Wednesday, July 16, 2003
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Wednesday, July 16, 2003 |
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Into the deep
Fayette women dive into new sideline at Tenn. Aquarium
By MONROE
ROARK
Serious divers in Fayette County have few choices for pursuing that interest within 150 miles of home, but two local women have found a unique way to satisfy their thirst for the deep without venturing to the coast or beyond. Nancy Stevens of Fayetteville and Wanda Rodriguez of Peachtree City recently completed a complicated series of tests and qualified to become volunteer divers at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. Twice a month, they will descend into the two huge tanks one is saltwater, and the other is freshwater to feed the fish and help keep the facilities clean. The job is year-round, as the tanks are indoors. Wanda has been diving about four years, and Nancy a little more than two years. But both do it a lot, as do their husbands. Most out-of-town vacation trips involve diving a recent example would be Nancy and her husband's tenth anniversary trip to Curacao and Wanda has not gone a month without a dive since she started. She is now a scuba instructor, while Nancy is a master diver and is currently training to become a divemaster. The tryouts at the Aquarium were "a long ordeal," Nancy said. "Not everyone made it." The arduous process involved several trips to Chattanooga and a number of tests measuring basic swimming, snorkeling and diving skills. To apply, prospective volunteer divers must be at least 18 years of age and have completed a minimum of 25 divers, including 12 open-water dives with the past three years. They must also display proof of their certification and complete a written exam. About 19 were selected out of a group of 50-60 applicants, Nancy said. The divers also completed a lengthy training program before assuming their new duties. Attractions at the Tennessee Aquarium include a 60-foot canyon and two living forests, where more than 9,000 animals that swim, fly and crawl in natural habitats. The aquarium opens at 9:30 a.m. every day during the summer, closing at 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The first film in the IMAX 3D Theater is shown at 10:30 a.m. each day. The facility is at One Broad Street In Chattanooga. For more, call 1 (800) 262-0695 or visit www.tnaqua.org.
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