HUNTRESS

MEET THE CREW 
Captain: Dale Christelis

Chef: Talita Ngesi

Deck/Stew: Cassidy Frieling
 

Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, Dale has always had a serious case of the ocean bug. After completing his Divemaster qualification in 2011, he quickly realised that life on the water was where he belonged.

Following university and a few adventures in the business world, Dale decided to swap the office for the ocean and dive headfirst into the yachting industry. Since 2018, he’s been working extensively in chartering across the Caribbean, Central America and the South Pacific — collecting plenty of sea miles and even more stories along the way.

Dale is a massive people person and is passionate about creating an incredible guest experience. He loves getting to know his guests, building genuine relationships and putting together unique itineraries and experiences that turn a great trip into an unforgettable one. 

As a dive instructor and avid freediver, he has a passion for marine life and being under and on the water. As Director of fun and good times, Dale is onboard and standing by.

Born and raised in Colorado, Cassidy’s love for the water started in an unexpected place — learning to scuba dive in the Rocky Mountains! After moving to Florida for college, she studied Animal Studies with a minor in Marine Science, turning her love for animals and the ocean into a lifestyle.

Her adventures have taken her from training bottlenose dolphins in Roatán to getting up close and personal with tiger sharks at Tiger Beach in the Bahamas. After college, the goal was simple: see the world, dive as much as possible, and find a way to make the ocean part of everyday life — which led her to the yachting industry.

For the past five years, Cassidy has worked across dive boats, live-aboards, and yachts, combining her love of the ocean with a career that lets her explore it.

When she’s not on deck or helping guests, you’ll most likely find Cassidy underwater identifying fish, paddle-boarding, chasing the next dive site, or learning to surf. She’s always up for trying something new, and learning to kite-surf is definitely on the bucket list!

Equal parts ocean nerd and adventure seeker, Cassidy is happiest anywhere there’s saltwater, sunshine, and something exciting to explore. 

Four years ago, in the Bahamas, Dale and Cassidy met while working aboard a dive liveaboard. It didn’t take long for these two to realize they’d found a pretty great teammate — both in and out of the water!

What started as a chance meeting quickly turned into a shared adventure, and they decided to pursue a career together. Three years later, they’re still going strong as a true power crew couple, dazzling guests and keeping the good times rolling onboard.

Both captains and dive instructors, Dale and Cassidy bring the perfect mix of experience, adventure and fun to the job. Whether they’re behind the helm, underwater exploring, or making sure everyone onboard is having an unforgettable time, these two are happiest when they’re sharing the adventure together.

Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, Talita’s journey into the culinary world has been shaped by a deep love for food, her humble beginnings, people and the belief that a meal can be so much more than what is on the plate -  it can create connection, comfort and lasting memories.

Talita is a professionally trained chef who completed her Grand Diplôme at Silwood School of Cookery, followed by experience in some of Cape Town’s leading fine-dining kitchens. Her culinary journey has also taken her internationally, including a culinary internship in France, where she had the privilege of refining her technique and developing a deeper appreciation for French cuisine. 

Her style of cooking is rooted in fresh, seasonal and beautifully prepared food, with a particular love for Mediterranean, French and contemporary cuisine. She enjoys creating food that feels elevated yet approachable - dishes that celebrate quality ingredients without losing their soul. 

Beyond the kitchen, she believes that personality matters. She is naturally bubbly, warm and positive and brings enthusiasm and a can-do attitude. 

She is excited to create food and experiences that people remember long after the plate has been cleared and their return home from their charter.