Captain John
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 can’t wait to show some of it off to you.
Captain Carl
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.
Captain Johnny Booth
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 1800’s and will gladly share stories about life on the island long ago, just ask!”
Captain Jeff Brown
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’s an avid fisherman and sailor. He enjoys every opportunity to cast the lines and embark on a new adventure.
Captain Hector Benedi
Captain Hector Benedi Is a Virginia native but now a proud resident of the beautiful Florida Keys, where he has called home for the past 14 years. He always looked forward to vacationing on the Outer Banks growing up. He was stuck to the Potomac River the majority of the boating season. He’s been drawn to wildlife, watersports, and anything involving being in or on the water. More recently he has been lucky enough to spend Dolphin watching season with NHDW. Currently sporting a USCG 50-ton Masters license and a Yamaha Master Technician certificate, you’re in good hands! All of which leading him to be able to share the Love of the water and local ecology with you!
Meet the Crew – 2025
Jessica Weiss Taylor
Jessica has a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science from Rutgers University and a Masters of Coastal Environmental Management from Duke University. Her Master’s 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 (OBXCDR), 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 6 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.
Allie Stevens
Allie Stevens loves being out on the water, having spent much of her childhood on the Chesapeake Bay and lakes up in Canada. She has a deep appreciation for nature and environmental conservation, which motivated her to earn a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from Lehigh University. Since then, she has dedicated her career to driving positive environmental change. At 4Ocean, she contributed to the removal of millions of tons of marine debris from the ocean, while educating the public about plastic pollution. In New Zealand, she managed the country’s first commercial seaweed hatchery, helping pioneer the growth of a sustainable seaweed farming industry. But the experience that inspired her the most was working as a humpback whale naturalist on Maui. Observing humpback whales, spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and Hawaiian monk seals up close solidified her passion for marine mammal science.
Allie is eager to join OBXCDR’s bottlenose dolphin research this summer, to contribute to critical conservation efforts while inspiring and educating others about bottlenose dolphins and the environment.
Gianna Provenzano
Gianna Provenzano is a current student working towards a Bachelor of Science in environmental studies with biology and marine studies minors at East Carolina University. Despite not growing up near the ocean, she has always loved marine life and is passionate about sustainability and
environmental conservation. Gianna’s academic journey in marine science began as an intern at the Coastal Studies Insitute, where she developed a love for interdisciplinary oceanography research and the unique ecosystems of the Outer Banks. Gianna has since worked in ECU’s Asch Fisheries Oceanography Lab, researching the abundance and distribution of larval fish around Cape Hatteras. She has begun work on an independent research project on local shark migration patterns as well. Gianna’s love for marine environments extends to her hobbies, where she enjoys scuba diving and underwater photography. She is deeply passionate about ocean conservation and is excited to gain experience working around marine mammals while participating in research and outreach through the OBXCDR.
Tori Egy
Tori Egy is a graduate of East Carolina University, where she earned a B.S. in Environmental Studies. In 2021, she was elected to the Elmira College Sustainability Council, where she led a community garden project, organized sustainability events, and helped shape sustainable practices at the administrative level. Over the past year, she has gained valuable hands-on experience managing environmental education campaigns for Dare County’s emergency management department and the North Carolina Conservation Network. Her passion for marine science and conservation has been a driving force from a young age, and is excited to now apply her knowledge and experience to further dolphin conservation efforts in North Carolina
Kayla Illig
Kayla Illig is a recent graduate from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, National Honors College, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Science. Kayla lived by the Chesapeake Bay her entire life and frequently vacationed on the Mid-Atlantic, Florida, California and Washington coastlines. These experiences helped spawn her interest in marine mammals at an early age. Growing up, Kayla taught herself about marine wildlife, particularly whales and dolphins. In high school, she volunteered for two years at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD, sharing her knowledge and joy of the marine world with visitors. Through her time at the Aquarium, she developed an interest in octopods. For her college senior capstone, she completed a comprehensive literary review on octopus sensory biology. In addition to courses in ecology and biology, she used school projects as opportunities to analyze information on cetacean behavior and communication. Outside of school, Kayla worked as an instructor for two years at a wildlife education facility where she led camp groups and outreach programs for children. This past summer, she worked as a seasonal animal care naturalist. With her passion for research, education, and conservation of marine wildlife, Kayla is beyond excited for her first opportunity to be out on the water and spend time with the dolphins and visitors to the Outer Banks.