Aquarium ‘Funderwater’
Courtesy Oklahoma Aquarium
It started with a simple wave. Oklahoma Aquarium diver Bryan Maciha (a 17-year-old-Union High School graduate bound for OSU) was busy cleaning in the expansive Caribbean Coral Reef exhibit when he noticed children on the other side of the glass glued to his every move. So Maciha started interacting with the gathering crowd by playing rock, paper, scissors and imitating superheroes. What does Spider-Man look like underwater? The divers give shows at the Oklahoma Aquarium on Fridays at 3:30 p.m.
Mahica’s “funderwater” inspired another underwater demonstration. Volunteer diver Bill Dausses uses flip cards to help educate Aquarium guests about the 40 different species in the same 60,000-gallon tank. Dausses makes the round-trip from Bartlesville every Tuesday. He also has fun with guests on the other side, trying to guess a child’s age through hand signals and interacting with the fish pointed at by spectators.
Diving is an integral part of keeping the large Aquarium tanks clean and the fish fed. So while the divers are entertaining and educating Aquarium guests, they’re also performing critical work. Dive shows are held Tuesday and Friday at 3:30 p.m. through the summer season. The Oklahoma Aquarium is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and till 9 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Summer is a great time to become an Oklahoma Aquarium Member to enjoy unlimited admission all season, and all year. Membership is also the best way to receive updates on special events and invitations for special previews for the Hayes Family Ozark Stream Exhibit opening this fall. The new habitat will include otters, raccoons, beavers and fish native to Oklahoma. For information, go to www.okaquarium.org or call (918) 296-FISH.
Updated 08-13-2007
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