Giant Ocean Tank Blog

#62: What's Happening - Video of Halloween Divers: Jumping Hot Dogs and Fighting Pirates

2009-10-30T13:00:00.000-04:00

As you know from this previous post, the Giant Ocean Tank was a big part of the Aquarium's Halloween fun this year. Not only do we have some amazing still photos, but (just like last year) we also have some great underwater footage of our costumed divers.

Click play on the embedded movies below to see the hot dog jump into the Giant Ocean Tank (left) and an underwater pirate battle (right).

#61: What's Happening: Divers, and Costumes, and Pumpkins, Oh My!

2009-10-26T11:30:00.001-04:00

On October 23rd the Giant Ocean Tank (GOT) staff and volunteers took part in our annual event called "Fish, Fun, and Fright." (See photos and videos from last year's event.) We opened up the Aquarium for our members after scheduled hours for an evening of tricks, treats and, most notably, our costumed divers in the GOT.

This is me! My name is Kimmie Banks and I'm currently the GOT co-op from Northeastern University. I've been here for about 4 months now, and I've quickly learned that there is never a dull moment in the GOT. I was really excited to wear a costume in the tank, but isn't easy to think of a costume that is hydrodynamic and won't look like delicious food to our animals. The angelfish were really interested in eating my Bumble Bee outfit, but luckily it stayed intact.

Earlier that day our volunteers and interns had fun carving pumpkins to put in the GOT.

This year we had such a great turn out for volunteer divers, and Lizzie and Brian were no exception.

Amidst all the candy, Popeye encouraged children and adults alike to eat their spinach.

A fearless Spiderman scaled the windows of the GOT with ease. If you could hear her speak underwater, visitors would hear: "My Spidey senses are tingling."

Luckily, we also had the most graceful of creatures in the tank.

Sam as an angelfish and Ariel as a ballerina.

Anna as a jellyfis. I hope Myrtle didn't try to take a bite!

Being at the top of the GOT was so exciting, you never knew what costume would jump in the tank next.

Where's Kristen? Oh, there she is! As Waldo she's tricky to pick out among all the fish.

We thought the tourist season was over, but Andrea just couldn't miss out on such a fun dive.

We've never tried giving the sharks hot dogs, but apparently they wanted a sample.

All staff and volunteers had a blast this year, and based on the smiles and waves we saw through the windows, we're sure families and their friends had a great time too.

Until next year, have a safe and happy Halloween!

-Kimmie

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#60: Our Reef Residents - Ari's First Day

2009-10-09T12:51:00.006-04:00

I am back from my leave, and so very lucky to be here for Ari's first swim in the Giant Ocean Tank. It was a long road to recovery for her--almost 2 1/2 years from the time she was found on a beach in Louisiana to now.

I had the good fortune of being in the water during her introduction, and caught her on film, exploring the G.O.T. waters for the first time. How cool!

-Chris

#59: What's Happening - Thanks for helping name our new sea turtle!

2009-10-08T14:04:00.004-04:00

Today Ari the Kemp's ridley sea turtle made her successful debut in the Giant Ocean Tank (GOT)! Thanks to all of the hundreds of people who submitted names and the thousands of you who voted for their favorite name.

Ari in her new home at the Aquarium

Ari's name has a great conservation message, because it is short for "arribada," which is the massive arrival of female sea turtles to nest. This mostly happens on the beaches of Rancho Nuevo, Mexico, and protecting these nesting areas is extremely important for the protection of the species. Now every time someone asks what Ari's name is, our educators will be able to tell that story!

Ari is such a good name, that a lot of people suggested it. Since we could only have one winner, we selected the person who gave the best description of what an arribada is. That was Sharon B., but some of the other contestants who entered this name include Jenny T., Cathy F., Carole S., Michael N., Ryan B., Helen Z., Dominika, Sam P., Melissa V., Julia, Jack and Alison P., Alex S., Aaron P., Romy M., Jake S., Jenn G., Danielle D., Cindy S., Ashlee D., Norma R., Judi O., Connie B., Junior G. and Steph. Great work, everyone!

We also received some great entries from families who came together to think of great turtle names. Thanks to Molly, Rob, Bo, Callie, Ned and Colin for sending us your entries, and we hope you have fun seeing all the turtles in the GOT during your next visit!

In the meantime, Ari is getting used to her new home, and we'll be keeping you updated on other GOT happenings.

#57 What's Happening - Vote for your favorite sea turtle name!

2009-09-27T06:00:00.001-04:00

The Aquarium's new Kemp's ridley sea turtle needs a name, and we're having a contest to name her! Last week we asked turtle fans to submit their favorite sea turtle names, and this week you get to vote on which name is the best! Here's some more information about each of the names you have to choose from.

The submission box gets another name idea last week.

