People and Equipment
People
Barefoot Adventures is headed by Bruce John Farkas, who carries three decades of experience in adventure tourism. A scuba professional and PADI Course Director, he has brought a culture of professionalism and a safety-first approach to Barefoot Adventure.
Our hosts Steve and Diya and our Naturalist, Harshada, do their utmost to ensure that you experience the natural beauty of the Andaman Islands to the fullest.
The backbone staff of Barefoot Adventures (boat captains, guides and camping hands) are mostly employed from the local Karen community. Previously considered almost unemployable in the Andaman Islands before the advent of tourism, members of the Karen community have traditionally derived much of their sustenance from the forest and the seas. The Karens were viewed with much suspicion by local authorities owing to their ongoing links with their Burmese cousins, and have been long suspected of aiding and abetting and even taking active part in their poaching activities. What is generally accepted however, is that this community has unparalleled knowledge of the islands, islets, rocks and reefs that make up the Andaman archipelago and that the forest and the sea holds little secrets from them. You are in the best possible hands with our charming Karen staff – our poachers turned gamekeepers – and are yourselves part of a mini success story in facilitating change with Barefoot through providing and supporting sustainable livelihoods.
All our staff are trained and certified in First Aid and have completed the PADI Emergency First Responder Course.
Equipment
Our equipment is regularly maintained. Snorkeling equipment includes high quality masks, snorkel and fins that are manufactured to meet standards for scuba diving. We have single and double seater sit atop kayaks, with backrest and streamlined paddles manufactured by Johnson Outdoors, New Zealand, and well maintained camping equipment sourced from the same supplier.
Our wooden boats are locally made and range from a large 60 foot wooden motor launch to a fleet of traditional mechanized dugouts (dunghis), whose hulls are each hollowed out from the trunk of single tree.