Meet Chuck Gainey

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chuck Gainey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chuck, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I wanted to find a way make a living doing what I love while bringing awareness to the impact we have on the natural resources we interact with in my field of work.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I specialize in small group excursions where we find fossils, relics, and artifacts. In the course of my daily tours we see wildlife as we tour the islands and waterways around Charleston. I’m an ambassador for the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network and a Shorebird Steward for the Audobon society. I think it is very important to be sensitive to the impact tourism has on the areas we visit, so I strive to educate my guests so they will also be good stewards. I knew when I started my business, Island Cove Charters, that I didn’t want to just take from the eco systems we operate in, but to leave them better than we found them.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d show them the Charleston area from a boat, spend a day on Folly Beach, and some time in downtown Charleston. My favorite restaurants are Jack of Cups on Folly Beach, and the Woodruff on Johns Island, so I’d take them out to eat at both places. For a sunset I’d take them to Bowen’s Island.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mother instilled a love of the natural world and all the creatures we share it with. My father taught me to work hard and never give up.

Website: islandcovecharters.com

Instagram: Island_Cove_Charters

Facebook: Island Cove Charters