Looking for a dive site with perfect conditions year ’round, where you’ll always have a buddy, and you’re guaranteed to see some amazing sea life?
The California Academy of Sciences is looking to recruit San Francisco Bay Area scuba divers to join their intrepid team of dive volunteers. Volunteer divers are primarily responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of their iconic exhibits and participating in their Philippine Coral Reef dive shows.
This is an excellent opportunity to work in an aquarium environment and learn a specialized type of diving.
If you’re interested, you’ll need to qualify with a combination of experience and training, and be able to make a 1-year commitment. Specifically, the minimum requirements to become a volunteer diver are as follows:
1. Hold at least a rescue scuba diver certification with a nationally recognized scuba training organization (NAUI, PADI, SSI, etc.)
2. Have a current (within the last 2 years) CPR/Oxygen administration/AED/First Aid certification
3. Have at least 40 logged scuba dives
4. Have DAN dive Insurance
The qualified candidates that possess these minimum requirements must then interview with Academy Volunteer Services, pass a diving medical exam by their physician, and then pass a swim test/pool checkout dive.
The Academy of Sciences asks for a one-year commitment and requires a minimum of two full day shifts a month. This is a big commitment and admittedly not for everyone. Additionally, they are looking for highly motivated and dedicated people who work well in a team environment.
If this sounds like you, then your first step to becoming a volunteer diver is to contact Rosalind Henning, the Academy’s Volunteer Services Coordinator, for an application and to schedule an interview. Her email is rhenning@calacademy.org.