AniaR
06-03-2015, 09:35 PM
So today I got to swim in Canada's largest research aquarium (considered to be one of the best marine research facilities in the world). IN ended up being like a test for a booking this weekend where I'll be swimming and performing in along side giving environmental workshops for kids. It's at Dalhousie University (one of the best for marine sciences). Normally the tank is 4 degrees C and filled with a variety of different creatures. For over 20 years they housed Seals. They had a whole culture of squid at one point. They basically use it for animal life research but then they'll also use it for wave research, coastal research, and testing scientific tools and measuring devices. Paraphrasing from here: http://www.dal.ca/faculty/science/biology/research/facilities/aquatron.html
Anyway, it came about a bit unexpectidly so I was not as prepared as I hoped I would be. They managed to heat the facility up to 13 degrees C which was still so cold it took my breath away and made it increasingly harder to swim. (used up more of my energy and oxygen to stay warm and the cold made it hard to breathe). I've been promised it'll be up another ten degrees by the weekend ;)
At first they had a whole intricate air system on when I was in it and I was shocked by how much of a current it created and how much it affected the visibility. I literally couldn't tell what was wall and what was window. So for most of my practice swim it was a bit confusing. ONce we turned it off I found it much easier. Also the water was about as pure salt water as humanly possible I was told. It made me so incredibly buoyant that I felt like trying to swim down that I was swimming in slow motion. Combine that with the cold and it was just so hard for me to swim! I was shocked actually because I've swam in the ocean and found it easier (though that was back with my competitor monofin). I just kept thinking, how do mermaids in reed aquariums with animals manage this without smacking into things! I have a whole new appreciation for how much work goes into both the weeki mers (dealing with unpredictable temps) and mers who establish in aquariums.
I had brought weights but we were on a time crunch so I didn't get to test them out. I'm fairly confident though that by putting weights in the tail I'll have a much easier time getting down and staying down.
also I got too close to one of the air circulating jets and it shot loads of sea water up my nose. So all day anytime I bent over water poured out of my nose. LOL I remember Hannah Fraser talking about how she went on a date with her current boyfriend and this was happening to her .
I also hadnt eaten anything in the morning due to some medication complications I am experiencing. Worst idea ever!
I am hopeful the weekend we'll be a much better experience as now we'll have the air system turned off, I'll have weights, and it'll be warmer and I'm more familiar with the inside of it. I am excited to give this a shot. But I'll be honest one of my first thoughts was "well, aquarium swimming may not be something I'm good at here..." LOL. Which is OK. I am just happy to have the experience and a chance to learn and grow.
I was also filmed for the weather network. Here's some pics and clips! All behind the scenes so not necessarily the best photos...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8gli3g1m84
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/11392790_1611578379120539_549859072077150879_n.jpg ?oh=89a60f1d50af4977fa49ef61c3382820&oe=55EC2998
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/11401250_1611578462453864_5678999295277479389_n.jp g?oh=babf267653d15976a5ac4999aa030f2d&oe=5602278C
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/11393133_1611578485787195_4895109744366457286_n.jp g?oh=51971f064e45abe5ce3643eb613a8a92&oe=55FEA5C2
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/11425107_10155696199810425_9092569187160482578_n.j pg?oh=345b1a340f2beeedcffb2089a0a7ab87&oe=560613CC
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/11350493_10155696199880425_4474990756331752951_n.j pg?oh=15976305db3c4bcf333d7838bf911a59&oe=5607099F
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/11267400_10155696204915425_2035791816319020631_n.j pg?oh=017a42d94933544c3a781cf2661cad6f&oe=560937B3
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/t31.0-8/11402626_10155696205610425_8451641962134142556_o.j pg
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t31.0-8/11402658_10155696206205425_365031296848952897_o.jp g
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/11391189_10155696206300425_4307873709252816925_n.j pg?oh=0180b003a611ea63a3168bc0330c6e3c&oe=55FE4B5E
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/t31.0-8/11246038_10155696206790425_4059978493937286855_o.j pg
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/t31.0-8/11103151_10155696206740425_8552097862022957989_o.j pg
