Greg Shea grew up on the shores of the Salish Sea in Nanaimo, British Columbia. He discovered his love of adventures in nature as a teenager, when he attended an outdoor leadership training program on Vancouver Island --something travelers in BC have been glad of ever since.

A skilled and dedicated outdoorsman, Greg became a successful kayak guide, leading, scouting and developing trips for top companies in British Columbia, Belize and the Sea of Cortez. He and a business partner then founded and grew the premier kayak guide training company on the coast, eventually selling it.

Greg has been sailing boats along the wild BC/Alaska coast for decades, and has been a crew member in the Maple Leaf family since 2005. He is very experienced at leading expeditions, and is a master mariner for Maple Leaf as well as possessing many wilderness guide certifications.

He and his wife Jolie (a naturalist, writer and kayak guide) have been exploring the coast aboard their own sailboat, as well; first on their own, and now with their two children. Greg is also professional photographer and his photos have enlivened the pages of many magazines including Cruising World and Pacific Yachting. He and Jolie are frequent and favourite contributors to Pacific Yachting magazine.

We believe that some of Greg’s greatest attributes -- his friendly smile, his leadership, and his love of this coast -- are matched only by his prowess at catching crabs, prawns and salmon. When not exploring the coast, Greg can be found with his family on Quadra Island.