May 2015 Newsletter - South Carolina Aquarium

May 2015 Newsletter
Hey Team,
Here is your May Newsletter.
Diver Get-Together
Ike Smith is retiring from us after 17 years (1998-2015) on the Dive Team.
He was one of the initial pioneering Divers who helped in the collecting and setup of the Aquarium before opening day in May
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19 , 2000.
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We’ll be having a going away party for him at Heart Kitchen (James Island) on May 14 Thursday.
Please RSVP w/ Amy Funderburk if you would like to join us.
aefunderburk@gmail.com
Aquarium News
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Shark Shallows
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Shark Shallows Opens May 9 Saturday
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Member Exclusive Preview Day Event on May 7 Thursday 10am-2pm Open to all
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6:30pm-8:00pm Reservation only | Call (843) 579-8541
The Exhibit will feature Cownose Rays, Southern Stingrays, Bonnethead Sharks, & Nurse Sharks.
I have attached our Message Map for the exhibit, which has some fun talking points.
Do feel free take some time to enjoy the exhibit during your break (no wetsuits though).
Keep in mind if you are in uniform in the public hallways, it would be more proper to have your nametag on and be
prepared to answer guest questions.
If you do not know the answer you can always try to find an Educator to help out.
In uniform, you will be viewed as employees by guests, so please be professional and give them precedence for
viewing/touching when you’re on shift.
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Volunteer Q & A
There will be a general Volunteer Q&A with Kevin Mills [President & CEO]
Date: Tuesday, May 19
Time: 12 PM – 1 PM.
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Location: 3 Floor James L. Ferguson Board Room
Bring a lunch and your questions or concerns.
RSVP to Charmaine Wozniak [Volunteer Coordinator] is appreciated. Sign-up sheet in Volunteer Services or send
Charmaine cwozniak@scaquarium.org an email.
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Reef Workshop June 8th
Lionfish Collecting and Handling Workshop Roadtrip
By Elizabeth Underwood, REEF Lionfish Coordinator
Funded by a grant through the US Fish and Wildlife Service, REEF’s Lionfish Program Coordinator,
Elizabeth Underwood, will travel to cities throughout the Southeast United States to conduct a series
of lionfish collecting and handling workshops. These workshops are meant to educate and engage
stakeholders (recreational divers, professional divers, environmental groups, students, general public,
etc.). Workshop topics will include background of the invasion, lionfish biology, ecological impacts,
recent research findings, collecting tools and techniques, market development and ways to get
involved. Workshops are free of charge and open to the public, however registration is required. To
register or learn more visit www.REEF.org/lionfish/workshops. We hope to see you there! Scheduled
workshops include: May 6th—New Orleans, LA; May 7th—Ocean Springs, MS; May 8th—Panama City,
FL; May 11th—Pensacola, FL; May 12th—Mobile, AL; May 14th—Tallahassee, FL; May 26th—Morehead
City, NC; May 28th—Durham, NC; June 4th—Jupiter, FL; June 8th—Charleston, SC; June 10th—
Savannah, GA; June 18th—Orlando, FL; June 23rd—Naples, FL.
GOT News
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Temp Drop
Temp is set for 76F for our Window Repair Project. Be sure to bring your thicker suits.
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Fish Changes
Our population has changed a bit. Here’s an update on current and upcoming changes
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Grey Triggerfish was found FOB last Saturday.
“Red” Sandtiger was removed and transferred to Marineland in Florida. He will be part of a captive breeding
program there for the species.
o 2 smaller Sandtigers have been added to the GOT. One is tagged Blue & the other Yellow.
“Blue” currently has a shallow bite mark on his Right side that is not cause for concern. We would like to
monitor it as it heals.
o We are still planning on removing our Blacktip for release in the near future.
Our Female Nurse Sharks might be moved to Shark Shallows in the future; plans for have not been
discussed at this time.
<- Red at Marineland
Dive Ops News
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Wetsuit Orders
It’s coming soon. We are working on sizing and logos.
Sizing is a little off, and we are working with some Staff as guinea pigs.
We expect to send a call out for orders in a month’s time for you all.
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Dive Intern
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We are expecting a Summer/Fall Dive Intern May 26 .
More to follow.
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Diver Input for Summer Dive Shows
Tentative plans, but starting Memorial Day we will be having an altered Dive Show Schedule.
Shark Shallows will be pushing into our 1:30 Dive Show slot
Education has reached out to us about designing an informal show or Speed Bump for 1:30ish.
We would like to get your thoughts on potential Diver-Guest Interactions.
Please think outside the box, away from the usual formal Dive Show.
This is your guy’s chance for direct input to our Guest Interactions.
Send your thoughts to me & CC Arnold. We’ll pass them on to Education.
Fun Stuff
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Bonnetheads - Sphyrna tiburo
Bonnetheads have the smallest cephalofoil (or hammerhead) out of all the known species of hammerhead sharks.
They are also the feature sexual dimorphism.
Mature Adult Females will have a broad and round head, while Males will have a pointed bulge at the center.
<- Female VS Male respectively
Cheers,
- RY
_____________________________________
Ryan Yuen
Assistant Dive Safety Officer
South Carolina Aquarium
100 Aquarium Wharf
Charleston, SC 29401
Direct Line: (843) 579-8503
ryuen@scaquarium.org
www.scaquarium.org