Meet The Team

Originally from Miami, Florida, Pete has been sharing his passion for the underwater world as a scuba instructor since 2015. A PADI Elite Instructor and Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Pete brings a wealth of experience from around the globe—including managing dive centers in Thailand and the Philippines and serving as a Cruise Director aboard a traditional phinisi-style liveaboard exploring the spectacular Banda Sea in Indonesia.

But Pete’s adventures don’t stop underwater. On land, he’s a teacher trainer with more than 20 years of experience as an international educator, having worked on every continent except Antarctica.

These days, Pete is happily calling St. John home, where you’ll find him exploring beneath the waves, strumming his ukulele above them, and making the most of island life in between dives.

With a passport full of stories, a love for teaching, and a ukulele always close by, Pete brings a unique blend of adventure, education, and good vibes to every dive.

Texas born and raised, Andre has been a dive professional since 2008. He completed his instructor course in Key Largo, FL and came to the Virgin Islands in 2019, joining the Low Key team in 2020 along with his girlfriend Serenity. Andre is also one of our professional underwater photographers and an active citizen scientist who works with the Smithsonian and Natural History Museum looking for and documenting rare and unknown fish. Currently he has found 7 species that had not been photo documented in the Caribbean. His favorite dive site is Ledges and his favorite fish is the Flagfin Stargazer.

Dave joined the Low Key Watersports team after retiring from the U.S. Navy, where, as a Program Manager at Naval Air Systems Command, he supported foreign partner nations by delivering modified aircraft, training, and logistics for maritime security and search-and-rescue missions, including efforts to combat illegal fishing, human trafficking, and narcotics trafficking. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a master’s degree from The George Washington University.

With four generations of family ties to the Virgin Islands and childhood summers spent on St. John, Dave’s connection to the islands runs deep. A certified diver since 1989, he continued diving recreationally throughout his Navy career and became an instructor after returning to St. John. Today, he enjoys sharing his local knowledge, experience, and love of diving with guests at Low Key Watersports.

From Pennsylvania, Ellie fell in love with the ocean from a young age. Learning to scuba dive at the age of 12 in a quarry near her hometown. Since then she has gained her Instructor certification with both PADI and NAUI, to be able to spread her love of the underwater world and excitement for adventure. They fell in love with the Virgin Islands while attending a summer camp that explored around the USVI and the BVI’s. Her favorite dive sites are the Indians and Blonde Rock. Their favorite marine animals are nurse sharks and trunk fish. Her favorite restaurant on island is High Tide and she is excited to meet everyone in the water!

Hailing from Chicago, Ellie has been a water baby for as long as she can remember, so it was only natural that she fell head over fins for scuba diving. Her dive career has taken her to the reefs of Fiji and Thailand, and now she’s found her new favorite underwater playground in St. John.

Ellie especially loves teaching Open Water students and watching them take their first breaths beneath the surface, as well as leading certified divers on fun dives around the island. When she’s topside, you might just find her at Shambles, her favorite spot on the island.

Originally from San Diego, California, Shaina has followed her sense of adventure all over the world, from snowy winters in Jackson Hole to long, sunny seasons in Turks and Caicos.

Diving has always been her passion, and she has trained and explored reefs across Asia, Australia, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Wherever she goes, Shaina loves sharing her enthusiasm for the ocean and helping others discover the magic of the underwater world.

Today she calls St. Thomas home, where you’ll find her leading guests beneath the waves.

Captain Paul Ferrari has an original home port of Long Island NY. He has spent most of his life in, on or under the water. He possesses a 100 ton captains license and is also a dive master. Living on a catamaran in St. Thomas with his family has afforded him many opportunities to live out his maritime dreams.His favorite sea creature is the kraken.

Captain Bryan Barnes is a seasoned 100 Gross Ton Master Captain with sail and tow certifications and also holds the title of Master Scuba Diving Trainer. While you can sometimes find him driving our boat charters and scuba diving trips, Captain Bryan is usually busy making sure our fleet is in top condition as our Maintenance Manager.

Inspired by his grandfather, an avid lifelong sailor, Bryan’s passion for the sea runs deep. He even lives on a sailboat with his family! While others seek sandy shores, Bryan prefers spending his time in the depths of the ocean, where he encounters fascinating sea critters like his favorite, the elusive frogfish.

When he’s not navigating the waters or exploring underwater worlds, you can find Bryan enjoying a meal at his favorite restaurant, Skinny Legs in Coral Bay. And here’s a fun fact: before his maritime adventures, Bryan spent eight years driving Zambonis, experience that is sure to help in St. John!

Our General Manager Jeremy started at Ocean Runner as a charter boat captain way back in 2014. While you can still sometimes catch him driving a boat, he’s usually making sure our company runs smoothly, all of our customers and staff are well taken care of, and finding ways that we can protect our local reef!

Jeremy sits on the board of C.O.R.E. a local non-profit that’s committed to stopping Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, a condition that kills the reefs. The C.O.R.E. team works tirelessly to treat diseased corals and to plant new disease resistant corals!

While he’s originally from Roche Noire, Mauritius, he has lived all over the world before settling in St. John.

Certification: Advanced Open Water

Favorite Dive Site: French Cap and Wreck Alley in BVI

Favorite Sea Critter: Octopus

Favorite Restaurant: The Terrace

Fun Fact: I am one of six children, all of whose first names begin with the letter J

Originally from Pennsylvania, Sydney joined Low Key & Ocean Runner in 2018, where she now serves as the Operations Manager.

In 2019, Sydney earned her PADI Open Water dive certification with Low Key. Though she was nervous to try diving, the incredible instructors at Low Key eased her worries and guided her through her first dive with care.

A twist in her journey: after four years in St. John, Sydney moved back to Pennsylvania. These days, she works remotely from home, and yes she does miss the sun!

Certification: Open Water

Favorite Dive Site: French Cap

Favorite Sea Critter: Squid & Nudibranchs

Favorite Restaurant: 1864 for sushi lunch

Hometown: Formative years in the suburbs of Los Angeles

Favorite Dive Site: French Cap and Congo Cay in the summer; Eagle Shoals in the winter

Favorite Marine Life: Red Lip Blenny

Fun Fact: Animal enthusiast and supporter of our Animal Care Center; currently owns one dog, and many cats; Loves to read and enjoys historical novels and films on the Military.

Certification: Advanced Open Water

Favorite Product in the shop: Dive Boat Silipint for many reasons

Favorite Sea Critter: Octopus

Favorite Restaurant: ZoZos

Favorite Beach: Francis

Fun Fact: Years ago I took a break from retail and  was a Rock Radio DJ and Concert Promoter

Amanda is part of our reservations team here at Low Key and Ocean Runner! She grew up on the shores of Lake Erie, where she had the opportunity to sail Sunfish, explore trails, and camp in the Appalachian Mountains. Being outdoors and on the water is her passion, and she takes every chance she can to immerse herself in nature. Her favorite sea creatures are whales, and when she’s not outside, you can find her enjoying a good book!

Ali is from Pennsylvania and has been coming to visit St. John since she was a child. She learned to scuba dive in 2004, and since then has obtained a degree in Ecology & Marine Science from Penn State, worked as an aquarist and scuba diver at an aquarium, sailed the east- and west-coasts on tall ships, completed a southbound through-hike of the Appalachian Trail, and became a scuba diving instructor! She worked here in St. John as a scuba instructor for Low Key in 2022-2023 and now works remotely as a reservationist from her hometown in Pennsylvania. Her favorite things to see diving are mantis shrimp and spotted eagle rays but she’s happy just to be in the water no matter what!