Captain Wade is currently our 'Head Captain', and an anchoring member of this crew, meaning we can count on him to give an awesome tour in winter or summer; morning or afternoon! He started with us years ago... but kept his day job thinking that being a manatee Captain was just too good to be true. We are proud to say that Wade left his 'day job' over six years ago, and has been with us every day since!! If you check out Trip Advisor, you will see not only his name hundreds of times on five-star reviews but his wife Trish also. They bring their love for each other and the manatees to the shop daily and have quickly become one of the most requested Captains and guides in this game! If you run a boat on Crystal River, then you know (and probably love) Captain Wade! The respect he garners from others on the water, and the experience he brings to the table make a huge difference in the quality of tour experience that he can deliver to you!

Captain Wade was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. We think that's where his Southern charm and laid-back personality come from! He still loves the Georgia Bulldogs and Atlanta Falcons so he finds the time to take his son Cole home for a game at least once a year. Yes, he loves football, but family is his real passion! With their youngest starting High School this year, Wade knows to appreciate all those moments because TIME FLIES!  He's been married to his High school sweetheart Trisha for 30 years (seems like yesterday) and they have two children, Brooke and Cole. Cole loves basketball so they spend as much time together on the court as possible. We LOVE Wade's family too... and it's not just for Trisha's killer spinach and artichoke dip (but we will never turn it down or Poker night at the Black household)!! Some of our greatest memories as a crew have happened at Wade's house, and we couldn't be more grateful for those opportunities to bond that set us apart from other tour companies! 

Wade is truly inspired by how the 'manatee encounter, can really touch people, and it's hard for him to think of anything he doesn't like about his job! As Head Captain, replacing cleats and props gets old, but there's nothing he'd rather be doing! Meeting visitors from all over the world keeps him on his toes, and introducing people that never thought they could do this to manatees... really reminds him why he started being a Captain in the first place. With more travelers now from both Florida and Georgia since Covid, he is specifically enjoying sharing our majestic manatees with locals who haven't yet learned to appreciate the incredible things we are surrounded with here. He has worked with the blind, the deaf, and even paraplegics to make their dreams come true. You can imagine how inspiring those trips are and honestly, we get a little choked up just thinking about it.

Captain Wade is a happy-go-lucky, fun-loving spirit and his motto is... 'Be happy or go away. He knows there is so much beauty and blessings all around if you just open your eyes! Most folks immediately feel at ease when they meet this guy, and we'll bet you'll have fun swapping stories and making memories with him at the helm! If this is an experience you've always wanted, but you're just a little nervous....then having the comfort and experience of someone like Captain Wade aboard may make all the difference! Feel free to mention that when you call to book and he will work hard to make your experience more than you ever imagined it could be!  He's not sure he ever wants to retire, but he does look forward to growing old with his loving family. Until then, we are PROUD and humbled to consider him an essential member of our River Ventures family! Come meet this handsome guy and you won’t believe the magic that happens!