Experience An Eco Adventure With Expert Guides on Florida Water Tours

ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida (February 25, 2026) – As winter starts easing into spring, St. Augustine’s marshes and waterways come to life with dolphins and their new young, nesting shore and marsh birds, and even the occasional manatee. This activity gives the expert guides of Florida Water Tours plenty to talk about with eager passengers. For marine naturalist and First Mate Marcel van Gils, combining education, wildlife conservation, and boating is a lifelong passion that comes naturally.

“Being on the water and surrounded by nature is like breathing – it’s essential,” says Marcel van Gils, First Mate at Florida Water Tours and Board Member of Florida Water Warriors. “I’ve dedicated my life to marine conservation and education. The beauty of working with Florida Water Tours is that I have a new audience each trip. That means new questions, new insights, new revelations – each interaction is an opportunity to share our knowledge and passion for the waterways and their inhabitants. And because research and our understanding of the environment are continually evolving, there’s always something new to learn.”

Van Gils, originally from Ohio, moved to Maui, Hawaii, to study and work with whales, as well as to work on charter boats as a guide. After a stint running sailing charters in Key West, Florida, van Gils moved to Northeast Florida and joined Florida Water Tours eight years ago. He brings a wealth of knowledge to each tour he works. The recent identification of the Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphin is one of van Gils’ favorite topics, as passengers frequently see them swimming, playing, and hunting in the Intracoastal Waterway. Once grouped in with the broader Tursiops truncatus, or common bottlenose dolphins, the Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphin inhabits nearshore coastal and estuarine waters and has developed special skills for surviving in the shallower waters.

“I love getting questions from all of our passengers, but kids come up with some great questions that can lead to really interesting discussions,” says van Gils, who has three young children of his own. “A simple question about whether white whales exist turns into talking about albinism in wildlife, how dolphins can get sunburned, and fun facts about pink river dolphins. It’s fascinating. Our hope is that everyone walks away having learned something and understanding why conservation and protection are so important.”

Passengers can explore the waterways with expert marine naturalists on one of Florida Water Tours’ many cruise options, departing daily from Windward at Camachee Cove Marina, 107 Yacht Club Drive in St. Augustine.