Albatross Encounter Staff
Albatross Encounter has two full time skippers who also act as tour guides. Both skippers have a wealth of knowledge on the Kaikoura district and the pelagic sea birds which visit the area. They also share a passion for all oceanic wildlife that they encounter whilst leading Albatross Encounter tours.
Gary or "Gazza" (as he is locally known) is one of our most experienced and longest serving skippers. He has worked for Encounter Kaikoura for 12 years and brings with him a wealth of pelagic seabird experience with 25 years of fishing in the Kaikoura area.
His adventures have taken him all around the world including a circumnavigation of Antarctica, South America and South Africa, certainly well travelled!!! His favourite places include South Georgia, South Thule and of course Kaikoura.
Gary has been skippering on our Albatross Encounter since its inception. When he’s not taking people out to see the albatross, he likes to spend time nurturing his garden and using his organic vegetable patch to create culinary masterpieces in his kitchen.
Al hails from Ashburton and is a true southern man. He is now in his 7th year with Encounter Kaikoura. He has experience in many aspects of the business including, skippering, guiding and maintenance on both the Dolphin and Albatross Encounter tours.
Al's love of wildlife and ecology has enabled him to become adept at identifying the huge range of marine species that can be viewed during an Albatross Encounter tour.
Al enjoys utilising Kaikoura’s magnificant local surrounds and regularly spends his evenings searching for crayfish, paua or spearfishing. Al also enjoys the Kaikoura coastline taking walks along the beach and enjoying sunset BBQ’s.
Translation in Japanese