HAPPY TIME private yacht

Jeff came to the ocean by way of dive certifications in high school and college after growing up in Mississippi. After a year of Hurricane Katrina relief work and a desire to take a break from the real world, he made his way to Thailand to become a dive instructor. Ten countries and six years later, Jeff had amassed a wealth of experience teaching and was ready to move on to captaining boats commercially. He currently holds a USCG 100 ton Near-Coastal Master’s license. Transitioning to sailing from running dive boats was more accidental than planned, but Jeff loves the relaxed pace and the ability to tailor charters exactly to guest preferences that was missing from the dive world. He’s used to providing the high safety standards required on dive boats and seamlessly blends that into the charter experience without the guests even noticing!

Caitlin spent her first days of life at the beach, cementing a long-standing love for the water and the animals it contains. She grew up in Pennsylvania and holds a degree in Marine Science. In an interest to expand her resume after graduating from college, she left the research lab to pursue professional diving experience. She met Jeff at her first dive job and has never looked back! Together, Jeff and Caitlin have run dive boats and operations around the world. Their work travels have taken them to the other side of the globe and back to the Caribbean. They lived on land in the BVI for two years prior to entering the charter business, working for a dive operation. The BVI holds a special place in their heart after marrying on a beach in Virgin Gorda with a tropical storm hovering above in October of 2012. They collectively have an incredible amount of experience navigating the USVI and BVI, both above and below the water. When her galley responsibilities allow, Caitlin loves giving guided snorkel tours and highlighting both fish identification and behavior for interested guests.

Caitlin’s experience cooking started as a little girl working with her mother and Italian grandmother in the kitchen (with pictures to prove it!). She’s been cooking her entire life, assisting with her mother’s catering company. Most of her menu has a connection to a longstanding family recipe or was inspired by their travels around the world. She prefers fresh, crisp flavors and ingredients, influenced by Mediterranean and Asian cuisine. Virtually everything Caitlin cooks is assembled from scratch, including an assortment of breads and pastas. She’s happy to accommodate a range of allergies and specialty diets.

Jeff and Caitlin are so excited to welcome you aboard Happy Time for a week of amazing sights, delicious food and cocktails, and memories to last a lifetime. They can’t wait to provide a custom vacation that exceeds all of your expectations!