Meet Our Crew
Every naturalist we use is an expert at narrating. They can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about geology, natural history, sea birds, great white sharks, other sharks, whales, dolphin, porpoises, fish, coastal landmarks, and the Farallon Islands. If you aren’t sure what you are seeing, feel free to ask. Our trips are meant to heighten awareness and education of all the marine and wildlife around you.
Kayla was born and raised in Pacifica, California and has always had a passion for the ocean. She got her B.S in Marine Biology from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, where her affinity to whales first manifested in her work at a sperm whale acoustics lab. Now she is living her dream aboard the Kitty Kat, sharing her love for the ocean every day. When not at sea, she enjoys painting, playing video games, visiting museums, and fawning over her cat Kiki with Steven.
Steven Samp Puras is the resident photographer for San Francisco Whale Tours. Born in Puerto Rico and raised by a Coast Guard family, they have been surrounded by the ocean their whole life. They have been doing photography since high school, with a focus on nature and portraiture. When not on the boat, Steven likes playing guitar, board games, video games, and taking photos of Kayla and their cat, Kiki.