The Captain

Captain Joe

Captain Joe is a seasoned maritime professional and proud New York native, born in Brooklyn and raised in the Hudson Valley region. In 2015, he pursued his passion for the sea by enrolling in the United States Coast Guard’s Captain School in Cape Coral, Florida. After earning his captain’s license, he founded Salt and Mist Sea Tours, offering private boat charters along the scenic coasts of Maine in the summer and the warm waters of Florida in the winter.

With over 1,000 five-star reviews across major platforms, Salt and Mist Sea Tours has established a reputation for delivering safe, memorable and exceptional service. The company earned TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Award every year from 2019 to 2024, placing it among the top 10% of attractions worldwide.

Salt and Mist Sea Tours has been recognized among Tampa Bay’s top charters for three consecutive years at the annual Best of the Bay Awards. The company was a finalist for “Best Boat Charter” in 2023, won the 2024 title for “Best Boat Charter”, and in 2025 earned a runner-up for “Best Boat Captain & Charter” company in the same category.

Separately, in both 2024 and 2025, Salt and Mist Sea Tours received statewide recognition in the Best of Florida “Best Boat Charter” poll, ranking among Florida’s leading charter companies.

Salt and Mist has also been featured across numerous media outlets—including podcasts, online publications, and local television segments on FOX News, ABC News, and Spectrum Bay News 9—further cementing its reputation as one of Florida’s premier private boat charter experiences.

In addition to his passion for boating, Captain Joe is an avid scuba diver and world traveler. He is the owner of St. Pete Scuba Recovery and has extensive experience boating and diving in locations across the globe. Captain Joe holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from American International College. He is certified in First Aid and CPR, is a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver with Nitrox certification, and holds a U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s License.

Captain Ridge

Captain Ridge brings nearly a decade of professional boating experience, navigating the Gulf waters as well as the lakes and rivers of Georgia. A graduate of West Georgia Technical College, he has built his career on a foundation of strong seamanship, safety, and an authentic passion for being on the water.

He holds a U.S. Coast Guard License (USCG), TWIC certification, and First Aid/CPR credentials, ensuring every guest enjoys a safe, reliable, and expertly guided experience. In addition to his maritime qualifications, he is the owner of St. Pete Sun Cruise, where he continues to share his commitment to exceptional service with both locals and visitors.

Outside his professional role, Captain Ridge values time with his family and enjoys a variety of outdoor pursuits. Whether shark fishing recreationally, hiking, biking, or playing frisbee golf, he brings the same energy and enthusiasm to his personal life that he brings to his work on the water.

With a personable demeanor, strong technical expertise, and a genuine passion for adventure, Captain Ridge is dedicated to delivering safe, memorable, and high-quality experiences every time he’s underway.

KELLY “The Dolphin Spotter”

Joining Salt and Mist Sea Tours in 2017, Kelly “the Dolphin Spotter” has been a fixture on most of our Dolphin, Island and Sunset Cruises! While onboard, she’s always on the lookout for dolphins, manatees, tropical birds and other wild life, loves interacting with our passengers while helping them create lasting memories. In her spare time Kelly is an avid rock climber and loves to travel the world.

The BoatS

UPDATE: From 12/23/25–1/31/26, all tours will be aboard our Bayliner while our Sea Ray undergoes maintenance and upgrades. We appreciate your understanding! Regarded as the “Mercedes of the Sea’, we use our 2022 26′ Sea Ray 230 SLX with a 200hp Mercury outboard engine for all of our tours. With spacious and comfortable seating throughout the boat and a large bimini top for abundant shade, our vessel is perfect for experiencing the Gulf and Bay waters. Our boat has built in coolers, bluetooth surround sound and is equipped with SIMRAD & Navionics GPS. We have all the required US Coast Guard safety equipment such as a VHF radio, whistles, horns, flares, fire extinquisher, (3) Danforth Anchors and Type 1 children and adult life jackets.

2022 BAYLINER VR6

The Bayliner VR6 is an award winning VR-series bowrider, combining spacious design, versatile performance, and comfort-oriented features. Equipped with a 150hp Mercury, our Bayliner VR6 is known for its “big-boat feel” and is ideal for day cruising, island hopping and family outings. Its innovative layout maximizes cockpit and seating area, making it comfortable for social time on the water while still offering enough power and handling to meet the needs of our guests. We have all the required US Coast Guard safety equipment such as a VHF radio, whistles, horns, flares, fire extinquisher, (2) Danforth Anchors and Type 1 children and adult life jackets.