Luke Manson

Growing up as a farm kid in the tiny town of Tonganoxie, Kansas, Luke Manson always felt a strong connection to nature. An avid traveler and hiker, he began his true passion of exploring the world’s oceans in the Columbian village of Taganga in 2011. He has since explored the waters of eight countries, in three oceans, along the coasts of North and South America as well as Africa.

In January of 2016 Luke took his passion for nature and conservation to the African continent, joining the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project (NGOWP) as a volunteer. During the next three years he worked on eight total expeditions exploring the river systems that feed the Okavango Delta in Botswana from the Angolan highlands, through Namibia and Zambia. In 2017 he was a member of the first known scuba research team to penetrate multiple lakes in Angola that feed the river system. In June of 2019 the members of the NGOWP were presented with the Rolex National Geographic Explorer(s) of the Year Award.

Prior to joining the Lindblad team, Luke spent substantial time living in Tofo, Mozambique amassing hundreds of dives. He earned his dive master qualifications while also working as an ocean safari guide leading interactions with whale sharks, manta rays, and humpback whales. He had the opportunity to work as a research assistant for the Marine Megafauna Foundation and All Out Africa before leaving the beautiful surf village.