Ari -Vote for this name now!
Ari, short for Arribada, refers to the mass nesting reproductive strategy that is unique to this species. Every year between April and June, thousands of female Kemp's ridley sea turtles arrive at the same beach in Mexico to lay their eggs. Why they synchronize their emergence is largely unknown, but it may serve as a form of predator saturation or swamping.

An Olive ridley arribada (Photo: Michael P. Jensen / NOAA)

Cara -Vote for this name now!
Short for carapace, which is the word for the upper shell of sea turtles. The name Cara can also be linked to the late Archie Carr, whose contributions to sea turtle conservation are unsurpassed. You can learn more about the wildlife refuge named for Archie Carr here.

This photo displays the new turtle's carapace

Lulu -Vote for this name now!
Short for Louisiana, the location where this turtle stranded and was rehabilitated. Learn more about this turtle's long road to recovery here.

A Kemp's ridley distribution map showing how the range includes the Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana, where the new turtle was rescued (credit: Pinpin, wikimedia commons)

Lora -Vote for this name now!
Aside from a modest number of nests in Texas, The entire population of Kemp's ridley sea turtles next on beaches in Mexico. The people of Mexico refer to these turtles as "parrot turtles" or "Tortuga Lora", for their parrot like beaks. Their beaks allow them to crack open crabs and other shell fish, which are a major component of their diet.

This photo of the new turtle show's off her beak-like head

Sunny -Vote for this name now!
Kemp's ridley sea turtles are the only species of sea turtles that nest during the day light hours.

A nesting sea turtle in south Padre Island (Photo: Jessica Lavash)

Richelle -Vote for this name now!
The Kemp's ridley sea turtle was named after Richard Kemp, a fisherman from Key West Florida who was interested in natural history. Mr. Kemp submitted the first specimen of this species for identification. "Richelle" is the feminine version of "Richard."

The new Kemp's ridley sea turtle gets a checkup at the Aquarium.

#56 What's Happening-Help Name Our New Sea Turtle!

2009-09-17T12:00:00.000-04:00

Last week we introduced you to the Giant Ocean Tank's newest Kemp's ridley sea turtle. Now you can help us name her! Enter your best turtle name on this contest page.

Start submitting today! If we like your name, we'll put it in an online poll for everyone to vote on. The person who submits the winning name will get a chance to come to the Aquarium next month and help us introduce the new turtle to the Giant Ocean Tank!

#55 Our Reef Residents-Meet Our Newest Sea Turtle

2009-09-12T13:58:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday evening Sherrie drove to Logan Airport to pick up a very special package--a Kemp's ridley sea turtle! This turtle was found on a beach in Cameron Parish, Louisiana in 2007, with severe injuries to its head and back flippers, most likely due to a propeller strike. She was nursed back to health at the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans and later at the Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species Center in Algiers, Louisiana.

Due to her injuries, she was not a candidate to be re-released. Officials in Louisiana contacted us and asked if we had room for another sea turtle, and we did! So arrangements were made and the turtle was flown from New Orleans to Boston earlier this week.

Check out some pictures of the new turtle getting a physical examination from our vet staff.

After about a month of quarantine behind the scenes she will be put in the Giant Ocean Tank where she will join our other rescued sea turtles, Scute, Retread, and Carolina, and of course Myrtle too. (Find out how much each of these turtles weigh by reading this post.)

-Andrea

#54 What's Happening - Wetsuit Revenge!

2009-08-27T09:11:00.004-04:00

Our co-op students are usually ready to get out of their wetsuits after completing five dives a day for five days straight. Not this week! Our newest co-op, Kimmie, just couldn't bear to part with her wetsuit. Well, actually she got stuck in at after her last dive of the day.

We use our dive gear several times daily and we're really tough on it. It seemed like Kimmie's wetsuit really wanted to put up a fight. After many attempts to free her we decided to bring in the big gun (a.k.a., John with his pliers.)

John cut the top of the zipper off so the suit wasn't badly damaged. Kimmie was able to go home in her regular clothes. I'm happy to say she came back this morning and is ready to dive again!

-Sarah

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#53 Our Reef Residents - Giant Ocean Tank Shark Exams

2009-08-17T17:00:00.000-04:00

The Giant Ocean Tank Dive Team and the Aquarium Health Division recently joined forces to begin a series of shark medical exams. After weeks of planning, the first two of four exams were scheduled for August 4 (Bimini the nurse shark) and August 6 (Markham the sand tiger shark).

Staff and volunteers arrived at 6:00 a.m. to begin the preparation process. Shark exams require an enormous amount of planning as well as a lot of highly specialized equipment.

Divers prepare for step one; the injectable anesthesia.

Waiting for the right moment....

Got it!

