About Us
Explore with Local Biologists
Rising Tide Explorers is the only company in Naples & Marco Island that offers guided excursions led by 100% active local biologists and science professionals! We are dedicated to our mission of sharing our passion and knowledge for SWFLs local ecology with you and your family. Come see the world through the eyes of a Florida biologist!
Our Story
Rising Tide Explorers was founded in 2016 by a group of local biologists and graduate students looking to share their knowledge and passion for the unique ecological landscape of Naples & Marco Island, FL with others. After studying the local ecotourism industry, it was discovered that there are no certification, education, training, or experience requirements needed to conduct ecotours in the entire state of Florida! This left eager travelers with no way of knowing if the guide they were following into the wilderness had any training, safety certifications, or real knowledge of this unique and complex ecosystem. Having dedicated our lives to exploring the outdoors and studying the ecology of the area, the future guides of RTE decided to leverage their unique backgrounds, connection to the local science community, and passion for science to raise the bar of the ecotourism industry in Southwest Florida!
With our diverse background of research experience, we now offer fun, educational and family friendly kayak tours & boat tours unlike any other. As the first and only biologist owned-and-operated ecotour company in the region, and the exclusive ecotour partner of the Friends of Rookery Bay, we take pride in sharing our knowledge of this wild place through the most unique and dynamic adventures in Naples & Marco Island.
Supporting Local Science
While having fun in the outdoors with you and your family, we are also working to support the local science community. When you explore with RTE, a portion of the proceeds from your tour or rental goes to support the research, education, stewardship, and conservation efforts of the 110,000-acre Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve through our partnership with the Friends of Rookery Bay. At the same time, your tour ticket is helping to provide additional income opportunities for local science professionals and graduate students who have chosen to spend their lives working to protect, preserve, and better understand out local ecosystems.
We are endlessly grateful for all the love and support we’ve received over the years from our neighbors, friends, colleagues, and all of our fellow explorers who come back year after year to join us for memorable adventures in the estuary. Exploring together, making memories, and sharing our passion with you and your family is incredibly rewarding for us, and we welcome you to the RTE family. Looking forward to exploring with you, and we’ll see you on the water!!
Proud Partner of the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve & the Friends of Rookery Bay
As the only true biologist owned and 100% local biologist guided eco-tour company in Southwest Florida, RTE is honored to represent the Rookery Bay Research Reserve as their exclusive ecotour provider. As partners of the 501c3 citizen support organization the Friends of Rookery Bay, our programming helps to raise funds to support the research, education, stewardship, and conservation efforts of the Rookery Bay Research National Estuarine Research Reserve. A portion of the proceeds from your kayak tour, boat tour, kayak rental, and more are given back the the Friends of Rookery Bay to help protect this wild and incredibly unique natural area here in Southwest Florida. Help protect and preserve the place that makes Naples & Marco Island so special by supporting Rookery Bay Reserve and SWFL’s ONLY biologist guides! Book your Tour or Rental today!
Meet the Guides
Meet our biologist guides, captains, and the RTE crew! Our team is customer service oriented, highly trained, and certified in safety to provide safe, enjoyable, and memorable adventures. All of our guides and captains are hand selected through the local science community, and we require a minimum of a Master’s degree or relevant research experience in the ecological sciences to qualify as a lead guide. Would you call your college buddy with a psychology degree he’s never used a psychologist…? That’s what we thought. While some may claim to be biologists, our crew is the real deal and we’re willing to prove it!
Read our team’s profiles below to learn more about the most fun and qualified guide staff in Naples & Marco Island! See who might be leading your next adventure and read about their research experience, area of expertise, and a little about what they do here as part of the SWFL science community. While sharing a deep knowledge of their wild backyard and living laboratory, you’ll find their passion for all things ecology extremely contagious. Our fun guides have some decent jokes, but you’ll find it’s a crutch they don’t need to provide you with the most awesome experience in SWFL! Get out and learn with the most experienced, knowledgeable, and passionate guides of all time with the RTE team!
Capt. Ryan Young
Founder & Lead Explorer
MS Environmental Science – FGCU
Research Focus: Wetland Ecology, Restoration Ecology, Water Quality
Capt. Jeannine Young
RTE Education & Outreach - Boat Captain
MA Environmental Studies – FGCU
Research Focus: Environmental Education & Community Science
Capt. Winston Purkey
Biologist Guide & Captain
BS Biology & Wildlife Ecology – FGCU
Research Focus: Herpetology, Fisheries, Estuarine Ecology, Fire Ecology
Biologist Guide & Paddle Instructor (ACA)
MS Estuarine Ecology – College of Charleston
Research Focus: Oyster Reef Ecology, Ocean Acidification, Shellfish Biology
Matt Metcalf
Biologist Guide & Paddle Instructor (ACA)
MS Environmental Science – FGCU
Capt. Sarah Norris
Biologist Captain & Captain
Environmental Specialist – City of Naples
Research Background: Sea Turtle Biology & Nesting Patterns, Land Management, Exotic Species Management, Water Quality
Helen Midney
Biologist Guide
MS Environmental Science – FGCU
Research Focus: Water Quality, Aquatic Restoration, Science Communication & Interpretation
Capt. Claire Charde
Biologist Guide & Captain
BS Environmental Science
Capt. Morgan Zeleny
Captain & Rookery Bay Education Specialist
BS Biology
Research Focus: Environmental Education, Sea Turtle Biology, Land Management
Renee Marino
RTE Kayak Sweep
Florida Master Naturalist
Focus: Florida Coastal Ecosystems
Capt. Rachael Schinbeckler
Biologist Guide & Captain
MS Environmental Science – FGCU (in progress)
Research Focus: Ichthyology, Cetology, Water Quality
Capt. Monica McKenzie
Biologist Guide & Captain
BS Environmental Science – FGCU
Research Focus: Environmental Ecology, Mangrove Ecology, Avian Biology
Ray "Raymundo" Boniface
RTE Kayak Sweep
BS Fisheries & Wildlife
Focus: Ichthyology, Water Quality, Trophic System Management
Heidi Clark
RTE Kayak Sweep
Sydney Payne
Biologist Guide
BS Biology – FGCU
Research Focus: Sea turtle biology, Marine Invertebrates
Derek Salge
Biologist Guide
BS Wildlife Biology
Celina Ceballos
Biologist Guide
MS Environmental Science (in progress)
Research Focus: Herpetology, Algal Toxins, Sea Turtle Conservation, Proteomics
Susannah Cogburn
Biologist Guide
MS Environmental Science – FGCU (in progress)
Research Focus: Ecotoxicology, Ichthyology, Ocean Acidification, Harmful Algae Blooms, Water Quality
Cierra Schmauch
Biologist Guide
BS Marine Science – FGCU
Research Focus: Oyster Reef Biodiversity, Sea turtle Monitoring