Taylor and Amber Maready

Co-FOUNDERs

When we say”tor”, you say “tugas”! Tor-tugas!
Amber is the “tuga” to Taylor’s “Tortuga”? Either way, Taylor and Amber love two things: being together and conservation education.

These two big kids have dedicated their lives to ocean conservation and have spent over a decade swimming around in educational and scientific settings chasing their dreams.

Weeks after getting married, they journeyed to Nicaragua for an adventure and fell in love with the flora, fauna, and, mostly, the beautiful people of Nicaragua. After a few years of working with local Nicaraguans, they knew that supporting their Nica family was a dream that they would do anything to achieve!

When not in Nicaragua working on the project, they are splashing around Ecological Marine Adventures, on Topsail Island,NC, a marine science center for kids!

Xelena Castrillo Lopez

Director of Project:Tortuga

Xelena is a ray of sunshine! From her warm smile to the passionate way that she teaches those around her, she is constantly spreading goodness.

Her dedication to conservation work is unmatched! She has dedicated her life to the protection and preservation of not only the beautiful sea turtle species, but all the species found in Redonda Bay and beyond.

Born and raised just a few miles from Redonda Bay, Project: Tortuga holds a special place in her heart- she absolutely loves where she is from. Her work in the bay is more than ocean conservation for Xelena, it is about community, opportunity and growth for generations to come!

If you are lucky, you may even catch Xelena on a day that she brings her assistant, and daughter, Aliss!

Guards of Redonda Bay

When the sun is away, the beach critters will play! And mama sea turtles will lay!
And hatchlings will begin their journeys in the bay!

Tides of Hope is not about one person, it is a tribe that work together endlessly to ensure that the bay is has around the clock protection! The Guards of Redonda Bay are key to our tribe and providing data collection, updates and evading any dangers to our sea turtle friends all day and, especially, night.

They are always excited to learn more and to grow with the project! Thanks to each of them and their dedication and willingness, thousands of sea turtles and hatchlings are positively affected each year!