Charles grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, where his close proximity to the Chesapeake Bay instilled in him a love of nature and the outdoors. His love of the ocean and drive to learn more has led him to travel all over the world, working on fishing boats in Alaska, conducting shark research in South Africa, and scuba diving in Indonesia, the Maldives, Mexico and Palau.
Charles moved to Florida in 2021 to pursue an advanced degree. In 2024, he earned his master’s degree in marine science from Nova Southeastern University. His thesis project focused on Florida’s coastal fisheries and new ways to track fish populations. Charles’ mission with YEA is to teach people about the ocean and the natural world in a way that inspires them to learn more and go out and affect real change.
Charles continues to pursue his passion for the ocean in his spare time. He is an experienced SCUBA diver with over 100 logged dives from locations all over the world. He continues to dive whenever he can to see the natural beauty of Florida’s ocean environment. Charles is also an avid fisherman, and is constantly out in nature trying to catch fish and connect with the outdoors.