Once the injectable anesthesia has taken effect (shark is a bit groggy), divers use a wand attached to a spray bottle full of liquid anesthesia to further anesthetize the animal. The liquid anesthesia has a sleep like effect, much like anesthesia that is used on humans. Additional divers use long poles with tennis balls on the ends to help direct the shark towards the wand.

Once it is determined that the shark is drowsy enough to handle, divers use the poles to gently guide him into the stretcher.

Once the shark is secure in the stretcher, divers bring him to the surface.

The stretcher is then lifted out of the water using an electronic hoist

Staff carefully lower the shark into a fiberglass box especially designed for shark exams.

Bimini was a bit light on anesthesia, and made quite a fuss when placed in the exam box. She eventually settled down nicely.

A hose within a PVC tube that is attached to a pump is placed in the shark's mouth. This ensures a constant flow of water; important for respiration.

The veterinarians now prepare for the medical examination.

The shark is measured and a blood sample is taken.

The most challenging part of the exam is radiographs. The shark has to be taken out of the water and placed on the radiograph plate. When not breathing the anesthetized water, the shark can wake up, so this has to be done very quickly.

Once the exam is completed, the shark is returned to the exhibit in much the same way that he/she was removed. They are brought to the bottom in a stretcher, and observed closely by the dive staff until they are up and swimming.

Stay tuned the next exams will be in early September with Judith and Galilee ...

- Sherrie

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#52: What's Happening - Counting Fish in New England

2009-08-13T12:45:00.003-04:00

When I'm not feeding the more than 600 animals that call the New England Aquarium's Giant Ocean Tank (GOT) their home, I'm fascinated watching animal behaviors that are always going on. While I love diving in the GOT on a regular basis, I got my start diving in the cool New England waters where I watched these same animal behaviors for the last 25 years.

These observations came in handy as the New England Aquarium Dive Club (NEADC) and the Reef Environmental and Educational Foundation (REEF) sponsored the 8th annual Northeast Great Annual Fish Count held up on Cape Ann, Massachusetts. This year, there were 119 divers who submitted 140 surveys and identified 45 different species! All three numbers were records for the eight year old event, which is the largest of it's kind in the country. These divers observed 4 or 5 species that were never observed before, like the Atlantic wolf fish and the Atlantic torpedo ray. So, what did we see and how did we count them? Using underwater slates with waterproof paper, as well as laminated fish ID pictures, we marked down only fish that we could positively identify. They were categorized using "single" for one fish, "few" for 2-10 fish, "many" for 10-100, and "abundant" for over 100.

After the dives, these observations were transferred to survey sheets back at the staging area and submitted. Then came the fun part! This year there were over $8500.00 dollars in prizes including a dive vacation, wetsuits, regulators, fins, masks and a rare opportunity to dive into the GOT here at the New England Aquarium, which is always one of the most sought after prizes!

There was quite a spread of food supplied by the New England Aquarium Dive Club afterward. This year the weather has been very wet but we had a beautiful day for the event. Underwater visibility wasn't the best due to all the rain we've had recently but that's New England diving. This year, there was participation from 7 or 8 different local dive clubs. While the prizes were great incentive, this also gives divers the opportunity to become "citizen scientists" and contribute to helping to address a variety of questions on marine life populations and species to marine scientists. Those of you who are divers, consider joining REEF and fill out a survey form for every dive you do. It's up to all of us to help protect our blue planet.

Be sure to check out the NEADC's Annual Tropical Fish Rescue coming up in September. Tropical fish in New England? Every fall, juvenile tropical fish travel up north in the Gulf stream and end up in the shallow waters in southern New England. As the fall weather begins to cool. so do the ocean temperatures and the tropicals can't handle the cooler temps, so NEADC collects these animals and some have even been introduced into the GOT!

So, don't forget to check out the GOT blog for details on what we found and rescued. It's the thrill of the hunt!

-Mike

#51: Our Reef Residents--The Boxfishes, featuring "Wasabi" the Scrawled Cowfish

2009-08-01T11:00:00.001-04:00

As you look into the Giant Ocean Tank you can see that the fish come in many different shapes and sizes. Some of our more uniquely shaped fish are a group call the boxfishes. They get their name for their less-than-streamline boxy shape. The way they hover and dart around the tank and how they will suck squid tentacles out of you hand like slurping spaghetti makes them a favorite of both the visitors and the divers.

Here are a few of the boxfish that you might find in the GOT.

Smooth trunkfish

Honeycomb cowfish

Scrawled cowfish

In this video you can see a trunkfish and the honeycomb cowfish swimming around. To distinguish them look for tiny horns above the cowfish's eyes.

Watch in this video as I feed some of our trunkfish and cowfish along with some of our other oddly shaped fish, like an ocean triggerfish, individual squid tentacles.

