Aquarium divers share enthusiasm and stories about the animals in our care with Aquarium guests using underwater communication equipment while performing habitat maintenance and animal husbandry tasks.
Aquarium volunteer divers receive extensive training on the marine animals in our care and interpretive communication techniques.
The minimum time commitment required for volunteer divers is one three-hour shift every other week. All volunteers are required to successfully complete a criminal background check prior to beginning their service.
To be eligible for a volunteer diver position at the Seattle Aquarium, you must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Have obtained a minimum certification level of advanced open water diver.
- Have a minimum of 12 dives in local diving conditions within the last 12 months.
- Have a minimum of 50 lifetime logged dives.
- Have an up-to-date diver’s log.
- Successfully complete a checkout dive with our dive safety officer.
- Commit to a minimum of one three-hour shift every other week for at least one year.
- Attend volunteer orientation.
- Complete mandatory trainings for new divers.
- Complete an annual diver’s physical (at your expense).
Apply to be a diver
Applications for the volunteer dive program are now open!
We recommend applying at least one month before a checkout dive date to ensure enough time to brush up on your skills and/or gather needed gear. We host multiple checkout dives each year. Our remaining dive dates in 2025 are:
- Sunday, August 17
- Sunday, October 12
Checkout dives take place at the Seattle Aquarium from 9am–noon. Dives are subject to cancellation due to weather, staffing or other issues. We will communicate as far in advance as possible in the event of cancellation.
Dive program staff will review applications and select candidates to invite. Upon invitation, you are encouraged to sign up for the first checkout dive that works for you. There will be additional dates available in 2026. Divers will be continuously invited to checkout dives for up to one year from the date of application. After one year, updated dive experience information will be requested.
If invited for a checkout dive, you must provide your own gear. Once you become a volunteer diver at the Aquarium, you’ll only need to provide mask, fins and exposure suit.
Skill requirements for checkout dive
Surface skills:
- Pre-dive safety check with buddy
- Snorkel swim
- BC removal and replacement
- Weight belt removal and replacement
- Tired diver tow
Underwater skills:
- Regulator clearing and recovery
- Mask removal and replacement
- Air-sharing using an alternate air source (stationary and ascending)
- Emergency swimming ascent
- Neutral buoyancy hovering
- Underwater navigation
If you successfully complete the checkout dive, you’ll complete full face mask training and habitat orientation prior to diving in the habitats.
Questions? Email volunteers@seattleaquarium.org.
