Meet the Fantasea Crew
Michelle Rynne
General Manager
Michelle Rynne is the General Manager of Fantasea Adventure Cruising so she has the unbelievably large task of keeping everything ticking along.....and we mean everything! In her role as GM, Michelle is extremely hands on in all departments ranging from Operations to Sales & Marketing, from Catering to Accounts, Maintenance to Reservations and Stores to Human Resources! Phew! Michelle has been with Fantasea for nearly three years and comes from a very varied operative background, working across many industries and brings hands on experience to her role, encouraging her team to focus on selling the Whitsunday dream and providing exceptional experiences. She is young, enthusiastic, and has a keen focus on seeing progressive change. She says she enjoys working for Fantasea as something different happens every day and it keeps her really busy....no doubt about that! No challenge is too great for our fearless leader! She is pictured here with one of her great mates, Serena the Seahorse!
Kellie Ashdown
Sales Guru
Kellie Ashdown has been with Fantasea Adventure Cruising for one and a half years and in that time has well and truly become the "face" of Fantasea. Kell is on the forefront of the Sales and Marketing team and is regularly on the road spreading the word about Fantasea to agents and future guests. Kellie has looked after the all important local and regional market since starting at Fantasea and has now spread her skills further afield to look after the domestic and international markets. It's a big role but she has the strong support of the rest of the Sales and Marketing team and between them all they have it working like clockwork! Kell tells us that it is brilliant working for Fantasea and she says promoting products such as the Great Barrier Reef, Whitehaven Beach and the Whitsunday Islands is an absolute privilege. Kellie is also a qualified massage therapist and has the highest level of skill in communication....ie talking! Kell is remembered wherever she goes for her vibrant and outgoing personality....oh and her fish hat! Go Kell!
Ronald "Ronnie" Reddy
Catering Manager
Ronald Reddy, otherwise known as Ronnie, has been with Fantasea Adventure Cruising for six years. Ronnie is the Catering Manager, meaning that he is responsible for one of the most important elements of the day....delicious food! Fantasea do not out source external caterers so it is all produced in house and prepared fresh daily. Ronnie is awake prepping the food when most of us, even the birds, are fast asleep! As a result, guests are treated to the most sumptuous BBQ buffet lunches, breakfasts, morning and afternoon teas! Ronnie is a qualified Chef, Food and Safety Supervisor and has studied Hospitality Management. Ronnie says he loves working for Fantasea and he enjoys his job, the great environment and the reliability of working for a large, professional long term tourism operator.
Jamie Ashton
Sales Ambassador
Jamie Ashton has been with Fantasea Adventure Cruising for two years, during which time he has been a Reservations Consultant extraordinaire! Jamie has been the first point of contact for many callers, both guests directly and travel agents, and has helped them with their range of enquiries and bookings needs with ease in a professional and courteous manner. It is because of this exceptional customer service that Jamie has recently moved into the Sales and Marketing Department where he can build on these relationships and be one of the "faces" of Fantasea. Jamie has a Bachelor of Science (honours) and has spent many years working in sales and customer service prior to commencing with Fantasea. Jamie loves his day job and is relishing his new challenge.....he says it is all the more special as he gets to work in paradise!!
Hamish "Cuzzy Bro" Bruce
Reefworld Manager
Hamish Bruce has an extremely important role within Fantasea, and one envied by many the world over! He is the Reefworld Manager, meaning that he oversees, maintains and manages all aspects of the Fantasea Reefworld pontoon based on the Great Barrier Reef. Not only does Reefworld cater for hundreds of day trippers every day with an extensive range of activities and facilities, but it is also home to Reefsleep, overnight accommodation for a select few. And of course this means that Hamish also lives at Reefworld! Hamish's role is varied and basically covers anything and everything! Amongst the team, Hamish is known as either "Cuzzy Bro" or "Haggis" because of his Scottish heritage.....but he is actually a Kiwi! Hamish has been with Fantasea for four and a half years and also has Master II and Engineer qualifications. Hamish says its a big "O" for "orsum" (translation awesome) working for Fantasea and we think he is pretty orsum too!
Allan "Captain Al" Cridland
Stores Manager
Allan Cridland has been with Fantasea for....wait for it......24 years!! Al has been with the company for as long as it has been in operation and what a part of it he has been! Al is nicknamed "Captain Al" because he was the senior skipper of the Fantasea fleet for 16 years. As well as his time skippering the vessels, he was also an engineer for the company, however in recent years he has decided to move off the water and take up a land based position to develop the Stores Department. He is now the Stores Manager but he sees Fantasea like a family, which he has grown with and been a part of from infancy through a myriad of changes to what it is today! Al says he tries to keep himself out of trouble and do the job to the best of his ability and we reckon he does a pretty god job too! He is content to assist where he can, with whatever knowledge he can pass on and despite the recent economic downturn, believes in the on and up of Fantasea Adventure Cruising!