A little while ago the divers noticed the scrawled cowfish had sustained an injury to its dorsal fin. It was removed from the exhibit to a tank behind the scenes where the vets in our Animal Health Department sutured part of the dorsal fin back on. While under their care, the health department staff affectionately named the fish Wasabi. Wasabi spent some more time behind the scenes to rest and recoup, and I am happy to say that Wasabi is healed and is ready to go back into the Giant Ocean Tank.

Here is a picture of Wasabi in its tank behind the scenes recuperating.

Wasabi in a formalin dip awaiting his release into the GOT

After a day in an acclimation cave in the Giant Ocean Tank Wasabi was released and joined the rest of the boxfish slurping up squid tentacles.

-Andrea

#50: What's Happening - Great Annual Fish Count

2009-07-21T15:00:00.003-04:00

As the New England Aquarium celebrates its 40th Anniversary, it gives us a moment to reflect on how we can help to protect our blue planet.

On Saturday, July 25, the New England Aquarium Dive Club (NEADC) and Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) are sponsoring the Great Annual Fish Count (GAFC). This year, our 8th, divers from all over New England will count fish populations at various dive sites on Cape Ann as well as southern Maine. (NEADC recently held a New England fish ID course to familiarize divers with the various species to identify and how to count them.) Data from the event is used to raise awareness among both the diving community and public regarding marine habitats and trends in fish populations and to provide researchers, marine resource managers and policy makers with this useful information.

After the dives, everyone meets back at the staging area to fill out surveys reporting what they counted. They are given raffle tickets for chances to win more than $8,500 in prizes! Some of the prizes include a dive vacation to Bonaire, underwater cameras, wetsuits, regulators, fins, and of course, the rare privilege to dive into the Giant Ocean Tank here at the New England Aquarium! The NEADC is providing lots of food back at Stage Fort Park afterward as well.

If you're a diver and want to come out and count fish with us, check out the event's website at or visit the Dive Club website and REEF website for more information. And, don't forget to check back in with this blog in a few weeks for information and pictures of what we saw and counted and how we did it!

-Mike

#49: Our Reef Residents - New Barracuda!

2009-07-17T17:35:00.000-04:00

We are currently in the process of acclimating all of the fish that were collected on the 2009 Bahamas spring collecting expedition to the Giant Ocean Tank (GOT). One of our favorites is this juvenile barracuda (cuda for short). Before going on exhibit, all of our fish undergo a three-minute freshwater dip and a one hour formalin dip. This helps to eliminate parasites. During this formalin dip the cuda is nestled nicely with his tank mates.

Once the fish have finished their dips, they go into acclimation chambers within the GOT. Here the cuda is in a floating pen where he will remain for a couple of weeks along with the needlefish.

-Sherrie

#48: Dive Buddies - John H. Dives to the Wreck of the Andrea Doria

2009-07-10T10:00:00.001-04:00

For me SCUBA diving is not just a job, but a way of life. So what am I doing when I'm not SCUBA diving in the Giant Ocean Tank? Diving out in the ocean of course! Over the past six years I've been training for one single experience - to dive on what's been called the "Mount Everest of SCUBA diving" - the wreck of the Italian cruise liner, Andrea Doria.

(Artist rendering of the current state of the Andrea Doria.)

Located deep in the cold waters of the Atlantic, 160 miles northeast of Long Island, the Andrea Doria is both a beautiful lady and a daunting challenge. A challenge I met on an expedition aboard the RV Garloo this past week.

(My dive buddy Micheal, a dive volunteer for NEAq, and I with enough gear for only two dives.)

(RV Garloo)

Armed with 200 lbs. of gear, five tanks filled with four different mixes of breathing gases (including a helium mix that makes me sound like Donald Duck), a lot of preparation, and a little bit of courage, I dropped off the side of the Garloo and down to 250' for a pair of visits to a piece of history.

(My game face.)

(This type of diving takes a lot of gear and putting it all on is a slow process.)

(It also takes a lot of help.)

(All that gear is heavy and cumbersome above water, but is actually pretty comfortable underwater.)

(And I'm away!)

(Doria, here I come...)

During the lengthy decompression process on the way back up to the surface, I reflected on how I had become one of only a handful of people to ever see this magnificent ship in her final resting place deep in the murky gloom, 250' below the relentless swells of the Atlantic.

(Getting out of the water is one of the hardest things.)

Still holding her 700' of luxury within her hull - mainly - she's a ship beyond normal comprehension, and she garners a humbling respect through her awesome presence. My trip was a homage to the majesty of such a vessel and a memorial to all the souls lost in one fateful day, and on subsequent ill-fated trips designed to uncover her secrets ...

Safe diving.

- John

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#47: What's Happening - Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-04T13:54:00.002-04:00

Boston can be a great place to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Here are some pictures of our volunteers and interns celebrating the Fourth of July, "Giant Ocean Tank" style!

