Writer and adventurer Jon Bowermaster's sea kayak expedition took him to the South Pacific, 1,000 miles through the remote Tuamotu Archipelago north of Tahiti. The magazine account of the trip appeared in National Geographic Adventure in August 2003. A veteran of expeditions ranging from Antarctica to Kenya, Jon plans to sea kayak in each of the seven continents, plus Oceania, for his Oceans 8 project—supported by a National Geographic grant. Jon will accompany the expedition below.

Kitty Coley is a geologist, naturalist, and avid birder who serves as a consultant to National Geographic magazine for articles related to her expertise and has led expeditions for National Geographic for over 8 years. She worked as a geologist for 15 years before becoming involved full-time in expedition travel. Through her work, she has spent extensive time in remote rain forests and rugged geologic settings around the world. Her love of nature has led to exploration through scuba diving, backpacking, white-water and sea kayaking, and biking. Kitty shares her in-depth knowledge about the fascinating aspects of the geology, flora, and fauna in a very interactive way. Kitty will accompany the expeditions shown below.

John Francis oversees National Geographic's funding of scientific research as Vice President of Research, Conservation, and Exploration. A biologist and expert on marine mammals, John was a producer for National Geographic Television and has appeared in films featuring his research on fur seals and blue whales. An engaging and informative speaker, John's years of research on sea lions will bring this region to life for explorers of all ages. John will accompany the expedition shown below.

Ralph Lee Hopkins is a popular photo workshop instructor who has traveled to Antarctica more than a dozen times. His wildlife images have appeared in National Geographic's books, magazines, and online galleries, and are represented in the National Geographic Image Collection.