Internet File Photo of Aquarium Diver--not me...

Date: 6-26-10

Location: California Science Center, Los Angeles

Max Depth: 24 ft.

Mix: 21% [Air]

Critter Seen: see below

Dive Buddies: Assistant DSO, Barbara and Jim, fellow science-divers-in- training

Well, today has been quite a day, I must say.

We got there a few minutes early and then were escorted up to get our badges and sign in for the day.

Then, the assistant DSO came out to take us into the Kelp Tank for some simple drills, like mask removal and regulator recovery, just to make sure we knew what we were doing and then, we got down to business.

The assistant took us down through schools of Senoritas, Blacksmith fish, Garibaldis, Batrays and Sheephead, down to the bottom of the tank, where, the next thing we knew, to our amazement, he was coaxing a 4 foot long, green Moray Eel out of his hole and passing him down to us, where we got to gently stroke him as he went by, before slithering off. Wow!

The next critter he passed to us to stroke was a small Swell shark, which we’re familiar with from diving Scripps Canyon, where they are common. Still, the little guy seemed shy and kept trying get away from us and go back down to his hole near the bottom, but he was so cute–kept trying to bury his head under my arm.

Then, he picked up some Stingrays, carefully from the bottom and handed those over to us and we just as carefully handled them from the bottom as well, before letting them zoom off.

Next was the juvenile Giant Sea Bass, who seemed to inhabit a certain corner of the tank and patrol that area.

Then, we got to swim with the Leopard Sharks, in the upper layer of the 24 ft deep tank, who seem to patrol that zone, while we cleaned the tank glass with specially designed sponges. It was cool, because they give you a special suction cup to anchor yourself to the glass with, while you scrub, because you have a tendency to float up or down while working.

Here you can make faces with and mug for all the little kids looking up at you and pointing and screaming in delight.

Then, he took us back up through long strands of Boa Kelp and Giant Kelp back to the surface, where we broke for lunch.

After lunch, we suited up again and participated in the afternoon Public Feeding.

First, Jim got to feed the Leopard sharks from the surface, apparently to avoid competition from other fish trying to get their food, then Barb and the assistant jumped in, wearing the full-face masks, so he could do the live narration and Barb could get used to the using the mask. Jim and I will get trained with these later on…..

Then. we were given the choice of what critter we wanted to feed, with a special bowl of goodies we had chopped up for each one set aside to take down with us.

I chose to try and feed the juvenile Giant Sea Bass first, but he seemed a little spooked by all the divers in the water today and was a little skittish, so I came back up and got some Moray Eel food [squid] and brought a container of that down, and to the amazement of all the kids and families watching, soon had the medium sized one munching on squid. I was almost as amazed as the audience.

Then, on the advice of another, more experienced aquarium diver, I followed her over to a special section of the wall, where a very large Moray Eel and an equally large Spiny Lobster were sharing a hole together. I did not attempt feeding the larger Moray, who seemed longer than I was.

Finally, the feeding came to an end, and we all waved goodbye to all the kids and families with their faces glued to the glass and made a slow ascent up through the kelp to the surface.

Diving in an aquarium takes a little getting used to, as space is obviously more limited than in the open ocean and you have to be carefully where and when you kick your fins to avoid hitting nearby marine animals and you must also be careful not to let your steel tank scrape against the glass.

I have to say that I got closer to some species of marine life native to San Diego today than I ever got to them diving in San Diego!

It was absolutely surreal day, capped off by having to pass through thousands of colorfully dressed attendees of the ‘Electric Daisy Festival,’ next door at the L A Coliseum.

It was a total blast and I highly recommend volunteer aquarium diving for anyone wanting to fine-tune their diving skills as well as work their way towards eventual certification as a Science Diver with AAUS, the American Academy of Underwater Science.