Aquarium Scuba Jobs

Aquaviews has been regularly featuring a host of various Scuba related jobs for divers and diving enthusiasts who’ve always wanted to make a living doing the thing they love but never had any information about the opportunities out there.  Today we take a closer look at the intriguing world of Aquarium Scuba Jobs.

I’m sure many of you have visited a Zoo or Aquarium with large underwater exhibits and been fascinated by watching a Scuba Diver perform cleaning of the tank’s glass while a dolphin playfully swims around and gone, “man I wish I could have his job!”

Aquarium Scuba Jobs are not just limited to cleaning but encompass a wide variety of work ranging from cleaning tanks, to tracking the health of Aquarium inhabitants, carrying out underwater maintenance activities, taking care of aquarium plants as well as sometimes being a part of the attraction for visitors such as performing shark feedings and swimming with dolphins etc.

There is a popular misconception that job opportunities for Aquarium Divers are restricted only to Zoos and Aquariums; however this couldn’t be more far from the truth. While a large percentage of Jobs related to tank diving are generated by Zoo’s and Marine Aquariums, these days a huge emerging demand from large hotels and Casino’s that have massive aquarium tanks and water features like fountains, aquatic shows or dolphin enclosures are often hiring a large number of divers to help with their upkeep. Las Vegas Hotels like the Mandalay Bay and the Bellagio are known to hire divers to perform maintenance and help clean their large fountains, and marine life exhibits. Large Theme parks with aquatic attractions and water shows too, hire Scuba Divers to establish and maintain the safety and consistent operation of all aquatics systems for show rehearsals and performances. These jobs require diving in a wide range of environments from Marine Sea Water tanks to freshwater or chlorinated water pools.

For those of you who thought the work was relatively easy then guess again; there are numerous skills and qualifications required by Aquarium Divers ranging from degrees in Biology and food nutrition to knowledge to filtration chemistry, water sciences and equipment maintenance experience.

So what qualifications do you need to apply for a Aquarium Diving Job?

Well for starters one would need a Valid open water SCUBA certification. Some employers require divers at a minimum certification level of Rescue Diver; however this may not be necessary for most openings. Many employers require a certain amount of dives logged or years of experience diving to qualify for their positions.

Surprisingly most Aquarium Scuba Jobs at where marine life is involved usually require a B.S. Degree in Marine Biology or a related field. Basic knowledge of the taxonomy of marine and freshwater fish and invertebrates as well as a working knowledge of water quality (chemistry), maintenance and filtration, including familiarity with a variety of life support systems is usually a big plus. Aquarium Diving may not necessarily involve diving with scuba tanks and may require prior experience with hookah systems. Or  Where the job may involve feeding marine life, then experience with proper food handling, preparation, nutrition and feeding techniques in an aquarium setting may be required to qualify. However for candidates applying for positions in non marine-life inhabited environments, a High School diploma may be sufficient.

Candidates are usually required to possess basic first aid and CPR certification as well as be physically fit to be able to perform the job duties which involve physical work and lifting heavy objects underwater for extended periods. The ability to withstand exposure to chlorinated or salt water and swim with a level of comfort is also another physical requirement commonly stated in these positions.

photos from flickr by: mliu92, ehavir, jfeuchter, Roy Stead