The Giant Ocean Tank version of fireworks

a splash from a giant stide entry into the tank.

It's not your normal cook out cuisine but Myrtle seems to enjoy it.

And adding a little red, white, and blue to our dive gear.

Happy 4th of July!

-Andrea

#46: Dive Buddies - Linda

2009-06-18T15:50:00.003-04:00

Hi!
My name is Linda. I am a senior at Northeastern University and just finished up a spring diving internship for the Giant Ocean Tank after nearly two years of volunteering and co-oping for the New England Aquarium in the Penguin and Dive departments. I fell in love with marine biology as a kid and became determined to one day get involved in aquarium husbandry.

As an intern I've been able to do some incredible things: helping with freshwater stingray dips, transporting new fish from collecting trips to their galleries, building a new feeding bucket for our Kemps ridley sea turtle Scute, and best of all getting to feed fish and the stingrays on the 2:30 dive.

Naturally an internship involves a great amount of work along with the fun, it takes a lot of cleaning to keep everything running both in the tank and behind the scenes. If I'm not on the platform feeding Myrtle or the surface fish you'll find me in the kitchen cleaning our food prep stations or in the dive room helping with the upkeep of our changing area. Many different galleries use the dive food room and gear area for work in their own exhibits so cleaning is an ongoing project, perfect for interns with a passion for sparkling counters!

Now that my session has come to a close and the dive department begins to train the summer interns, I'm taking a short hiatus from the New England Aquarium to intern at the Two Oceans Aquarium of Cape Town, South Africa. During the months of July and August (their winter!) I will be working in one of only two aquariums in the world to have a live kelp forest exhibit, as well as many other fascinating exhibits including a colony of African penguins (native to South Africa and Namibia) and both an Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean exhibit displaying the diversity of marine life to be found on the coasts of this beautiful country.

African Penguin

South Africa is bordered by two distinct currents, the Agulhas on the east and the Benguela on the West, both transporting vast amounts of vital nutrients to a wide array of sea life along the African Coast. These names may sound familiar to you seeing as we have two African penguins at the Aquarium named after these currents. I look forward to visiting many places our colony is named after, such as the cape of Goodhope, Boulders Beach, Dassen and Robben islands and Saldanha bay!

In addition to my internship in the aquarium, I also hope to complete a personal dive in the area to experience first hand an infamous local: the white shark, a fish that has attained a rather unfair reputation around the world and actually plays an irreplaceable role in the food chain.

I anticipate many adventures to come from this trip and am so grateful to the staff of both the New England Aquarium and the Two Oceans aquarium for helping me make this final co-op of my undergraduate career a reality.

-Linda

#45: Dive Buddies - Meet Enrique

2009-06-09T15:00:00.004-04:00

Hello everyone, my name is Enrique Mauser, I am from Mexico City and a student at Northeastern University where I major in environmental science with a concentration in wildlife studies and a minor in biology. Currently I am in the midst of finishing my first Co-op semester here at the New England Aquarium which I am not looking forward to at all. As my last few weeks of working as a diver in the Giant Ocean Tank (GOT) rapidly approach, I look back and realize a few things.

Having the opportunity to work in the field that I am passionate about is great. This is a dream job for me, and it should be for everyone. I mean come on! I get to hand feed 8-foot-long sharks, 550-lb. turtles, stingrays so big that I could use as bed sheets, and eels with razor sharp teeth, among another 600 fish or so.

The people I work with are a huge plus in my experience here since they are not only my co-workers but also my friends. There are all sorts of personalities here at the Aquarium which makes for a great working environment since it never gets boring.

I also got to share my experience here with my family who came up from both Mexico and Argentina. My mom, being scuba certified, was able to come into the G.O.T with me which was awesome because going in there is so unique, it was nice sharing that with her.

I have learned so much about what interests me here at the Aquarium and I wouldn't have wanted to do anything else with my co-op time. Class is a great way to learn new things but there is nothing like having hands on experience to really get a feel for what life after college will be like. I will miss working around such great people and all the animals that reside in the GOT, but this is not the end of my New England Aquarium days.

-Enrique

#44: Many People Ask - Why do sharks have so many teeth?

2009-05-15T14:30:00.003-04:00

As one of our sand tiger sharks swim by you often hear visitors gasp and say “Look at all those teeth!!!”

But why do sharks have so many teeth?
Sharks and rays are elasmobranches, or cartilaginous fishes. This means unlike us or any of the other fish that live in the Giant Ocean Tank, their skeleton is made out of cartilage not bone. Therefore shark's teeth are not anchored in bone but instead loosely embedded in their gums above their jaws. Not being anchored in bone means a shark's tooth can fall out very easily. When a tooth falls out it is replaced with another tooth from a row of teeth behind it, in a conveyor belt fashion. Depending on the species 3-15 rows of teeth can be visible! One shark can produce thousands teeth in its lifetime!

