The Shaka Squad 

Estefania Holt

Estefania Holt is the founder, primary surf instructor and board member of Shaka Soul Surfers. She is a 27 year old special needs teacher. She has worked with special needs for 9 years now. She has worked at non profit special needs school, Super School, for 7 years. She has volunteered at Surfers for Autism and Special Olympics as a surf instructor! Estefania is the daughter of Carl Nichols, a Puerto Rican semi professional soul surfer. She grew up surfing and it runs in her blood. The reason she created this school was to give her special needs students and her loved ones the same opportunity she did growing up. Nothing compares to the calming therapy you get from being on a board. Estefania is CPR and PCM (Professional Crisis Management) certified. She is also seizure and behaviorally trained. 

Carl Nichols

​Carl Jose Nichols is the co-founder, primary surf instructor, board member, and food and equipment manager at Shaka Soul Surfers. He is natural soul surfer from Bayamón, Puerto Rico. He is a board member. He started surfing in 1969 at age 11. Carlitos fell in love with the longboard. He inspired many surfers to use longboard. In 1977, he moved to Hawaii to surf for 3 years. He has surfed almost all the spots in Puerto Rico such as Machuca, Tubes, Marias, Domes, Sheraton, LaPunta, La Ocho, Airplanes etc... In 1987, he moved to Florida and has surfed the entire Florida coast from Diana Beach to Stuart Beach. He considers himself a soul surfer! He advises every surfer to stay in the water and continue surfing, to enjoy surfing that is not to compete with each other or have rivalries. He says that as long as there are waves and until he can keep surfing "forever."

He has been featured in the Puerto Rico SurfBoard Magazine:
https://surfboardmagazinepr.com/carlitos-nichols-leyenda-del-surfing-de-pr/

Daniela Montealegre 

Picture
Daniela Montealegre is a special needs specialist and board member of Shaka Soul Surfers. She loves to help typical and special needs children in any way she can. She has been a special education teacher for the past 10 years. When she is not working, she loves to spend her time volunteering. She has volunteered with mutliple companies including Surfers for Autism, Autism of the Seas, and IVHQ. Daniela has her masters from Lynn University in special education, ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) certification, ESE (Exceptional Student Education) certification, elementary certification. Daniela is also certified in CPR/First Aid and PCM (Professional Crisis Management). 
​

Kiera Martin

Kiera Martin is the co-founder, primary surf instructor, board member and special needs specialist of Shaka Soul Surfers. Kiera is a board member. Kiera was a special needs teacher. She has worked with special needs for 8 years. She previously worked at a non profit special need school with Estefania and Daniela. Kiera is CPR and lifeguard certified. She is also seizure and behaviorally trained.

Stella Mancini 

Stella Mancini is one of our high school volunteer coordinators for Shaka Soul Surfers. She is 18 year old student at St. Thomas Aquinas High School and has worked with the Shaka Soul Surfers for over a year now. Stella has a special needs brother with a rare disability. Stella is passionate about kids/adults with disabilities. She has volunteered her whole life at her brother's school Super School. Stella is highly knowledgable about disabilities and wants to pursue a degree in special education. Stella has won Shaka Soul Surfers Volunteer Award of 2021 for her constant dedication to the school and kids. She is CPR certified.