Volunteer diving at aquariums

[ScubaJoy65]

My significant other and dive buddy and I went to our local aquarium to talk to them about volunteering as divers. We're both excited by the possibilities. Here they require AOW cert and check out dives/tests before you qualify. They also require two 7-hour shifts per month to be a volunteer diver. All of this seems pretty doable and exciting to both of us.

If you've done this before, what has your experience been? Would you offer us any insights and/or tips before we embark upon this adventure?

:scubadive:

 

[Allen Herron]

I volunteer at the Adventure Aquarium in NJ. Our requirements are similar. We dive on the same team every other week. 6 to 7 hours. I have been doing it for 5 1/2 years and it is never boring. Where else could I dive with a Great Hammerhead last Wednesday? You skills will improve as will your air comsumption. Go for it and have fun!

 

[mwilding]

I volunteer at the Adventure Aquarium in NJ. Our requirements are similar. We dive on the same team every other week. 6 to 7 hours. I have been doing it for 5 1/2 years and it is never boring. Where else could I dive with a Great Hammerhead last Wednesday? You skills will improve as will your air comsumption. Go for it and have fun!

Allen - what is the swim with sharks experience like?

 

[Allen Herron]

Its a great oppertunity to get up close and personal with 28 sharks and 2 saw fish. We have many large sand tigers and brown(sandbar) sharks. The tank is 550,000 gallons. There is no cage, you are face to face! Don't worry, they are well fed.

 

[ScubaJoy65]

At our aquarium I learned that the volunteer divers enter the tank from the opposite side of where the sharks are fed so they won't confuse divers with food. They also shared that they keep the sharks well fed so they are never hungry. Both are good news for divers.

 

[mwilding]

Its a great oppertunity to get up close and personal with 28 sharks and 2 saw fish. We have many large sand tigers and brown(sandbar) sharks. The tank is 550,000 gallons. There is no cage, you are face to face! Don't worry, they are well fed.

snorkel only, right?

 

[DanBMW]

You will love it...... Great way to stay current and contribute to the community. At The Florida Aquarium in Tampa, F., we not only dive in the local aquarium, but get involved in underwater archaeology throughout Florida. Not a bad way to spend a day!

 

[DanBMW]

You will love it...... Great way to stay current and contribute to the community. At The Florida Aquarium in Tampa, F., we not only dive in the local aquarium, but get involved in underwater archaeology throughout Florida. Not a bad way to spend a day!

 

[ScubaSteve]

Not that there is an aquarium anywhere near me to volunteer at, but I have always thought it would be neat to. What do you actually do? Is it like a fire fighter and that you may be on duty but not get called out (in this case into the water)?

 

[mjh]

I volunteer at our local aquarium as a diver. The main two exihibits I work in you are basically a fish janitor. We have to clean all the glass, vacuum up the fish doo, check the lighting, check on the fish and feed. We dive with full AGA masks so we do a "show" about conservation and our local waters. But with time and ability you can move up the ladder. Here you can eventually get involved in other projects like six gill shark research dives and getting to go out and do collecting.