A typical aquarium diver’s duties include feeding and surveying aquatic animals, as well as cleaning and maintaining the aquarium tank and plant life. An aquarium diver must not only be certified in self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) and, in many cases, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but he must also be physically fit to handle the physical demands of the job. A degree in zoology, marine biology, chemistry, or a related field, in addition to SCUBA and CPR certification, is frequently required by aquariums. Some aquarium divers supervise guest divers who pay the aquarium to dive in the tanks and assist with aquarium and animal maintenance.
An aquarium diver’s primary responsibility is to look after the animals. This part of the job entails thawing, gutting, and cutting up the meals into size-appropriate portions for the marine animals. The diver then enters the tank with the food in a bucket or case and feeds the fish by hand or distributes it throughout the aquarium.
During the feeding, the aquarium diver will watch the animals’ behavior to see if they are eating well or if they appear sick or injured. Animals that appear to be ill will be netted, brought to the attention of the veterinarian, or observed and their behavior recorded. The diver will occasionally conduct surveys to count the number of animals in each tank.
The aquarium diver’s other responsibility is to keep the tank clean. This entails using a brush or scraper to remove the algae from the tank’s walls. Divers will also inspect and clean the filtration system to ensure it is in good working order. The plants in the aquarium will also be examined during the dive. To avoid fouling the tank, any dead or dying plant life will be removed.
If any of these tasks are not completed correctly, the lives of marine animals and plants may be jeopardized. As a result, many aquariums require their aquarium divers to have a degree in marine biology, zoology, or chemistry in addition to SCUBA certification. A degree in these fields will ensure that the diver is capable of caring for the aquarium’s animals, plants, and water.
Many aquariums have guest diver programs that help to raise money for the institution. Aquarium divers are frequently called upon to supervise the guest divers’ safety and training. If a diver’s job requires it, he may also be required to have CPR training in the event of an emergency.