Dive Coordinator

Texas State Aquarium•Corpus Christi, TX

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Texas State Aquarium is seeking an experienced and collaborative Dive Coordinator to lead our Dive Department and oversee the Aquarium's dive program. This is a working dive leadership position that combines active participation in aquarium diving with responsibility for dive operations, safety, training, staff and volunteer development, equipment, and emergency preparedness. The Dive Coordinator leads Dive Department staff and volunteers while working closely with Animal Care and other departments to support animal care, exhibit maintenance, underwater inspections, and other operational needs. The Dive Coordinator also serves as the Aquarium's appointed Dive Safety Officer, with the responsibility and authority to assess diver competency, oversee dive safety, and ensure operations are conducted in accordance with applicable regulatory, accreditation, and institutional requirements. The ideal candidate is an experienced professional diver who enjoys remaining active in the water while leading and developing others, managing a comprehensive institutional dive program, and promoting a strong and collaborative safety culture. The Texas State Aquarium maintains an active institutional dive program supporting daily operations across its aquatic habitats. Divers work in a variety of aquarium environments using scuba and surface-supplied diving systems, full-face masks, and underwater communications. The Dive Coordinator oversees diver training and qualification, dive equipment and breathing-air systems, emergency preparedness, and the staff and volunteer dive programs. The position also works collaboratively with Animal Care, Animal Health, Life Support, Facilities, and other departments to support safe and effective underwater operations.

Requirements

Minimum five years of professional diving experience, with significant experience in aquarium, zoo, scientific, commercial, or comparable institutional diving operations
Minimum two years of experience supervising divers, managing dive operations, or providing leadership within a professional dive program
Demonstrated experience evaluating diver knowledge and in-water skills and providing training, coaching, or remediation
Experience with dive equipment, maintenance programs, emergency preparedness, and dive safety
Current scuba certification with training and professional diving experience appropriate to the scope of the Aquarium's dive program
Current First Aid, CPR, AED, and emergency oxygen administration certification
Ability to pass and maintain required professional diving medical clearance
Valid driver's license with an insurable driving record

Nice To Haves

Scuba Instructor certification from a nationally recognized training agency
Experience within an accredited aquarium or zoo
Experience supervising staff and volunteer dive programs
Experience with aquarium diving, surface-supplied diving, full-face masks, and underwater communications
Experience with breathing-air compressors, cylinder filling systems, and dive equipment maintenance
Experience developing dive procedures, training programs, and emergency response protocols

Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate the Aquarium's dive program and Dive Department
Serve as the Aquarium's appointed Dive Safety Officer
Participate regularly as a working diver in aquarium dive operations
Supervise, train, develop, schedule, and evaluate Dive Department staff and volunteers
Evaluate diver knowledge and in-water competency and provide or coordinate training and remediation
Plan and supervise dive operations and exercise authority to modify or suspend operations when safety concerns arise
Develop and maintain dive policies, procedures, training programs, and emergency response protocols
Oversee dive equipment, breathing-air systems, inspections, maintenance, testing, inventory, and associated records
Conduct and evaluate dive emergency drills and response training
Ensure compliance with applicable OSHA requirements, accreditation standards, and institutional policies
Collaborate with Animal Care and other departments to support animal care, exhibit maintenance, underwater inspections, repairs, and projects
Manage departmental personnel, goals, budget, equipment needs, purchasing, and other resources
Support occasional open-water or field diving operations as needed