In this episode of Florida Uncut, Mason sits down with Ryan Young, founder and Lead Explorer of Rising Tide Explorers, an ecotourism company based in Naples, FL.

Back in 2016 Ryan and his group of biologist friends (including his future wife, Jeannine) realized that there were no certification, education, training, or experience requirements needed to conduct ecotours in the entire state of Florida. This left eager travelers with no way of knowing if the guide they were following into the wilderness had any training, safety certifications, or real knowledge of this unique and complex ecosystem. Having dedicated their lives to exploring the outdoors and studying the ecology of the area, the group decided to leverage their unique backgrounds, connection to the local science community, and passion for science to raise the bar of the ecotourism industry in Southwest Florida. 

In 2019, Friends of Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve partnered with Rising Tide Explorers to continue providing memorable and educational adventures in Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Proceeds support education, research and conservation.

In this chat we dig into the magic of where they guide tours in Rookery Bay, the importance of science-led tourism, and how RTE’s partnership with Friends of Rookery Bay helps fund real conservation research. It’s a conversation about curiosity, stewardship, and why getting people on the water might be one of the most powerful ways to protect the places we love.

In addition to founding RTE, and now owning Naples Outfitters, Ryan also served as the trekker guide for the 2024 Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation expedition and is the narration voice of the upcoming documentary Patchwork Wild, which will be screened at Rookery Bay Learning Center on December 2nd. Registration is limited!

Register for the December 2nd screening here.

Learn more about Ryan and team:

• Go on a Rising Tide adventure here: https://risingtidefl.com
• Learn more about Naples Outfitters: https://naplesoutfitters.com