From childcare to high diving, these crew have used their passions to connect with guests.
In an industry driven by luxury, service and exploration, superyacht crews are often expected to bring more than just seamanship and silver service to the table. Increasingly, senior crew members and hiring managers are recognizing the value in crew who bring expertise that extends beyond conventional yachting roles. Skills less traditionally associated with yachting aren't just hobbies, they're passions that shape how crew work and connect with guests on board.
This new wave of multi-talented professionals is diversifying the yachting workforce. Here are four individuals whose unconventional backgrounds have enhanced their careers afloat and offer inspiration to crew, captains and guests alike.
Ella Peters: From freelance to founder
Ella Peters, founder of Superyacht Nanny, transitioned from a freelance childcare provider to an entrepreneur serving the specialized needs of families in the yachting industry. Born in New Zealand and raised in the UK, Ella grew up sailing and developed a strong affinity for the ocean. Her early exposure to both the maritime lifestyle and high-level childcare helped shape a career that would eventually bridge two distinct worlds.
Ella began working as a nanny for VIP clients during her teenage years. At 18, she joined the yachting industry, combining her childcare background with life at sea. She quickly recognized a gap in services: while yachts were staffed with skilled crew, there was often no one aboard who specialized in child development and care.
“Initially, I thought I was just there to watch the children,” Ella says. “But I quickly realized I was filling a significant gap, someone who understood both the yacht’s rhythm and the developmental needs of children.”
In February 2023, Ella founded Superyacht Nanny. The company provides a niche service created to connect qualified childcare professionals with families traveling with children. Ella’s approach goes beyond basic supervision, focusing on structured engagement, emotional support and age-appropriate activities tailored to each child’s needs while at sea. Drawing on her experience, Ella recognized that children on board require stability and meaningful interaction, especially during long periods away from home. At the same time, parents and crew benefit from knowing that young guests are in capable hands, supported by professionals who understand both developmental needs and maritime life.
The presence of trained nannies not only enriches the experience for children but also allows the crew to focus on their roles knowing the youngest guests are safe and engaged, she says. She emphasizes that the transition from nanny to founder was not immediate but came as a natural progression.
“I wanted to create a bridge between land-based childcare expectations and the high standards of yachting,” she says. “My skills weren’t just transferable — they were necessary.”
Today, she is respected within the yachting industry. Superyacht Nanny has earned consistent praise from clients and crew, with testimonials noting her professionalism, reliability and commitment to raising the standard of service at sea.
Izzi Mroz: Diving head-first into yacht life
Long before Izzi Mroz set her sights on joining the yachting world, she was a competitive high diver. She trained as a high diver in her youth and, after graduating from Virginia Tech where she competed in high dive at the collegiate level, she decided to pursue uncharted territories. She has found that the mental and physical discipline required of high divers translates remarkably well to yacht work, especially on vessels that embrace adventure tourism.
Izzi began her yachting journey a little over a year ago, drawn in by her interest in travel and the allure of life at sea. By day, she’s a stew maintaining top-tier service standards. But in her off hours, she’s scaling cliffs and diving off yachts, creating content and entertainment for guests while inspiring others with her adrenaline-fueled passion.
“Diving requires discipline, complete focus and the ability to trust yourself while adapting to change at any moment,”
Izzi says. It requires being adaptable and relatable, as does yachting.
On the surface, it’s not obvious how high diving fits into yachting, but Izzi has found they complement each other in exciting ways. Having a high-diving expert aboard creates a unique opportunity for guests to learn and make unforgettable memories. For Izzi, high diving is more than just an adrenaline rush; it’s a refreshing mental escape after days on the open seas, offering a chance for joy and connection.
Hannah Assumption: Sipping stories at sea
Hannah Assumption was born in South Africa and raised in a household where alcohol was taboo. Her family values leaned traditionally, and for much of her youth, wine was considered off-limits. But curiosity has a way of reshaping narratives.
After graduating from high school, Hannah took a less traditional route, heading to the US to travel and explore. Her journey, which led her through 22 states, became a sensory expedition that took her into the world of fine dining and eventually, to her true passion: wine.
Just north of Fort Lauderdale in Delray Beach, Florida, Hannah began working in two fine-dining establishments, where she encountered a bartender who would unknowingly become her mentor, igniting her professional interest in wine. He encouraged her to “take the time to understand the taste and journey of all types of wines,” which planted the seeds of a storytelling approach to wine curation.
