A balloonfish named "Little Puff" swims near the 4-inch-thick acrylic window at the Coral Reef Tropical Marine Ecosystem exhibit at the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Seen-Diving the Caribbean every week of the year
Published: 2/3/2013 7:24 AM
Last Modified: 2/2/2013 5:21 PM
Editor’s note: Seen is a weekly feature showcasing the work of a Tulsa World photojournalist.
I captured a moment on video with my iPhone last week. My 2-year-old son was high-fiving divers on the other side of the acrylic window at the Oklahoma Aquarium while my 4-year-old daughter was shouting at me that the large parrotfish (one of my favorites in the Coral Reef Tropical Marine Ecosystem) was coming up to my left.
My kids are interested in animals, especially the ones under water. Looking at books about sharks and crabs with them and taking them to the aquarium has kindled my own interest. This job affords me a chance to get behind-the-scenes tours sometimes. In this case, I got to hear about the fish from experts and volunteers that know them best.
Behind the Coral Reef — where the big parrotfish lives — Cara Martin splits open mussel shells and talks about the personalities of the fish. She’s waiting for her favorite, Little Puff, to come to the surface for his meal.
Little Puff is a balloonfish, but he looks like a baby porcupine puffer.
Martin has been interested in aquatic animals since she was a child watching nature shows on PBS.
“I was probably the only kid in my class that was interested in it because we’re in Oklahoma, nowhere near the ocean,” she said.
She started with the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks as a volunteer, eventually becoming certified as a diver. From there, she worked her way up to the task of feeding the fish and cleaning their tank.
“It’s incredible. It’s like nothing else in the world. It’s not even like going diving in the ocean, because our fish here are so social with us. They’ll let us pet them and they’ll eat from our hands. You’re surrounded by all these amazing creatures. When you’re in the water it feels like you’re floating. In my opinion, it’s the closest thing to flying.”
The fish have started to gather at the back wall, waiting for feeding time, which happens at 3:30 p.m. every day except Sunday.
Below us, on the other side of the glass, families and a group of homeschool students gather to watch the divers.
Cara has seen all kinds of reactions from kids pressed up against the glass. Some kids kiss the glass, or wave frantically, trying to get her attention.
That parrotfish I like is actually a Raindbow Parrotfish, the divers call her “The Rainbow.” Cara likes to pet him. He has big scales that feel like slimy bone. Rainbow Parrotfish are born female, says biology supervisor Julia Gibson. The largest, most dominant females change into males when they need to take over a group.
That's interesting. I’ll have to tell the kids about that when I get home.
Becky Wilson holds her great-nephew Jack Wride, visiting from Wichita, KS., (at left) while volunteer Cara Martin interacts with the visitors to the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
A Porkfish feeds from a diver's hand at the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. The plaster ball that some of the fish eat is made from the same material that the dentist uses to make molds of a patients' mouth. At the Oklahoma Aquarium they hide pieces of krill and fish pellets inside so that fish like the pork fish will be interested. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Bill Dausses, the dive safety officer at the Oklahoma Aquarium, looks for "Big Puff." a porcupine puffer, so he can feed him mussels at feeding time on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Divers get in the Coral Reef exhibit to feed the fish and clean algae off of the walls everyday except Sunday at 3:30 PM. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Lindsay Wride, age 6 and Allyson Wride, age 11, who are visiting relatives in Broken Arrow, get a look at a Permit (left) as they visit the Coral Reef Tropical Marine Ecosystem at the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013 JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Cara Martin, a volunteer, gets into the water at eth Coral Reef Tropical Marine Ecosystem exhibit to feed the fish and help clean algae out of the tank at the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. This aquarium holds 65,000 gallons of water that is filtered 19 times a day. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Silas and Ian Hunt, from Moore, Oklahoma, run around in the Coral Reef Tropical Marine Ecosystem exhibit while Bill Dausses (center, left) the dive safety officer at the Oklahoma Aquarium helps first time volunteer diver, Kyle Craig, clean the tank in Jenks on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013 JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Bill Dausses (left) the dive safety officer at the Oklahoma Aquarium helps first time volunteer diver, Kyle Craig, clean the Coral Reef Tropical Marine Ecosystem exhibit and feed the fish in Jenks on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
A Lookdown swims close to the acrylic window at the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. The Coral Reef Tropical Marine Ecosystem holds 65,000 gallons of water behind 4 inch acrylic windows. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Written by
John Clanton
Multimedia Producer
