Volunteers must be physically qualified to dive at the Aquarium. The Volunteer Diver Physical Form must be completed and signed by a licensed physician. Upon being medically cleared to dive, volunteers perform a swim test with the Dive Safety Officer. The swim test includes:
- Swimming 200 yards, without aids or stopping, in less than 10 minutes
- Treading water for 10 minutes or treading water for two minutes without the use of hands or aids. This skill is to be completed after the 200 yard swim.
After completing the swim test, volunteers will perform an underwater SCUBA skills test at the Aquarium. Having successfully finishing the physical, swim test and skill test, volunteers become a probationary diver. Probationary divers will train with the Dive Safety Officer, who will assess the diver’s abilities and refresh basic SCUBA knowledge. Probationary divers are expected to learn what it means to be a diver working on a team and need to complete at least 12 dives during their training period. A formal assessment will follow. After being cleared from probationary diver status, volunteers become a permitted diver and will be assigned to and fall under the leadership of a team.