Meet The Crew
What truly sets Crab Island Adventures apart is our crew. Our captains are highly experienced, safety-focused, and genuinely passionate about being on the water. They take pride in delivering exceptional customer service and love creating fun, relaxing, and memorable moments for every guest who joins us on a cruise.
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Captain Riley
Captain Riley has been part of the Crab Island Adventures crew for five years, making him one of the longest-standing members of the team. A third-generation Destinite, Riley was born and raised here and has spent his life on the water, giving him a deep love and respect for the local waterways. Known for his easygoing personality and fun energy, he loves making sure everyone on board is having a great time. You’ll often catch him doing pull-ups on the upper deck of Summer Lovin’ or tossing a football around with the kids. Captain Riley brings great vibes, local knowledge, and plenty of laughs to every trip.
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Captain Jeremy
Captain Jeremy grew up in Destin and has spent most of his life on the water. After 13 years in the parasailing industry, he knows these local waters inside and out and has a knack for spotting dolphins—almost like he has a sixth sense for them. Jeremy loves the sunshine and enjoys sharing the beauty of the Emerald Coast with guests. When he’s not working, he loves taking his wife and one-year-old daughter out on the water. He’s excited to now be running Crab Island charters and helping families make unforgettable memories.
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Captain Ryan
Captain Ryan is a laid-back and easygoing captain who loves sharing time on the water with guests. A dad and former engineer, he brings both a thoughtful approach and a fun, silly personality to every trip. Ryan loves exploring the local waterways and keeping the adventure going throughout the cruise. He enjoys hopping from spot to spot and can often be found cruising the harbor, stopping by Crab Island, searching for shells along the shoreline, and exploring the beautiful waters of Destin all in one trip. Captain Ryan takes pride in creating fun, relaxed, and memorable experiences for everyone on board.
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Captain Galiel
Gaeliel comes from Lake Tahoe and loves all forms of water. In the summer, she enjoys coming to Florida for the warm water. In the winter, she is a snowboard coach. If you're lucky, she'll cook you a yummy meal, since she's also a private chef. Growing up traveling and living all over the world, she finds great joy in providing opportunities for guests to explore all aspects this beautiful world!
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Captain Madison
Captain Madison grew up around Crab Island—starting out selling ice cream to boaters as a kid—so in many ways, she jokes that Crab Island helped raise her. Being on the water has always been a big part of her life, and she loves sharing the beauty of Destin with visitors. Madison enjoys getting to know every group that steps on board, and many guests leave feeling more like family than customers.
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Captain Jamie
Captain Jamie Casey is a U.S. Coast Guard–licensed Master captain and Registered Nurse who brings both maritime experience and a strong commitment to safety to the Emerald Coast. With years of experience navigating the Gulf of Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay, he knows the local waters well. Captain Jamie enjoys sharing Destin’s natural beauty, wildlife, and coastal heritage while ensuring every trip is safe, relaxing, and memorable for guests.
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First-Mate Madi
First Mate Madi is originally from Utah and brings a friendly, upbeat energy to every cruise. She’s fantastic with kids and can usually be found helping them search for shells, find hermit crabs, or teaching them how to paddleboard. Madi loves making sure everyone is having a great time and is always ready to lend a hand—whether that’s snapping photos for your group, passing you a drink in the water, or helping guests get comfortable. Her helpful attitude and warm personality make every trip even more enjoyable.
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First-Mate Tim
First Mate Tim is incredibly kind, easygoing, and always focused on making sure guests have a great time on the water. A personal trainer and retired Air Force police officer, Tim brings both a strong work ethic and a calm, friendly presence to every cruise. He’s always happy to help with absolutely anything guests need—whether that’s lending a hand, helping everyone get comfortable, or making sure the day runs smoothly. His positive attitude and helpful nature make him a great part of any cruise.
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First-Mate Ireland
First Mate Ireland brings great energy to every cruise and knows how to make sure everyone is having a great time. Bachelorette groups especially love her fun personality, but she’s also wonderful with kids and families. Ireland works hard, is always eager to help, and consistently goes above and beyond to deliver five-star service. Whether she’s helping get the party started, assisting guests in the water, or making sure everyone is comfortable, she’s dedicated to making every trip unforgettable.
