Meet Val! Senior Marine Naturalist.
For many of us, the ocean is a beautiful place. For Val, our senior marine naturalist, it’s more than that. It’s home. His journey into marine science began as a spark of childhood curiosity. By the age of five, Val already knew he wanted to become an expert in ocean life and be a voice for the creatures within it. At just 15, he earned his first scuba certification, diving headfirst, literally, into a lifelong passion for the sea.
Today, Val spends his days scanning the horizon for whales and dolphins, bantering with Captain Jack, and guiding guests through unforgettable encounters while teaching them about the intricate marine ecosystems that surround us. His passion for education is what first drew him to whale watching, and he’s especially fascinated by the social behavior of humpback whales, including their complex competition groups.
But it’s not just the known behaviors that intrigue him, it’s the mystery.
“My favorite moments are the ones that make absolutely no sense,” Val says with a smile. “A whale does something unexpected, a guest asks why, and I have to say, ‘We don’t really know.’ Those are the moments that challenge our understanding and remind us how much we still have to learn.”
Val’s scientific curiosity has also led him to research. He co-authored a paper on Spinner Dolphin habitat use and resting behavior, which highlights how these dolphins rely on a large portion of Maui Nui waters for rest. This area also sees heavy boat traffic. This study underscores an important message he often shares:
“These are wild animals. They weren’t put on Earth to entertain us,” Val emphasizes. “We are privileged to witness them in their natural environment, and that comes with a responsibility. The laws we follow are there to protect them and we enforce them because we care.”
When he’s not out on the water, Val enjoys life on land. Spending time with his fiancée and their pets, freediving, training for triathlons, or volunteering as a youth tennis coach on the west side of the island.
As we prepare to say a hui hou (until we meet again), we’re excited to share that Val is heading off to graduate school, where he will soon study the population genetics of Atlantic Spinner Dolphins in the Caribbean. He also hopes to witness and study the elusive Clymene Dolphins. We’ll miss Val’s knowledge, passion, and sassy presence on the boat, but we know the ocean will always be his home and his classroom.
Check out our dolphin tours and learn about the animal that has inspired Val’s masters program focus!