Airboat Captains
The Experts Behind Our Famous Everglades Tours
Airboat Captain
Michael Jahanian
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park for: 9 years
Hobbies: Gaming, and playing the drums
Nickname: M.J.
Favorite Food/Drink: Sushi, pizza, ramen, Monster Energy
Personality: Serious, laid back
Additional Info: Former musician, metal head, science and nature nerd
"Chaos" Michael K.
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park for: 6+ years
Hobbies: Fishing or riding motorcycles
Nickname: Captain Chaos
Favorite Food/Drink: Sweets, Monster Energy drinks, and piping hot coffee from Dunkin Donuts
Personality: Funny but sometimes serious
Additional Info: Like the name implies, Captain Fantastic is about as good as they get!
James “Jimbo” Egan
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park for: 5+ years
Hobbies: Reading, going to church, and time with family
Nickname: Jimbo
Favorite Food/Drink: All food
Personality: Don't take life so seriously
Additional Info: Well-traveled and friendly
Juan Chamorro
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park for: 7.5 years
Hobbies: Video games, hunting, and being a ninja
Nickname: Jone (One)
Favorite Food/Drink: Pizza, tacos, and Dr. Pepper
Personality: Funny and laid back
Jose R. Ferreiro, III
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park since: Nov 2014
Hobbies: Fishing, hunting, video games, D&D, and NASCAR
Nickname: JR, Josie, Joe, Joseph, and O’large one
Favorite Food/Drink: Fried shrimp and Mello Yello
Previous Experience: "Well, I sold airboat tickets"
Personality: Funny, slightly serious
Additional Info: Big Star Trek fan, previous electrician, ironworker, retail experience, and of Spanish and Cuban descent
Rocky Gimenez
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park for: 6 years
Hobbies: Astronomy, music, motorcycles, biking, and fishing
Nickname: Rockstar
Favorite Food/Drink: Steak, ice tea, and seafood
Previous Experience: Fishing for years in the Everglades
Personality: Laid back and funny
Additional Info: I’m a retired electrician and love to play guitar
Gino
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park for: 4 years
Hobbies: Film, video games, music
Nickname: Rockstar
Favorite Food/Drink: Big as yo’ face burritos with Dr. Pepper
Previous Experience: My Grandpa Rocky was an airboat captain out here for 14 years and I’ve been coming out to the park ever since I was 9 years old
Personality: Just go with the flow
Additional Info: I play many instruments and enjoy making films
Sebastian
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park for: 2 years
Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, and riding motorcycles
Nickname: Choss, Sev, Sba
Favorite Food/Drink: Pasta, burgers, and Dr. Pepper
Previous Experience: Hunting on personal airboats and fishing on Jon boats
Personality: Laid back and funny
Jo
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park for: 1 year
Hobbies: Aerial, Fire Spinning, Hiking, Backpacking, and Exploring the Everglades
Nickname: JoJo
Favorite Food/Drink: Watermelon Redbull
Previous Experience: Solo traveled the USA!
