Annie Van Dinther

Annie began her career as a naturalist guide on a whale-watching vessel off Cape Cod. With degrees in biology and geology, and with her enthusiasm for teaching and understanding animal behavior, she eventually became head naturalist. The rich waters of Stellwagen Bank provided the perfect classroom to lead field courses in marine biology and research humpback whales. Nat Hab found Annie in 1999, and she has been inspiring our travelers ever since. Her contagious curiosity and devotion to deep observation of the natural world permeates every adventure she leads. With a focus on Canada, Annie has guided trips to see polar bears and belugas in Churchill; spirit bears, brown bears and whales in British Columbia; harp seals in Quebec’s Magdalen Islands; and whales and birds in Newfoundland. She has also guided trips in Mexico, the Galapagos Islands and Alaska. An award-winning writer, Annie now lives in Homer, Alaska where she divides her professional time among writing, guiding sea kayak trips, and leading Nat Hab adventures.

Upcoming Adventures with Annie:
The Great Gray Whales of Baja

Praise from Nat Hab travelers:

K. Tonn
"Annie was amazing! Her knowledge and passion for Churchill and the polar bears was exceptional. I felt extremely confident that we were in very good hands and were getting the very most out of our time in Churchill. Also, I thoroughly enjoyed the night she shared with us her own story about her first time in Churchill and how she became an Expedition Leader. She's a fantastic storyteller and it really was a special story to hear."

E. Cox
"Annie was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. She went above and beyond in every way possible. She even lent me some ski pants. Annie made the trip so enjoyable and exciting and was always on the look out for animals. She was outstanding!"

L. & B. Rizzotti
“Annie added so much to an exciting adventure. She exhibited top-notch dedication and was a great leader! She gave us lots of laughs too!”

S. Schultz
"Wow, this woman is fantastic. She is so knowledgeable about the animals, the area, the history and the people. I am so glad Annie was our guide—we had a wonderful experience. She knows where to look for the animals, and when to stay out late and watch for the aurora. She was always reachable, always kind and what ever little thing you needed, she was right there. I have never taken a "first class" trip and I will rethink my future trips. Thank you so much, from a very, very satisfied customer."

C. Feeney
"Annie is among the best Expedition Leaders I've interacted with across many tours. She was able to engage with all of us in a very effective way, plus provide appropriate information to ensure the trip was as enjoyable as possible, safe and balanced."

D. Srembo
“WOW! We were a lucky group to have such a wonderful guide. She answered all questions and provided information in depth! \She worked hard to see to the group’s every need and spent extra time with all travelers individually to answer questions they might have. That personal touch made the trip so much better! The trip will remain a lovely memory for me.”

J. Crowe
“Annie was a superb guide. We’ve been on a large number of expeditions like this one, and she ranks right up there among the best guides we’ve ever had.”

M. Walkoski
“Annie was exceptional and certainly beyond my expectations in all categories. She made the trip a real pleasure!”

K. Berry
“Annie was hardworking, friendly and had a considerable amount of local knowledge. She was an outstanding leader.”

S. Lee
“Annie is very enthusiastic and excited about her work. It's infectious and makes everything a lot of fun. She is also super concerned about all the travelers and makes sure that people are getting exactly what they need.”

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