Meet Independent Skippers Frequently Hired by Our Guests
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James Taulbee
Captain James is easygoing, quick with a joke, and loves to keep the good times rolling on the water. Known for occasionally bringing a grill along to cook up burgers for guests, he’s all about making cruises fun and memorable. In the winter, James works as a snowboard coach in Lake Tahoe, and in the summer he’s back in Destin hopping from boat to boat. From sailboats to large yachts to pontoons, he’s truly a jack of all trades—and any cruise is lucky to have him as part of the day.
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Tanner
Captain Tanner grew up right here in the Destin area and has spent most of his life on the water, making these local waterways feel like home. When he’s not out on the boat, he serves the community as a firefighter with Destin Fire Rescue. With his strong commitment to safety and helping others, Captain Tanner takes pride in making sure every guest has a fun, relaxing, and safe day on the water.
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Jacob Goodroe
Captain Jacob is a 25-ton Master captain who loves life on the water. A former professional marlin and pelagic fisherman in the Gulf of Mexico, he also holds the Texas state record for tuna. Originally from Arkansas, Jacob followed his passion to the beautiful waters of Destin and has been captaining for over six years. He enjoys bringing families and friends together on the water and takes pride in creating memorable, one-of-a-kind experiences for every guest.
Why We Proudly Offer Bareboat Charters
We proudly offer bareboat charters because we believe it allows families and groups to enjoy a safer and more relaxing experience on the water.
The Destin Harbor and Crab Island area is one of the most active boating destinations in the country, especially during peak season. Boat traffic can be heavy, the tides and currents can be strong, and navigation channels are often busy.
Even experienced boaters can find the area challenging if they are unfamiliar with local conditions.
There are also not enough Coast Guard inspected vessels in the area to accommodate the thousands of visitors who come to experience Crab Island each year.
Because of this, bareboat charters provide a great option for larger groups. Guests who prefer not to operate the boat themselves can choose to hire an experienced local captain independently, allowing everyone in their group to relax and enjoy the day while someone familiar with the area handles the navigation.
At Crab Island Adventures, a few of our vessels operate as bareboat charters.
These vessels are not Coast Guard inspected passenger vessels, which means federal regulations do not allow them to operate as traditional captained charters carrying more than six passengers under our control.
However, these vessels can legally be rented directly to guests as bareboat charters, allowing larger groups to enjoy time on the water together.
When you book a bareboat charter, you are renting the vessel directly as the charterer. This means you have control over who operates the boat during your trip.
Guests may:
• Provide their own qualified operator, or
• Hire an independent captain of their choosing
For convenience, we provide a list below of independent captains and their rates, who many of our guests have hired in the past and who are familiar with navigating the Destin Harbor and Crab Island area.
All captains listed are independent operators and are not employees or agents of Crab Island Adventures. Guests are free to hire any qualified captain they prefer.
What Makes a True Bareboat Charter
A legitimate bareboat charter follows a few important principles required under federal maritime regulations.
1. The Renter Chooses the Captain
If a captain is hired, the captain is selected by the renter, not assigned by the boat owner.
2. The Captain Works for the Renter
The captain is hired directly by the renter and operates the vessel on their behalf.
3. Payments Are Separate
The boat rental is paid to Crab Island Adventures, while any captain services are arranged and paid for separately by the renter.
These steps ensure that the vessel is truly being rented to you as the charterer in accordance with federal boating regulations.
How to Hire a Captain (Step-by-Step)
Booking a bareboat charter and hiring a captain is simple.
1. Reserve Your Boat
Choose the vessel that best fits your group and reserve your charter date.
2. Select a Captain (Optional)
You may provide your own qualified operator or hire an independent captain.
Many guests choose from the list below because these captains are familiar with navigating the Destin Harbor and Crab Island area.
3. Contact the Captain Directly
If you choose to hire a captain, you will contact them directly to confirm availability for your trip.
4. Arrange Payment
Because this is a bareboat charter:
• The boat rental is paid to Crab Island Adventures
• The captain’s fee is arranged and paid separately by the renter
Rates and payment details are determined directly between you and the captain.
5. Enjoy Your Day on the Water
Once everything is arranged, your captain will meet you at the dock and operate the vessel on your behalf while you relax and enjoy your time at Crab Island.
Featured collection
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Captained Adventure Up To 6 People
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Captained Adventure Up To 6 People With Slide
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Captained Adventure up to 20 Passengers with Restroom
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Luxury Catamaran with Restroom up to 10 passengers
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Double Slide Boat Rental with Restroom up to 12 passengers
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Bareboat Charter up to 12 passengers
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