Personality: Adventurous
Additional Info: Born & Raised Gladeswoman Extraordinaire
Chris Polly
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park for: 1 year
Hobbies: Airboats and family
Nickname: Captain Chris
Favorite Food/Drink: Pizza & Monster Energy
Previous Experience: Worked in education
Personality: Laid back
Additional Info: College Graduate / Masters Degree
Ari Ellenbogen
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park for: 7 years
Hobbies: Aviation, railroading, and sailing
Favorite Food/Drink: Maine lobster or a nice ribeye steak
Previous Experience: Aviation & maritime
Personality: Laid back, serious when safety oriented
Tomer Kimron
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park for: 6 months
Hobbies: Fishing, building engines, motorcycles
Favorite Food/Drink: Asian food and can make the best homemade orange chicken
Previous Experience: Fishing and hunting in the Everglades
Personality: Likes to have fun and learn things
Additional Info: FAU Bachelor's of Architecture
Gus Hernandez
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park for: 1.5 years
Nickname: Gus
Previous Experience: Lifetime Gladesman
Personality: Intellectually funny
Additional Info: USMC Vet, security contractor, and wilderness survival instructor
Malachi
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park for: 2 years
Hobbies: Fishing, camping, finding wildlife
Nickname: The Chosen One
Favorite Food/Drink: Cheeseburgers
Previous Experience in the Glades: Teaching conservation at the Milwaukee County Zoo
Personality: Adventurous and laid back
Additional Info: Up-and-coming wildlife conservationist
Drew Beltis
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park for: 1 year
Hobbies: Cars, building models, hiking, surfing, and snowboarding
Favorite Food/Drink: Pasta and smoothies
Previous Experience in the Glades: Parasail captain and jet ski rentals
Personality: Don’t take life too seriously, enjoy the little things
Additional Info: bachelor's degree in aviation science, FAA certified pilot, USCG Master Captain, and PADI rescue diver
Joseph Leach
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park since: May 2025
Hobbies: Fishing, scuba diving, or freediving
Favorite Food/Drink: Black coffee, beef jerky, and the occasional Cuban sandwich
Previous Experience in the Glades: Grew up fishing in the Glades
Personality: Easygoing but detail-oriented, keeps it real and will make you laugh
Additional Info: Helps people truly connect with the Everglades, and leave with a story to tell
Richard
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park for: 10 months
Hobbies: Gym, beach, video games
Favorite Food/Drink: Sushi and root beer
Previous Experience in the Glades: True Floridian
Personality: Funny, extroverted, active and kind
Additional Info: 28 year old Army veteran
Jason
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park for: 4 months
Hobbies: Fishing, boating, guitar, reading, jiu-jitsu, motorcycles
Nickname: The Wisco Kid
Favorite Food/Drink: Spaghetti and milk
Previous Experience in the Glades: Avid smallmouth bass fisherman, canoeing enthusiast, former camp cook in Alaska
Personality: Dashing, debonair, charming, and witty
Tori Comegys
Airboat Captain
Employed by the Park for: 4 months
Hobbies: Hiking, camping, collecting spiders, reading, mapping, herping, and fishing
Favorite Food/Drink: Potatoes
Previous Experience in the Glades: Driving pontoon boats recreationally
Personality: Bubbly and witty
Additional Info: Florida native, born and raised
Want to be an Airboat Captain?
Ever dreamt of taking a deep dive into the wild heart of the Everglades, guided by a band of skilled, entertaining, and undeniably knowledgeable captains? At Everglades Holiday Park, our team of airboat captains is composed of remarkable men and women, seasoned in navigating the complex waterways and marshes of this world-renowned protected wilderness, known as the Everglades.
Our airboat captains are not merely guides but ambassadors of the protected ‘River of Grass’, combining navigation skills with rich storytelling, showcasing the unique magic of the Everglades with a wink and a smile. They possess an uncanny ability to know precisely where to steer to offer you front-row seats to visit our famous American alligators, view diverse and unique wildlife, the rare bloom of endemic flora, and the untouched corners of the Everglades that many only dream of experiencing.
Learn more about our fun and experienced staff of captains that welcome you aboard your upcoming Everglades adventure!
READY FOR YOUR EVERGLADES ADVENTURE?
Animal Encounters & Everglades VIP Tour Pick-up service:
Open 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM daily. Park hours are subject to unpredictable weather.
Park Info:
Open 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM daily. Park hours are subject to unpredictable weather.
BAIT & TACKLE AND GENERAL STORE HOURS:
7 Days a week: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM Eastern Time
AIRBOAT TOURS & GATOR SHOW HOURS:
7 Days a Week: We open at 9:00 AM Eastern Time (rain or shine). *Tours are approximately 60-minutes long. Our last airboat tour departs promptly at 4:00 PM Eastern Time SHARP! Please arrive no later than 3:30 PM to receive the full tour experience.
PARK PRICING:
**All prices are subject to change without notice at our discretion. Please call our office directly for the most up-to-date pricing information.
WE'RE PROUD TO BE PARTNERED WITH:
