Dave Anderson, who owns Capt. Dave's Dolphin & Whale Safari, also made an award-winning film about his favorite sea creatures and donated proceeds from it to a village in Malawi, Africa. COURTESY PHOTO, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER Dave Anderson Age: 52 Heroes: Jesus Christ, Jacques Cousteau and John Muir Would like to meet: our creator Family: married to Gisele for 10 years; one daughter, Arielle, 7 Volunteering: Helps hundreds of nonprofits raise money for their foundations and helps City of Dreams in Santa Ana with special events. Hobbies/spare time: filmmaking, script writing, mountain biking and time with family Education: same degree as Jacques Cousteau – none Dream: to go to Antarctica

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Ocean expert

Capt. Dave is into

film, philanthrophy

as well
By DEBBIE L. SKLAR
Special to the Register

Dave Anderson of San Juan Capistrano has the ocean as an office on a daily basis. As the owner and captain of Capt. Dave's Dolphin & Whale Safari in Dana Point, he has a dream job many of us would love.

He's also involved in various volunteer organizations and has even made a film, proceeds from which are regularly donated.

Here's a closer look:

Q. What's it like to have the ocean as your daily view?

A. When the weather is nice — great, fantastic, wonderful.

Q. When did your fascination with a career on the water begin?

A. As a teenager, when I decided I wanted to sail, bought my first boat and took it out on the water. I was hooked.

Q. How has your job changed or benefited your life?

A. It's not just a job, it's who I am. My job and my life are intertwined.

Q. What is the film you made?

A. It's called "Wild Dolphins & Whales of Southern California." It took five years of taking my camera to work every day, writing the script, editing and narrating. It won seven awards at the International Wildlife Film Festival and was a finalist at WildScreen, the "Green Oscars," in England.

Q. How have the film proceeds you have sent to Malawi helped people there?

A. We've supported the village in Malawi, Africa, since 2004. Our support through the proceeds of the film has helped to install an irrigation system, latrines, better education, purchase livestock, health resources and vaccines.

Q. What are you passionate about?

A. After learning about John Muir and what he did to help protect Yosemite –
telling people all about the beauty of the place and encouraging them to come and visit – it's been my desire to do the same for the wild dolphins, whales and other creatures off our coast.

Q. Any advice for someone who might want to follow in your footsteps?

A. With God's help, anything is possible. My life is a good example of that.

Q. Your wife seems to be one of your biggest fans. Does she help you day in and day out?

A. Gisele is the organization behind the organization, and without her, we would collapse under our own weight. And yes, she is my biggest fan.

Q. To date, what has been the most rewarding aspect of being Capt. Dave?

A. On the boat, it's seeing people respond to the animals and hearing from them about how much they love my film and how it's changed the way they see the ocean.

Q. What's the online whale show you're working on?

A. Top secret … we're almost ready.

Send story ideas to Debbiesklar@cox.net.

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