Dominique "Dom" Blair
Marine Biologist
Dominique Blair is a Marine Biologist for Fantasea Adventure Cruising....she is the person who will tell you everything that you need to know about the Great Barrier Reef and more! Dom has a Masters Degree in Marine Biology and a Masters Degree in Ecotourism. She also has a public speaking background and diving experience, so as you can she, she is the one for the job! Dom's daily "tasks" include reef interpretation talks on board the vessel, pontoon and semi-sub, conducting guided snorkelling tours, public education and government research. Government research is conducted in co-operation with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) for programs such as the Sightings Network and Eye on the Reef. Dom has been with Fantasea for one and a half years and comes to us all the way from America. She tells us that she loves her job and the people she works with are amazing...she thinks they are the kindest, funniest and hardest working people that she has ever met! She stresses that she is extremely excited and passionate about what she does and judging from feedback, our guests tend to agree!
Sian Walker
Office and Human Resources Manager
Sian Walker is at the heartbeat and centre of the Fantasea Adventure Cruising operation. In her role as Office and Human Resources Manager, her duties entail everything to do with HR, recruitment, staffing, rewards, training, reviews, functions, travel, uniforms and daily office procedures.....she is the first to admit she does anything else she is asked to do from a variety of sources! This is one busy lady with a varied and interesting role whereby every day is different for her. She has been with Fantasea for two years, has a Bachelor of International Business and has a broad office and HR background spanning over the past 11 years. She is known around the office as "Mrs Walker" but now she has a baby, does this mean she will be know as "Mummy Walker"?
Brendan "Brendo" Durham
Reefworld & Lindeman Crew
Brendan Durham has a multifunctional role with Fantasea Adventure Cruising, mixing his time working between Reefworld on the Great Barrier Reef as well as stints at Club Med Lindeman Island and Shute Harbour. Brendan in known around the traps as "Brendo"...he was named that by his Aussie mates as Brendo reckons we Aussies like to cut names short. Brendo hails from New Zealand and brings a proud Kiwi component to the team! He has been with Fantasea for five years so he is an honorary Aussie and definitely a Whitsunday local now! He thinks it is better working for Fantasea over other operators in the Whitsundays and he loves being out on the water, listing his interests as ski boating and wake boarding and oh one more thing.....bourbon!
Vanessa "Nessy" Barry
Dive Instructor/Training Officer
Vanessa Barry is a Dive Instructor and Training Officer on Fantasea's Great Barrier Experience to Reefworld. She tells us she is an underwater sea creature, hence her nickname, Nessy! As you can imagine, the role she plays in the "experience" factor for guests is paramount. Of course diving is one of the most popular activities on offer at Reefworld, and whether it is an Introductory Dive for a first-timer or a Certified Dive for a seasoned professional, the tuition and guidance offered by Nessy provides a once in a lifetime experience for many. Nessy has been with Fantasea for four years and is a qualified Dive Instructor, has a Diploma in Dive Resort Management and is a certified trainer. She reckons this is her "fantasea"....being able to go to one of the natural wonders of the world five days a week is truly amazing! Nessy also wanted to make sure we passed on the fact that she once licked a sea anemone.....to hear more about that story you will have to come and join her on our Great Barrier Reef Experience one day and she will be more than happy to tell you all about it!!
Katherine "Kat" Phillips
Senior Cruise Attendant
Katherine Phillips, more affectionately known as Kat, is a Senior Cruise Attendant with Fantasea Adventure Cruising. She spends many of her days travelling out to the Great Barrier Reef, Whitehaven Beach or tripping around the islands on the Fantasea Ferries....but she is working! As she has been with Fantasea for two years, Kat is a wealth of information and many guests who travel with Fantasea will meet Kat and her bubbly, vibrant personality. She says that working for Fantasea is a lifestyle and what a lifestyle.....she loves it!
Paul "Tall Paul" Fraser
Reefworld Assistant Manager
Paul Fraser, otherwise known to his work mates as Tall Paul (due to his impressive height of 6 ft 7 in!), is the Assistant Manager at Fantasea Reefworld. He is a multi skilled fellow as he also works as a First Mate on board the Great Barrier Reef Experience and is sometimes based working at Lindeman Excursions. Now there are not many people who can say that they actually live on the Great Barrier Reef, but in his role as Reefworld Assistant Manager, Paul actually does! His job role includes driving the vessels based at Reefworld and undertaking regular maintenance on the pontoon. Paul's qualifications include a Master Class 5 ticket, Med II and Rescue Diver. He has been with Fantasea for four and a half years and he says his job is very enjoyable! The staff facilities and accommodation on the Reefworld pontoon are of a very high standard and extremely comfortable but he does regularly return to the mainland to walk on dry land!
Click on the images below to meet more of the Fantasea crew:
