National Aquarium in Baltimore Volunteer Diver

[MikeC]

I talked to my friend today, IF you get picked she would be your immediate supervisor at NAIB. Guys, you do not have to be Jacques Cousteau or Sylvia Earle, just review your open water book, make sure you have good buoyancy skills. Remember you will be diving in 20 feet of water or less. First Aid is common sense stuff. They want the divers to be able to answer questions posed by the visitors hence the various biology questions.

As far as satisfaction, there are some divers who have been a volunteering for over 15 years. They wouldn't have stayed unless it was satisfying.

Remember, the aquarium is big on conservation and education.

 

[NAIBdiver1]

It looks as though some of the messages here have gone missing.

To answer jamiep3
"I'm on the Eastern Shore, was planning to apply next year, was wondering if there is anyway to meet and talk to some of the volunteer divers next time I visit the Aquarium?"

Answer:

There are divers at the platform that should be happy to answer any of your questions. The "safety" diver at the platform, may or may not be in a wetsuit, but he/she is a volunteer diver nonetheless. If not in a NAIB wetsuit, they'll have on a blue NAIB shirt and kahki pants. Divers are present seven days a week.

Divers are at the "Wings in the Water" exhibit on the 1st floor at 10:30 AM & 2:30PM
Divers are also at the "Atlantic Coral Reef" exhibit on the 4th floor at 11:00 AM & 3PM

For information on "Immersion Tours" (behind the scenes - not getting wet though) go to http://www.aqua.org and click on Immersion Tours for more information.

NAIBdiver1

 

[Throwback]

Hello there,

I've speant some time away from the board. I went through the screening last year and just joined my dive team last week. I took the written test in January, did water skills in FEB, and started volunteer training this fall/winter. This is a long process, but now that I have started, I can tell you it was worth waiting for. NAIBdiver is right, you'll see one of us hanging around the surface when the divers are in the water and happy to talk to you. Results for each test DO come quickly, so even though there is waiting, you wont be waiting with uncertainty. Good luck to everyone.

 

[Seahunt100%]

Hello there,

I've speant some time away from the board. I went through the screening last year and just joined my dive team last week. I took the written test in January, did water skills in FEB, and started volunteer training this fall/winter. This is a long process, but now that I have started, I can tell you it was worth waiting for. NAIBdiver is right, you'll see one of us hanging around the surface when the divers are in the water and happy to talk to you. Results for each test DO come quickly, so even though there is waiting, you wont be waiting with uncertainty. Good luck to everyone.

Way to go, Throwback! Welcome aboard! I've been with NAIB for about 1 1/2 years now. In a way it has changed my life - added new friends and a new focus, not to mention lots of year-round diving!

What team are you on - me, Thursday A.

Congrats again,
Seahunt

 

[Throwback]

Thanks Seahunt,

I'm on Weds A. So I guess we thaw the food for your feed. Had to smile that the very first thing I did at the aquarium was to chop up the feeder fish. I also think it's cool to drive into the heart of Baltimore in the dead of winter to go diving. All sorts of perks to the program out there.

 

[mwpowell]

Congratulations Throwback.

I've been thinking about trying to get in to the program too. What is the minimum number of hours that you have to volunteer per month?

Mike

 

[Throwback]

They ask that you commit to two regular days a month and allow for 6 missed days. Weekend teams are tough to get onto though.

 

[NAIBdiver1]

Congratulations on starting Throwback. That was a good Christmas present for you.

Hello Seahunt.

I've just returned from Cozumel and was looking to see if Pedro and Jackie had added to the postings with their written test experiences.

Being a vol. diver is a lot of fun and does provide new experiences and new friends, not to mention improving your diving skills. Can't help but getting better when you're diving every two weeks.

A new experience for me, because of the aquarium is, I'm about to start my second semester learning American Sign Language. I noticed more and more visitors that are deaf or hearing impared visiting the aquarium. The 1st people that I noticed signing each other through the window in the Wings exhibit, were really surprised when I signed back to them from underwater. I could see their big smile and it made their visit to the aquarium all the more special. It's my goal that after this semester. I'll be able to sign the presentation that is given at the Wings in the Water exhibit.

Well, hope both the "testers" that posted did well

NAIBDiver 1 (BTW Sat "A")

 

[mwpowell]

They ask that you commit to two regular days a month and allow for 6 missed days. Weekend teams are tough to get onto though.

Thanks. Do you know if they need help weekday evenings?

Mike

 

[Hoyden]

Pedro and I took the test Monday night along with a bunch of other folks (80-100ish). I think that it was a hard test to guess how well you did on - they promised that we'd get our results quickly and if I don't make it this time, I think that I will be able to prepare better for the the next time. The diving questions were pretty much what you'd expect in a basic OW test. The fish/sealife questions were a little harder and I don't think that I did as well on that section. We'll see. I think that I will try to get a volunteer slot somewhere else in the aquarium even if I don't make it into the dive program this year.

Jackie