VISAR Crew List
Crew
Top of Page ^Abi Hillman
Abi Hillman joined VISAR in 2009. Her experience in the diving and boating industry in places as diverse as Australia, Cyprus and Abu Dhabi, makes her a great asset to our team.
Location: Tortola
Top of Page ^Amy Roost
Originally from the UK, Amy has been in the BVI since 2003 running a trust company. Amy joined VISAR in 2004. VISAR for Amy is: "about being part of the community, helping people and keeping up a constant learning curve...whilst having fun, with a cracking bunch of people!
Location: Tortola
Top of Page ^Andrea Scott
Andrea moved to the BVI in 2000 and has lived here for seven years with a 1 1/2 year gap in 2004. Presently working on Guana Island as Guest Services Manager. Lives on Tortola with her boyfriend and dog.
Location: Tortola
Top of Page ^Andrew Smith
Andrew was born in the UK, but after traveling around for a while finally settled in the BVI. A dive instructor by trade, but now working for a construction company. He enjoys playing tennis, photography and anything medical!
Location: Virgin Gorda
Top of Page ^Bill Bailey
Bill was born in England in 1954 and has resided in the British Virgin Islands since 1989. He has a degree in zoology with honours from London University. He has been sailing for approximately 48 years and became a qualified sailing instructor for the Royal Yachting Association in 1978. He is a professional marine surveyor based in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
Location: Tortola
Top of Page ^Brian Gandey
Brian has spent l9 years in British Virgin Islands charter game, and is the longest standing crew member as he joined VISAR in the first months of its rebirth. He is chair of the VISAR nominating Committee, and was involved with a re-enactment of a VISAR rescue for the television show "Rescue 9ll".
Location: Tortola
Top of Page ^Chris Cooke
Chris is the owner of CRC Engines & Fabricating, marine mechanic & captain and has been resident in VG since 1975.
Top of Page ^Chris Haycraft
Born and raised in the BVI, spent my life messing around boats, love to be on the water but not in it!
Location: Tortola
Top of Page ^Christoph Denk
A cold call brought Christoph and his wife Diana to this hot place in 2007. He swapped activities on frozen water in the Swiss Mountains for those in and on the Caribbean Sea. Christoph is a Lawyer by trade and now works in the financial industry on Tortola.
Top of Page ^Colin Haddock
Colin is originally from Britain, lived in Canada for many years, before moving to Virgin Gorda in 2001. He is a Chartered Accountant and worked for many years in the financial industry in Canada before starting his own consulting practice. In the BVI he works as a management consultant part time, and is able to participate in a number of community activities including VISAR, coaching children in soccer, swimming, and cricket. He is a director of St Mary’s School, and on the board of a number of organizations.
Location: Virgin Gorda
Top of Page ^Cris Ruffell Smith
Cris is originally from the UK but have worked abroad his entire career. At present, he is working in the construction rental industry. He has been married to his wonderful wife Florenda from the Philippines for 16 past years. He is an animal lover with lots of cats and dogs and enjoys traveling, golf and just having a good time.
Location: Tortola
Top of Page ^Elaine Couper
Elaine is a professional Captain and Dive Instructor, originally from Scotland and moved to the BVI in 2000 after living in Kenya and Turkey. She is currently running a day charter boat from Virgin Gorda. She enjoys boats, diving, skiing, adventure sports and world travel
Top of Page ^Freddie Pickles
Freddie joined VISAR in 2008 becoming crew in 2009. A diver and day skipper by profession. Freddie hails from England via many exotic popular dive locations around the world.
Top of Page ^Geoff Cooke
Geoff is the owner of The Workbench Ltd; a Sailor & Shipwright and has been a resident in VG since 1969.
Location: Virgin Gorda
Top of Page ^Gerard Kraakman
Gerard has lived in the British Virgin Islands since 2000, working first as a captain on a catamaran. He is now the general manager of The Woodshop on Tortola.
