First Mate Cristina

Born and raised in Naples, Cristina grew up exploring the islands and coastal waters of Southwest Florida — and she's spent more than seven years guiding on them. A Florida Coastal Master Naturalist, she brings deep local knowledge and genuine passion to every trip.

Guests mention the same things again and again: she goes out of her way to make sure everyone's having the best time — pointing out dolphins, explaining the variety of shells to look for, and checking in throughout the trip to help every sheller head home with their best haul.

Off the water she's a creative spirit through and through: active in local and national reggae music culture, she writes songs and poetry, sings, takes photos, and creates ocean-inspired art and decor. You might also catch her cruising on her longboard, paddleboarding, or chasing a sunset down a nature trail. (And she'll never say no to tacos and ice cream.)

Captains and crew rotate across the fleet and both home ports with the season and the tides, so we can't promise who'll be at your wheel on a given day — but every Sand Dollar trip runs with a local captain, USCG licensed & insured, and a crew that treats your day on the water like their own.

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