Our sharks in the GOT are no exception; they often loose their teeth, and we will find them around the tank. Here are a few pictures of some of our trophy teeth.

Even though it may look quite scary it is important that the sharks have so many rows of teeth, if they lost most of their teeth they wouldn't be able to feed which is very problematic since they don't make dentures for sharks.

- Andrea

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#43: Dive Buddies - Meet Andrea

2009-05-07T12:00:00.001-04:00

Hi!

My name is Andrea
As you may have read in the last blog post, Chris B. is taking the next 5 months off to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, which will lead him from California up through Oregon and Washington. During his absence I will be joining the Giant Ocean Tank dive team.

I was first introduced to the New England Aquarium as an Aquarium Guide Volunteer in 2003, where I have had the opportunity to talk thousands of visitors about all the amazing animals that call the aquarium their home. And in 2005 I got my first job at the Aquarium as a Program Educator. As a Program Educator I would to travel to schools with small tide pool animals. It was a lot of fun teaching the kids about these animals, and knowing that this day at school would probably standout in their memories for years to come.

In 2007 I became a Penguin biologist here at the New England Aquarium. Even though it is not the most glamorous job (most of the day you are scrubbing guano, or penguin poop), it is an amazing job where I get to work with more than 80 penguins who each have their own unique personalities, so every day is different and rewarding. I also have raised over 10 penguin chicks. Before working with the penguins I was a penguin colony volunteer for 3 years. (Check out this video of me on AquaKids talking about the penguins!)

This is not my first time in the GOT. As a penguin biologist I was cross trained in all the GOT feeding dives, so I already have over 30 GOT dives under my belt, including a fun dive during the aquarium's Halloween event Fish, Fun, and Fright. I incorporated my tank and BC (buoyancy compensator) as my "proton pack" and dressed up as a Ghostbuster. But I am very excited to get many many more dives under my belt and learn as much as I can about the over 600 individuals that call the GOT their home.

While I will miss my feathered friends in the penguin exhibit I am very excited for this great opportunity to help take care of the New England Aquarium's largest and very popular exhibit. The next time you are at the New England Aquarium stop by the top of the GOT and say hello.

- Andrea

#42: Dive Buddies - Meet Chris B

2009-04-27T09:00:00.006-04:00

Being a Giant Ocean Tank (G.O.T.) diver, as you can imagine, is a dream job. Diving in the tank, however, is only part of what I do here at the Aquarium. First off, I got my start back in 2005 as a penguin volunteer, so I still visit them from time to time, and help out with daily tray tasks and feedings. It takes effort to remember who's who, as the colony is constantly growing, but it's very fun and rewarding.

I received in-house dry suit dive training back in 2007, so that I could partake in outside collecting and off-site collection trips. I had a wonderful time this past Fall, during our Eastport collection trip, where we gathered specimens for the tanks of the coldwater marine gallery, one of which is where our giant pacific octopus resides.

While not underwater in Maine, I am the supervisor of 23 volunteers and interns of the G.O.T., most of which dive in the tank. It's a very fun part of my job, for we have a nice wide variety of personalities, ages and nationalities. The majority of them are in only one day per week, so every day is different!

Other minor things that I take care of include departmental purchasing (everything from shark vitamins to tile & grout brushes for scrubbing the reef), management of our walk-in freezer (storage for thousands of pounds of frozen seafood) and maintenance of the G.O.T. anodes (which prevent the tank frames from eroding).

We divers, and the sharks and turtles that we take care of, are very popular with the media. I have been on TV more this past 3 years than any period previously in my lifetime, and even made it in the Sunday Boston Globe. This is me with "Chronicle" host Anthony Everett, who is feeding Myrtle the turtle after interviewing me for their Odd Jobs piece.

If you've been following our blog, you know that we like our holidays here at the Aquarium. October brings my favorite event of the year - Fish, Fun, and Fright! I rally as many divers as I can, including volunteers, interns, co-ops and other staff, and partake in the fun myself. In 2006 I dressed as a sushi chef and chased the fish around with my fake wooden knife. I think I may have scared some kids. Last year I dressed as an astronaut (here's the video).

Previous to my employment with the Aquarium, I was a fisheries biologist in Alaska, helping the National Marine Fisheries Service in regulating our fishing industry. It was a tough job, but the experience was life-changing. I spent many months out on the Bering Sea, ultimately leaving this job and ending up in Boston because I met a girl--my wife Emily.

One of my passions is long distance running, and have started and finished the last 5 Boston Marathons, as well as NYC, Seattle, Arizona, Maine, Outer Banks, Chicago and Philadelphia. I hope to progress to ultra marathons and/or triathlons in the near future.

