolina gathering experience and having a grand adventure while staying in the marine science field. She has served an AmeriCorps term building oyster reefs with SCDNR, had a hand in Florida sea turtle research with FWC, responded to injured manatees with MOTE Marine Lab, and was a biologist and first-mate on environmental boat tours. Faith is excited to bring her diverse background to OBXCDR research this summer and contribute to the research and conservation efforts of bottlenose dolphins.
Marine biology naturalist
Callyn Clark is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology. During her time at UNCW, she gained laboratory experience analyzing Antarctic ornithogenic soils and classified fossil bird remains from late Pleistocene cave deposits. Callyn has also developed hands-on animal care and outreach experience through working at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, assisting with rehabilitation and education efforts. Her interests extend to fieldwork, including coastal and marine research conducted through her coursework, as well as marine-mammal-focused studies completed during a study abroad program in Costa Rica. She has contributed to environmental education through her work at the Memphis Zoo and as a volunteer at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. She is deeply passionate about marine conservation and is excited to gain field experience with marine mammals while participating in research and outreach through the OBXCDR.
Marine biology naturalist
Syd Cole is a recent graduate from UNCW who earned her Bachelor degree in Marine Biology. She grew up in Exeter, NH, her whole life, taking trips to the beach to look through tide pools, which ignited her love for marine biology. She received her scuba diving license in 2021 and had the opportunity to dive around Australia while she was traveling there for softball. These dives opened her eyes to the beauty and fragility of marine ecosystems, growing her passion for marine life and conservation. She used her diving experience while interning with Aqualogic, harvesting invasive freshwater plant species in the Adirondack Mountains. During her last semester at UNCW, she had the opportunity to intern with the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital, where she assisted in rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing sea turtles. Her time here provided her with vital hands-on experience as well as education outreach. Syd is beyond excited to be in the Outer Banks for the first time and educate guests about the marine mammals and the environment surrounding them.