VA Aquarium Dive Team Tryouts Oct 4/5

[weaponeer]

Hey all,

Just a heads-up that the Virginia Aquarium will be having try-outs for their volunteer dive team on October 4 and 5. If you've thought about joining before, it's time to think about it again. If you've never considered it, you may want to. It's a great experience and great practice. You'll meet a super group of divers, too.

Also a heads-up that renovations at the Aquarium are scheduled to be complete around February or March. A new tank, the "Red Sea", is being added. 100,000 gallons, a 40 feet clear acrylic underwater tunnel for visitors to walk through, and a half dozen spotted eagle rays, along with various other fishes. Very cool. The dive team will be performing demo dives in it regularly, as well as diving the other 4 tanks. Other renovations are being made too, as well as the addition of some reptiles and mammals. Visit the Aquarium website, Official Virginia Aquarium Web Site and follow the links for volunteering. Thanks!

 

[telemonster]

Neat. Does it requires commitment during daytime working hours?

 

[weaponeer]

Ethan,
To maintain an active diver status on the team, members need to dive at the aquarium at least once per month and attend at least 50% of the monthly team meetings. Members aren't required to dive on specific days. You pick the days you will dive from a schedule which includes weekday and weekend dives. Team meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at 7pm at the Aquarium. On October 4, an orientation session will be held at the aquarium for prospective team members that will outline all requirements and provide a walk-thru of aquarium facilities. All obligations will be laid out and explained. The dive try-out will be held on October 5 for those persons who feel they can meet membership obligations. It would be worth your time to attend the orientation to see just what it's all about. Your first step, though, is submitting an application through the aquarium website, as stated in my original post. I've been a team member since April of last year and thoroughly enjoy the experience.

 

[telemonster]

Ah cool. How deep are the tanks?

 

[weaponeer]

The turtle tank and the shark and ray tank are around 20 feet. The seal tank and Chesapeake Bay tank are less, although you're fully submerged even if you stood straight. The important thing when diving shallow water like this is that you must be really good at maintaining neutral buoyancy. It's one of the tests during try-outs.

 

[telemonster]

Ah cool. Does anyone ever use o2 re-breathers since it's shallow?

 

[DGriffin]

Wow, I wish I was closer. Fun stuff.

 

[weaponeer]

Ethan,

Really no need for CCRs. Using them would be kinda cumbersome since you're in a confined tank. Besides, the fishes like to nibble on divers and their equipment, so it's best to keep it simple as far as gear goes. It's also a requirement to wear full wetsuits, gloves and hoods to keep the fishes from pulling hair, biting ears, and taking a finger during feedings. All the details of diving at the Aquarium will be presented during the orientation session on October 4.

 

[weaponeer]

For anyone interested in learning more about the upcoming tryout, I'm including an informational letter recently released by the Dive Team Coordinator. You may distribute it freely. Thanks.

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August 26, 2008

Dear Diver,

We appreciate your interest in becoming a member of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s Volunteer Dive Team. You must be 18 or older to join.

We will be holding tryouts on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at the Owls Creek Interactive Theater, located in the Owls Creek Marsh Pavilion building from 12 noon to 3:00 PM. Saturday is orientation; please bring paper and pen to take notes. Sunday, October 5, we will be at a local recreation center from 9 AM to 12:00 PM (location given to you on Saturday). You will need to bring all your dive gear to the Recreation Center on Sunday. Including, (minimum) full 3 mm wet suit, mask, fins, tank, regulator, BC, weight belt. Be prepared to demonstrate the following skills in the pool: mask clearing, regulator recover, buoyancy control, and other skills similar to those required for your scuba certification. Your gear should be in good working condition. Be prepared for an in the water test.

If you have not sent me a copy of your C-card and your last 5 dives, please bring them with you. If you are a NAVY diver and do not have a civilian dive card, bring a copy of your dive qualification record.

I look forward to seeing you then. Please e-mail me with questions and to let me know that you are attending.

Thank you,

Dave Hinkle
Dive Team Coordinator
471-2269
David.Hinkle@aig.com

David Hunt
Chesapeake Bay Aquarium diver scheduling officer
437-8842
DandD4BB@cox.net