Hiking is also a passion of mine. In fact, so much so, that I am taking the next 5 months off to hike the Pacific Crest Trail with Emily. 2,655 miles through California, Oregon, and Washington. This will be my last post for awhile. If you want to follow our progress, you can access our personal blog via my profile page.

Happy Trails!

- Chris

#41: Dive Buddies - Jim and Brooks Check Out the Giant Ocean Tank

2009-04-22T16:55:00.005-04:00

New England Aquarium Overseer Jim Andrew was a guest diver in the Giant Ocean Tank (GOT) on April 11. On that same day, his son Brooks celebrated his 8th birthday at the Aquarium with a special behind-the-scenes tour for his friends and two brothers. Enjoy their post.

Jim and Brooks

Brooks - First of all it was really fun! I got to see my dad go SCUBA diving with the big sharks and eels. It was really exciting to see the sharks collide, and then they swam right past my dad's head when he wasn't looking!

Jim - Let me start by saying that the dive far surpassed the most optimistic expectations I could imagine. Here is how it went down for me.

Frankly I was a little apprehensive about diving in the GOT. It had been almost 10 years since my last SCUBA dive and the idea of jumping into a tank full of BIG animals, with teeth no less, caused some anxiety. Thanks to help from Dan and the other Aquarium staff and volunteer divers the reality could not have been more different, or the overall effect more powerful.

Brooks - All my friends loved the behind the scenes tour with Jessica (above). We got to see a 21 pound lobster and an octopus that was so strong they covered it with a 50-pound cage so it wouldn't escape and eat all the fish. I didn't know there were venomous fish in the world but I was glad they were in a tank backstage and not in the big tank with my dad.

Jim - The first surprise was how much space there was in the tank. The big central reef is honeycombed with passages and open spaces where the fish (and I) could hide. The next big surprise was finding that the big fish were docile and the smallest fish, especially the nesting trigger fish were aggressive if I got in their way.

The animals were very approachable. In particular the big moray eels seemed to enjoy being petted (above). They felt impossibly soft and smooth. Myrtle the giant green sea turtle especially liked having her shell rubbed with sand from the bottom of the tank. The smaller turtles shied away.

That bottom sand held another surprise. It is full of shark teeth that these magnificent animals shed frequently. Dan helped me find 3 teeth that I slipped into my wet suit for my 3 boys.

Brooks - After dad's dive my friends and I went to the top of the tank, I got out on the platform over the open water of the giant tank and fed Myrtle some fish. She was really big but very gentle and friendly. My dad met me on the platform to watch me feed her (above). Then he reached into the wrist of his dive suit and took out a shark's tooth just for me. This was the best birthday ever. All my friends agreed.

Jim - There was something very powerful about being in such close proximity to these large, magnificent animals. All I can say is the experience made me even more convinced about the mission of the New England Aquarium, to preserve the oceans for these incredible creatures and for us.

-Jim and Brooks

#40 What's Happening - Please Vote for the Aquarium

2009-04-15T09:40:00.024-04:00

We're asking for everyone to help us by voting for the Aquarium in this year's Partners in Preservation grant contest. You can vote EVERY SINGLE DAY until May 17th. Cast your vote on the Partners in Preservation website. You can also sign up to get reminders form the Aquarium to vote.

What is the contest?

American Express, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has identified historic places throughout the Boston area that reflect the region's rich and diverse cultural heritage, and we're in the top 25! If the Aquarium gets the most votes we will get a $100,000 grant to restore the interior concrete to its original finish.

Why are we being recognized as a historic structure?

The Aquarium is considered to be the first modern aquarium. Its architecture and habitat-based exhibits influenced future aquariums. The centerpiece 200,000-gallon Giant Ocean Tank was the first of its kind, and is considered a milestone in aquarium layout and design. Among other firsts was the tide pool touch tank, now an aquarium standard. The Aquarium was the first commission for Cambridge Seven Associates, which has since designed 11 aquariums worldwide. This significant and daring project helped stimulate redevelopment of Boston's run-down wharf district and was a catalyst for the revival of Boston's historic waterfront.

Here's a picture of the Giant Ocean Tank when it was first built:

You can vote once every day, so please get out there and show your support! The sharks, rays, sea turtles and fishes will all appreciate it :)

THANK YOU!

-Sarah

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#39: Many People Ask - What's in a Name?

2009-04-13T09:45:00.004-04:00

Our visitors often ask if we name our animals. The answer is yes and no. With over 600 individual animals in the Giant Ocean Tank, it would be impossible to name them all, but we do name our sharks, rays, and sea turtles. Here are the names of some of our more prominent animals in the GOT.

This is Carolina, one of our loggerhead sea turtles. She was named for the many loggerhead nesting beaches in the Carolinas.