“Each note and flavor profile can tell a tale or create a nostalgic moment,” she says.
Her fine-dining background laid the foundation in service, but it was the wine, the art of pairing, explaining and evoking emotion, that truly captivated her. In 2024, she made the transition to yachting with guidance from a friend she had met while working in Johannesburg before coming to the US.
Since obtaining her Level 1 and 2 WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) qualifications through the Napa Valley Wine Academy in March 2023, she’s completed additional certifications, including a South African wine course certificate from the Cape Wine Academy and a wine service training certificate from Meridian Wine Merchants in South Africa. Combining all of these qualifications, she was able to earn her sommelier certification. She’s now taking additional exams to further her credentials.
Now a stew with a sommelier certification, Hannah has merged two worlds: her love for wine and the structured luxury of yacht life. She offers guests deep wine knowledge paired with heartfelt storytelling.
“You don’t have to buy the most expensive bottle of wine to go on a memorable journey,” she says. “Even a humble vintage can be a portal to nostalgia and connection.”
Aldo Kuhn: From deckhand to submarine pilot
Few crew members can say they’ve gone from swabbing decks to piloting submarines, but Aldo Kuhn’s career path is a testament to what’s possible when curiosity, cross-training and a love for the ocean come together.
Born in South Africa, Aldo was introduced to the sea at a young age. His father often took him diving and fishing, experiences that ignited a lifelong passion, curiosity and respect for the ocean and what lay beneath the waves.
“Those early days in the water with my dad shaped everything that came after,” he says.
At 17, Aldo moved with his family to New Zealand. Staying close to the coast, he pursued a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and business management, blending his love for people, travel and the ocean. His career began in tourism and resort hospitality, including a formative post on Hayman Island, a remote private island on the Great Barrier Reef. There, he was drawn to the marine department and was fascinated by the crews running fishing boats just offshore. That exposure inspired him to shift his focus from guest services to operations on and in the water. He also took up kitesurfing and further immersed himself in marine life.
Aldo later entered the yachting industry aboard Equanimity, where he joined the vessel’s dive program under divemaster Caroline Gibbs. However, it was during his time aboard the expedition yacht Legend that his career truly evolved. Under the mentorship of captains Glenn Dalby and Rolf Sieboldt-Berry, he received the opportunity to train as a submarine pilot. He went on to master the operation of the C-Explorer 5 submersible by U-Boat Worx, an elite qualification that combines technical skill with deep-sea awareness.
“Operating a sub isn’t just about knowing the controls,” he says. “You need to have a deep respect for the ocean and a calm, methodical mindset.”
Today, Aldo is part of a small group of elite crew members capable of transitioning from surface operations to underwater exploration. His journey shows how curiosity, adaptability and a willingness to stay relevant while pursuing unique opportunities can keep opening doors if one is willing to put in the effort and has what Aldo describes as “true grit.”
Finding and nurturing new talents
For captains, chief stews and heads of department, understanding the hidden talents within your crew can pay off in countless ways, from elevating the guest experience to enhancing morale and even bolstering safety protocols.
“Skills like wine knowledge, technical diving or child development aren’t just perks; they’re strategic assets,” says sommelier Petra Ndlovu, who has mentored people such as Hannah looking to bring wine skills to yachting. “They differentiate you and make your boat more attractive to guests.” Hiring with an eye toward what else a crew member brings to the table — be it training in a specific discipline, entrepreneurial vision or athletic discipline — can create a dynamic onboard culture that reflects the diversity and richness of the modern yachting lifestyle.
Likewise, by harnessing unique qualities and continuously pursuing knowledge and growth in an ever-changing industry, crew have the potential to distinguish themselves and create their own paths.
“You don’t need to have all the answers; just have a willingness to learn and a passion for exploration,” Aldo says. “Every
skill you acquire along the way has the potential to open doors that you never imagined possible.”
Crew should find their true passions, and people hiring crew should look for true passions.
“Don’t hesitate to bring your authentic self into this industry,” Hannah says. “My expertise in wine stemmed from a genuine curiosity rather than a conventional educational route. This, in turn, has helped to transform my hospitality into the most meaningful part of a client experience while aboard, allowing me to connect with guests on a unique level.”