About Us

Captain Gregory Pogan grew up with a love of the water. From childhood his family owned a boat, and summer vacations were spent at Lake Cumberland, KY. At the tender age of five years old “Pogan” as he likes to be called, learned to help his dad steer the family pontoon boat.

Pogan first visited St Thomas in the summer of 1998, to witness a wedding. Falling in love with the islands, he did not waste any time, and moved to St Thomas in the fall of 1998. Originally from Ohio, Pogan studied Management and Marketing at Ashland University, but after working on land in St Thomas for two years, he realized that his passion was for boating and the sea. Pogan earned his USCG 100 Ton Captain’s License in 2001, and quickly set about trading his 9 to 5 job for a life of freedom and adventure on the sea.

Captain Pogan has spent the last 15 years exploring the waters of the Virgin Islands as a charter captain and rescue diver. Pogan loves nothing more than to be out on the water, with visitors and locals alike, sharing the beautiful sights, abundant nature, and amazing stories he has collected over the years about our local Caribbean islands. Laid back, professional, and knowledgeable are some terms frequently used to describe his personality. Captain Pogan looks forward to helping Safari’s guests have experiences and create memories that they will treasure for a lifetime!

Captain Gregory Pogan was Seas the Day Charters very first Captain in the USVI.  He was a friend and a colleague as well as our Captain.  In December of 2021, Captain Pogan set sail for Ultima Thule.  He is missed daily.

Captain Wallens is originally from Buffalo, New York but doesn’t enjoy snow and cold so he moved to South Florida in his early twenties after college. He began traveling back and forth between Nantucket, Massachusetts and Palm Beach seasonally. He had a natural passion for wine and studied to become a certified level 2 master sommelier and traveled all over the country designing wine lists and selling wine. He worked in Hawaii, Key West and Denver before he finally landed in St Thomas. Eventually he retired from the restaurant industry to pursue his true passion, boating. Captain Wallens now holds a USCG 100 ton masters license with sailing endorsement. He has worked on all different types of vessels from small powerboats, to 65 ft catamarans, to ferry boats. He loves sea life and snorkeling and is extremely knowledgeable about the coral throughout the USVI. Let him show you the best of the best here!

Captain Alex grew up very much in the outdoors of Wisconsin’s forests, lakes and marshlands. At one point in time his Dad was the president of Northland Cranberry Juice, and he helped flood the bogs and push the floating berries onto the conveyor to the waiting trucks. A dramatic turn in his life was the decision to decline his enrollment invitation to the Air Force Academy; all of his stacked cards fell to the ground. He moved to Alaska to attempt homesteading, failed, and then to Boston where he was cradled by the historic culture of sailing. Boats, boats, boats . . . His meandering path included Tall-Ship tenures along the Eastern Seaboard, the Florida Keys, Lake Michigan and whale watching in Whittier, Alaska. Now for more than 10 years, St. Thomas has been his home and is the birthplace of his four beautiful children. He’s proud to honor the tradition of our Islanders’ expectations of hospitality and allow his talents as a mariner and explorer to guide his guests’ experience to be one of awe.

Born in Kennesaw, Georgia she found her love of the water at an early age. Alicia spent her summers on the water, either at Lake Wedowee, Alabama and/or in the beautiful Caribbean waters. As a teenager, Alicia worked as a lifeguard for local pools, as well as providing swim lessons for children. You will find that she enjoys spending time in the water snorkeling for starfish and octopus, and she never turns down an opportunity to free dive with an underwater camera. To say she is a mermaid, is an understatement. With her PADI Open Water certification, Alicia loves to dive and explore the underwater world. You may see her snorkeling and taking photos of guests enjoying their own underwater experience so they may have photos to look back on their memories made.

One with the turtles, kin to the dolphins and forever courting whales; Captain AnneMarie is your mermaid from another hermaid! Hailing from Texas she’s naturally full-of-bull, but man she’s got some stories. Some of them are true. AnneMarie found herself marooned in the Caribbean twelve years ago and has been doing her best to entertain folks and keep her boat on the top side of the water ever since. Her tons of experience, and being a for-real pirate makes Captain AnneMarie a hoot and a half to go swashbuckling with.

After years of searching the globe, Captain Bryan has found his happy place on the gorgeous waters of the Virgin Islands. His wanderlust led him through Mexico and Chile where he worked as a volunteer; England and Spain where he studied philosophy and law; the tundra of Chicago, Illinois where he endured a desk job for eleven years; and Alaska where he tried his hand as a commercial salmon fisherman. Two years after moving to St. Thomas, hurricanes Irma and Maria gave him his “category-5 nudge” to follow his dream of becoming a captain and he has not looked back. Let Captain Bryan show you why he has fallen in love with the Caribbean! Something you might not know about Bryan: While in Chicago, Bryan was an avid triathlete, competing in over 25 races, including 3 Ironman competitions (1.2 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run).

JW moved to the Virgin Islands to try and find a better life after graduating college right when the economic recession hit in 2008. After working for several years he left to pursue his dream of working with exotic animals. In between stints of working with big cats and elephants, he would return to the VI to soak up the warm sun and cool vibes. The 2 category 5 hurricanes swept him off the island for a couple years. When he returned he got into marine salvage and from there, transitioned to working as crew for Seas the Day.  After several years of showing his phenomenal crew skills, Seas the Day Charters sponsored him to receive his U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner credential, and JW is now Captain JW.

Captain Maddy spent 10 years of her childhood living on a 50 ft sailboat in the BVI and is always on, or in, the water! Her professional career started in 2011 as a deckhand/ dive instructor. She has traveled all over the world and has captained 50-60 ft catamarans, monohulls and powerboats. She also worked as a deckhand and mate on super yachts for about 4 years in the waters everywhere from Spain to Abu Dhabi. If she’s not at work sailing around you can find her free diving, hiking or at the bar!

Yosef is a seasoned professional who infuses every moment with adventure and unforgettable experiences. With over a decade at ESPN, he brought boundless energy to sports coverage before venturing into Miami’s vibrant scene as a bartender. Eventually, he found his way to the stunning shores of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Having honed his skills at renowned venues like MSG and Barclays, Yosef rediscovered his love for the crystal-clear waters of St. Thomas, where he now channels his passion for boats and the sea. Beyond his maritime pursuits, Yosef is an avid sports enthusiast, a sunset seeker and a movie buff who appreciates the art of storytelling.

Inspired by his deep connection to the water and a lifetime of teamwork, Yosef finds joy in engaging with charter guests, sharing stories and creating unforgettable experiences. Where is his favorite snorkeling spot in the VI? Tektite at Great Lameshur Bay, St. John where marine life thrives in unparalleled beauty.

While encounters with sea life are always thrilling, Yosef’s most memorable snorkeling moment involved an octopus leading him on a playful chase, only to be tricked as the clever creature revealed the final destination was through fire coral.

On deck, Yosef finds joy in connecting with each guest and learning about their journey, a testament to his warmth and hospitality. Join Yosef for an adventure on the water, where every moment is filled with excitement, compassion and the beauty of the sea.