This is Retread, another loggerhead sea turtle. Retread came to us through our rescue and rehab department. When found, she was so lethargic due to a condition known as cold stunned, that she was thought to be dead. Luckily one of the biologists noticed a faint flipper movement and she was saved. According to Mirriam-Webster, the word "retread" means to press back into service or to make over as if new.

This is Scute, our Kemp's ridley sea turtle. She was named for the individual plates on a sea turtle's shell, which are called scutes.

The video below shows our three sand tiger sharks, Judith, Markham and Galilee. Judith (Point Judith) and Galilee are named after harbor communities in Rhode Island where sand tiger sharks can be found. Markham is named after the Markham 75FSW, a sunken ship that is part of North Carolina's artificial reef program. Sand tiger sharks are commonly seen in the area. The first shark in the frame is Judith, then Markham and finally Galilee.

The next video shows our Southern stingrays, Daisy and Ripley. Daisy got her name from the scientific word for southern stingray, Dasyatis americana. Ripley was named after the institution she came from; Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. The first ray is Daisy, the second is Ripley.

And last but certainly not least, Myrtle will always be Myrtle.

-Sherrie

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#38: Our Reef Residents - AMAZING DISCOVERY!!!

2009-04-01T22:43:00.011-04:00

A little known fact about the Giant Ocean Tank is that the entire reef structure is hollow and sealed off from the tank proper by a hatch, what we call the 'cave door.' We do this to prevent the tank's inhabitants from wandering up into that dark and creepy place. Periodically senior dive staff enter this cavernous space in order to do various maintenance tanks (see a future blog entry for more on that!), but it's not a place for the faint of heart. (Nor the untrained!)

So imagine my surprise when I opened the hatch today and was confronted by the probing tentacles of a giant squid that must have been hiding in there for decades!!!

Luckily Chris was there to catch the monster on camera before it withdrew back into the inky darkness ...

Oh, wait...

Never mind...

April Fools!!!

(Sorry, but I had to do it.)

- John

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#37: Many People Ask - Do fish go to the doctor?

2009-03-23T00:59:00.000-04:00

There's no questioning that the Giant Ocean Tank (GOT) is home to a lot of animals. Ever wonder what happens when one of them gets sick or injured? Is that why we have a nurse shark?

Enter the New England Aquarium's Animal Health Department (AHD) - also known as the 'Wet Vets'.

Yes, the Aquarium has an entire department dedicated to the health and well-being of all the creatures that call the New England Aquarium home. Comprised of veterinarians, medical technicians, interns, and volunteers, the AHD staff attend to any medical issue that crops up - from a tiny fish with a gas problem, to a 240 lb. shark with spine issues. The department is supported by a state-of-the-art medical facility that allows the vets to perform everything from radiographs (x-rays) to complex surgeries.

Here's a few pictures of the AHD facility:

AHD staff are always rolling up their sleeves (quite literally) and getting right into the thick of things - even to the point of making house calls into the GOT.

Every week, members of the veterinary staff meet with senior GOT staff in what's called 'rounds' to discuss and address any health issues regarding the inhabitants of the GOT.

Sometimes, as a result of rounds, we decide to do an animal extraction so the vets can get a closer look. This was recently the case with one of our green moray eels.

In the above video, Sherrie and I tease the eel out of its coral home and into a specially made eel catch bag.

Once out the tank the eel is carefully anesthetized (a great idea for both the eel's AND the humans' sake!) so the vets can obtain radiographs, blood samples and scan her insides with ultrasound.

Here's the ultrasound video:

Of course our wet vets wouldn't live up to their name without sometimes gearing up and going in. Here you can see Keiko, a Veterinary Fellow, and Deana, the AHD Lab Manager, getting a closer look at Retread's eyes to see if she should be pulled for a more detailed examination. Retread, one of our two loggerhead turtles, is a rescued turtle that had sustained damage to her eyesight when she was cold stunned and stranded off Cape Cod years ago.

It was determined that further examination wasn't necessary, so she could be left where she was. However the vets wanted a routine blood draw from her loggerhead friend, Carolina, so up she came - all 160 lbs. of her.

When restraining a large, powerful, and uncooperative turtle, some creative thought needs to be called for. Carolina is secured in a custom made sling and then suspended from a hoist. This prevents her powerful flippers from getting a purchase on anything.

Then there's our littlest turtle, Scute, a Kemp's ridley. She puts up no fuss at all as veterinarian Charlie conducts an untrasound examination.

As you can see, there's a small army of Aquarium medical staff digilently working toward maintaining the health of the Aquarium's aquatic residents, and they even make house calls.

So no, a sick fish definitely does not visit our nurse shark. That would be like Little Red Riding Hood visiting the wolf dressed up as Grandmother...

Happy diving.

- John