Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Gurzi.
Hi Daniel, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Captain Dan – Your Guide to Adventure on the Water
Meet Captain Dan
Dan Gurzi, known by many as Captain Dan, has spent a lifetime chasing adventure on both land and sea. From learning to surf the California coast as a kid, to flying airplanes as a professional pilot, to becoming a licensed boat captain, Dan’s journey has always been fueled by his love of exploration and sharing that joy with others.
After nearly two decades as an airline pilot with thousands of flight hours, Captain Dan turned his passion toward the water. Since 2008, he has owned and operated boats, earning multiple captain’s licenses along the way. What started as a personal passion quickly became his calling—to create unforgettable experiences for families, couples, and groups through Adventure in Paradise private boat tours.
Adventure in Paradise
Adventures In Paradise brings the beauty of Florida’s waterways and wildlife directly to its guests. Whether it’s watching dolphins play in the wake, exploring historic St. Augustine, enjoying a romantic sunset cruise, or celebrating a special milestone, every trip is designed to be personal and memorable.
Our tours are intimate, customizable, and fun—never crowded, always centered on the guests. From family outings and birthdays to engagements and anniversaries, Adventures In Paradise is honored to be part of so many special memories on the water. Proudly serving the Jacksonville and St. Augustine areas, we invite you to come aboard and discover the magic of Florida’s coast with us.
Beyond the Tours
Captain Dan also shares his love of the sea with the next generation. His grandchildren inspired his children’s book series, beginning with Finding Baby Dolphin Donnie, which blends storytelling, nature, and adventure. The books, along with coloring and activity editions, reflect his mission to spark curiosity and wonder in children and families everywhere.
Captain Dan’s Promise
“My favorite part of what I do is watching families and friends make memories together. I want every guest to walk away with a smile, a story, and a sense of peace from their time on the water.”
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like all businesses, Adventure in Paradise can have its challenges. Having been a business owner for some time, you learn not to look at challenges as a negative, but what it is a challenge. A business owner is the ultimate manager, and it is the manager’s job to manage. I am the luckiest guy ever as I get to do something I truly love. I get to be with people who are coming to me already happy and excited to share something I love, being on the water. I just don’t get better than that!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am proud of starting my life by taking my first flying lessons at the age of twelve. to become a Captain at an Airline. In 2009, I started a Company with up to fourteen employees, and many of them started with me and ended with me when I sold the company twelve years later. I started Adventure In Paradise to continue what I was doing with my customers from the property management company. I now get to do what I love every day with great new people.
I have worked several types of jobs and owned businesses, where working with people could be a safety issue. I feel this makes me have a greater understanding and the ability to allow people to enjoy their experience with Adventure In Paradise.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Of course, you have to start with the ones who raise you, my mom and father, providing me with their work ethic. I have spent time with great pilots and Boat captains who have taught me a lot and may have even kept me alive.
Pricing:
- All inclusive
- Private boat trip
- Up to 6 passengers
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.adventureinparadise.org
