Training to be an Aquarium Exhibit

[sailingk8]

Hi all, Randy and I finished our training today to be volunteer Aquarium divers at the Virginia Aquarium. It didn't take too long and it's really fun. I loved waving at the kids and seeing their reactions.

here are a few pics:

 

[sailingk8]

a couple more pics:

 

[Aquabear]

Wow, love the pics and respect what ur doing.
I had ideas of doing that for a local aquarium and now that I am better physically (just finished with spinal radiofrequency injections) I can look into volunteer. Any advice to offer?

 

[sailingk8]

We found out about this opportunity here on Scuba board in our area thread.
Call the Aquarium and ask to talk to the volunteer coordinator. They should be able to hook you up with the right people.
I was nervous about the big fish mostly but once I got into the tank and realized they weren't going to attack me even while feeding them I was fine. I relaxed and had fun.
PM me if you want.

 

[Gombessa]

Neat, looks like a heck of a lot of fun!

Last time I was at our local aquarium, some of the volunteer divers wore FFMs with radios to talk to the kids and answer questions during scheduled feedings. Do you guys do anything like that?

 

[sailingk8]

Neat, looks like a heck of a lot of fun!

Last time I was at our local aquarium, some of the volunteer divers wore FFMs with radios to talk to the kids and answer questions during scheduled feedings. Do you guys do anything like that?

They are in the middle of opening a new exhibit, "The Red Sea". After that is settled we will all start training on the FFMs so we can interact and answer questions.

 

[cloudswinger]

info for the NY aquarium volunteer dive program : Volunteer Dive Program

I'd do it if there was one nearby.

 

[drdaddy]

Here's information and an application for becoming a volunteer diver at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport/Southbeach, Oregon.

http://www.aquarium.org/documents/volunteerdiveapplicationspring2009.pdf

This second link is about all the volunteer opportunities at OCA.

About OCAQ - Volunteering

 

[onefastpony]

That is awesome. I am going to look into the aquarium here to see if they have something like that. They do have a shark dive exibit where you have to pay 150 to dive with the sharks. Would be cool though to dive in the big fish tank and "feed the fishes."

 

[akmike907]

Ma'am, I'm jealous