Dive the World in a Day
© Phil Napoli
Introduction
The Newport Aquarium opened its doors for business in the spring of 1999. Newport is located on the Ohio River just south of Cincinnati, Ohio and not far from where I live. The exhibits, layout, construction, and equipment of this facility are all state of the art. Major exhibits are viewed through clear thermo-plastic tunnels that create the illusion of being underwater with the fish. Because the Newport Aquarium is near Paramount Kings Island Amusement Park and part of Newport on the Levee containing upscale restaurants, boutiques, and an IMAX theater, it was touted by the media to be a sure-fire success. The opening of this facility was a major community event and was extensively covered by the press.
As I was reading the Sunday paper, I found out that Scuba Unlimited, one of the local dive shops, was in charge of the dive program and that there was a need for volunteer divers to work the exhibits. Being land locked in Ohio, I viewed the possibility of working at the Newport Aquarium as a chance to learn something new as well as an opportunity to keep my diving skills sharp in between dive trips, enjoy the camaraderie of fellow divers, and give something back to the community.
Getting On Board
After making the appropriate phone calls, I received an application, which I quickly filled out and returned. The application required a history of your certification, a summary of your dive experience and an explanation as to why you wanted to be a volunteer diver. In a few weeks I received word that there would be a group meeting for all candidates at the dive shop to learn more about the program. Several different days and times were scheduled to accommodate all of the candidates. When I arrived at the meeting the place was jammed packed with divers; most of whom I had never met. At first glance I imagined that all the divers in the tri-state area had applied for the program.
The program director informed us that qualification as a volunteer diver required passage of a modified PADI written test and passage of a buoyancy control/obstacle course test that was developed by the staff and administered at a local pool. Final candidates would be subjected to an oral review by a board made up of members of the Newport Aquarium staff, the dive shop staff, and the volunteer program director. Due to the newness of the program, the first wave of volunteers would be limited to 20 divers, followed by two more waves of 20-25 divers in 3-month intervals. The first wave would help develop the program requirements and procedures and aid in the training of the others that followed. It was clear from the beginning that everyone was interested in being part of the first wave.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