Location: Tortola
Top of Page ^Helen Janes
Helen has been a member of VISAR crew since 2002 and is currently Treasurer on the Board of Directors. She is a Chartered Accountant working in the captive insurance and mutual fund industries in the BVI. Her spare time is spent walking the dogs, bobbing in the sea and working on the house and garden.
Top of Page ^Lars Giersing
Originally from Denmark, Lars lived in California since 1987and moved to Virgin Gorda in 2004. Lars has a 12 year old daughter and is married to Linda Giersing. He had his own car business for 11 yrs but sold the shop and started to drive Race cars professionally. Lars is now an Engineer for US based Race teams. He likes boating, sailing, scuba diving, snow skiing, racing and reading.
Location: Virgin Gorda
Top of Page ^Laura Fox
Laura is an Elementary school teacher from Nova Scotia, Canada. Living in the BVI since 2002.
Location: Virgin Gorda
Top of Page ^Linda Giersing
Linda was born in Denmark although lived in California since 1987, she moved to Virgin Gorda in 2004. Have a daughter and married to Lars Giersing since 1987. Used to run a small intl. co. in California for 15 years before moving to the BVI. Linda enjoys enjoys boating, swimming, sailing, water skiing, scuba diving, snow skiing, hiking, reading and cooking. Linda has been a VISAR Responder since 2005.
Location: Virgin Gorda
Top of Page ^Mark Sanders
Mark was born in the UK and grew up sailing the waters of the East Coast & Thames Estuary/English Channel. He came to the Caribbean for the first time in 1990 delivering a Yacht from Europe, spent some time work/cruising down Island and in South America, before arriving in the British Virgin Islands in 1996 and deciding to stay. He is currently manager and part owner of TMM, a Yacht Charter company on Tortola, operating 45 boats.
Location: Tortola
Top of Page ^Meron Napier
Meron finished her degree in business in the UK and after working in Hull for 2 years decided on a change of pace. She is currently working as a coordinator for Dive BVI and enjoy diving recreationally. She also enjoys traveling around the world, but has found a home in the BVI.
Location:Virgin Gorda
Top of Page ^Murray Maxwell
Murray is the manager of a Private Estate and has been living in the BVI since 1974. In his spare time, he loves flying, scuba diving and tennis.
Location: Virgin Gorda
Top of Page ^Paul Hubbard
Paul is originally from the UK and after serving 16 years in the Army as a Royal Engineer, he moved to the BVI in 2003 to live life under the coconut trees and grow his hair. Paul is a full time professional Photographer and Videographer, spending his time above and below the waters of the BVI capturing the islands beauty. Paul is a VISAR Crew Member and is also on the Board of Directors as the Tortola Crew Representative. Paul has now finally cut his hair.
Location: Tortola
Top of Page ^Richard Wooldridge
Rich arrived in BVI '94 and has been a VISAR Crew member since '95. He is married to Jaeda and they have a 9yr old son, Ryan. He worked the charter business for 8 yrs and then moved into yacht management and boatbuilding. He ran a sailing school back in Exmouth, East Devon before delivering yachts caused the BVI landfall.
As an 'old timer' he’s seen a lot of changes at VISAR and is proud to be a volunteer 'giving something back' as they say! When the body let's go he wants to be a coordinator.
Location: Tortola
Top of Page ^Russell Willings
Having moved to the BVI in 2004, Russell now splits his time between entertaining two young sons, windsurfing, sailing and diving. When this gets all too stressful, he pops into the office and practices law.
Location: Tortola
Top of Page ^Simon Fox
Simon is a Civil Engineer working for Yates Associates Construction Co. Ltd. He has been in BVI since 2001.
Location: Virgin Gorda
Top of Page ^Tom Means
Tom was born in the UK and grew up in the US and has lived in the BVI since 2001. He joined VISAR shortly after arrival due to the like-mindedness of the VISAR responders, the desire to help others, and the opportunity to gain valuable boat handling skills and experience. He became a crew member in 2002.
Location: Tortola