Meet the Crew Compiled by Jennifer Farmer
Southern Tides Staff: The folks responsible for bringing you regular content every month!
Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill
Michelle Riley
Captain Gator is our The Bitter End columnist. He was born in Virginia but considers himself a native of Savannah by osmosis. He doesn’t consider himself a writer but rather one-part entertainer, one-part educator, and one-part historian. He has a background in fine arts, producing film and fine art photography. Gator has worked as a kayak guide and an eco-tour guide, and has been a professional captain for around 15 years. He has a deep love for the water. In addition to writing for Southern Tides, Captain Gator is also a full-time captain with Dolphin Magic Cruises, where he delights guests with his stories and witty dialogue. Aside from a few months when he thought he was going to retire, Captain Gator has been writing The Bitter End since issue two and entertaining readers on a variety of topics, from sailor's valentines to boat etiquette. And as he always says, “peace and love, and shrimp and grits.” Captain Gator can be reached at: TheOriginalCaptainGator@gmail.com
Michelle, who you know as our Around the Reef columnist, handles communications and public outreach for Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary. She recently celebrated her 5-year anniversary with Gray’s Reef. In 2017, she was awarded NOAA’s National Ocean Service Outstanding Team Member and the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries’ Sea To Shining Sea award for her efforts in raising awareness of Gray’s Reef. Michelle is a native of Galveston County, Texas, but wanting to live near the Atlantic, she moved to Savannah and has been here for 17 years. Before joining the Gray’s Reef team, Michelle enjoyed volunteering at the Tybee Island Marine Science Center and The Dolphin Project. Michelle has been part of the Southern Tides family since April 2016. You can reach her at: michelle.riley@noaa.gov
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Southern Tides Magazine
September 2020
