Friday, October 30, 2009

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

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).





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Monday, October 26, 2009

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

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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Saturday, July 4, 2009

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

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

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Thursday, May 7, 2009

#43: Dive Buddies - Meet Andrea



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

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Friday, October 31, 2008

#17: What's Happening - Costumed Divers!

If you weren't in the Halloween mood before, you will be now. Watch Chris the Astronaut defy gravity underwater!

Here he tests his balance and gets up close to the camera:



And here he gets up close with one of the Giant Ocean Tank's sand tiger sharks:





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