Ebony Norris

Ebony’s maritime journey began in her native Australia, where she explored the waters of Melbourne as a dive instructor and deckhand. Her passion for the sea quickly grew, taking her to the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands where she taught diving, worked on tourist boats and guided guests through some of the world’s most spectacular marine environments.

Her move into superyachting began in Fort Lauderdale, where she combined her skills as a deckhand, stewardess and dive instructor. From there, she spent several years on charter yachts cruising the Caribbean and Bahamas, before choosing to focus her career firmly on deck. Rising through the ranks to bosun, Ebony developed a keen eye for detail and an enthusiasm for learning new maintenance and operational skills.

Determined to progress, she went on to achieve her OOW CoC in 2022 and complete her Chief Mate modules later that year. Serving as First Officer on a 46m yacht laid the groundwork for senior responsibilities, while her subsequent role as Second Officer on an 88m vessel introduced her to the demanding world of compliance and large yacht operations.

In 2025, Ebony transitioned ashore to join Dean & Waters as their assistant Compliance Officer, working closely with our senior compliance manager, Danny Binns, bringing with her a wealth of first-hand operational experience and a clear understanding of the challenges faced by today’s captains and crew. Her dual perspective - as both a qualified officer and now as part of the management team - makes sure she can bridge the gap between regulatory frameworks and life on board.

Outside of work, Ebony is a passionate cook, loves to travel and explore new places, and often has a creative project underway. Her energy, curiosity and practical mindset make her an asset both to the Dean & Waters team and to the clients she supports.