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/t31.0-8/11416395_10155696206780425_5699042205306524768_o.j pg
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/t31.0-8/11419324_10155696207110425_3670793373261277586_o.j pg
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/t31.0-8/11118477_10155696207620425_5484307730849834004_o.j pg
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/t31.0-8/11406569_10155696208095425_6669466326717746566_o.j pg
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/t31.0-8/11269310_10155696208405425_1821479378466349997_o.j pg
It was really a neat experience and I am looking forward to the weekend and we'll get loads more photos and videos. Added bonus? they said my team can use it anytime! woo woo
Anyway, it came about a bit unexpectidly so I was not as prepared as I hoped I would be. They managed to heat the facility up to 13 degrees C which was still so cold it took my breath away and made it increasingly harder to swim. (used up more of my energy and oxygen to stay warm and the cold made it hard to breathe). I've been promised it'll be up another ten degrees by the weekend ;)
At first they had a whole intricate air system on when I was in it and I was shocked by how much of a current it created and how much it affected the visibility. I literally couldn't tell what was wall and what was window. So for most of my practice swim it was a bit confusing. ONce we turned it off I found it much easier. Also the water was about as pure salt water as humanly possible I was told. It made me so incredibly buoyant that I felt like trying to swim down that I was swimming in slow motion. Combine that with the cold and it was just so hard for me to swim! I was shocked actually because I've swam in the ocean and found it easier (though that was back with my competitor monofin). I just kept thinking, how do mermaids in reed aquariums with animals manage this without smacking into things! I have a whole new appreciation for how much work goes into both the weeki mers (dealing with unpredictable temps) and mers who establish in aquariums.
I had brought weights but we were on a time crunch so I didn't get to test them out. I'm fairly confident though that by putting weights in the tail I'll have a much easier time getting down and staying down.
also I got too close to one of the air circulating jets and it shot loads of sea water up my nose. So all day anytime I bent over water poured out of my nose. LOL I remember Hannah Fraser talking about how she went on a date with her current boyfriend and this was happening to her .
I also hadnt eaten anything in the morning due to some medication complications I am experiencing. Worst idea ever!
I am hopeful the weekend we'll be a much better experience as now we'll have the air system turned off, I'll have weights, and it'll be warmer and I'm more familiar with the inside of it. I am excited to give this a shot. But I'll be honest one of my first thoughts was "well, aquarium swimming may not be something I'm good at here..." LOL. Which is OK. I am just happy to have the experience and a chance to learn and grow.
I was also filmed for the weather network. Here's some pics and clips! All behind the scenes so not necessarily the best photos...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8gli3g1m84
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/11392790_1611578379120539_549859072077150879_n.jpg ?oh=89a60f1d50af4977fa49ef61c3382820&oe=55EC2998
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/11401250_1611578462453864_5678999295277479389_n.jp g?oh=babf267653d15976a5ac4999aa030f2d&oe=5602278C
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/11393133_1611578485787195_4895109744366457286_n.jp g?oh=51971f064e45abe5ce3643eb613a8a92&oe=55FEA5C2
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/11425107_10155696199810425_9092569187160482578_n.j pg?oh=345b1a340f2beeedcffb2089a0a7ab87&oe=560613CC
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/11350493_10155696199880425_4474990756331752951_n.j pg?oh=15976305db3c4bcf333d7838bf911a59&oe=5607099F
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/11267400_10155696204915425_2035791816319020631_n.j pg?oh=017a42d94933544c3a781cf2661cad6f&oe=560937B3
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/t31.0-8/11402626_10155696205610425_8451641962134142556_o.j pg
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t31.0-8/11402658_10155696206205425_365031296848952897_o.jp g
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/11391189_10155696206300425_4307873709252816925_n.j pg?oh=0180b003a611ea63a3168bc0330c6e3c&oe=55FE4B5E
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/t31.0-8/11246038_10155696206790425_4059978493937286855_o.j pg
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/t31.0-8/11103151_10155696206740425_8552097862022957989_o.j pg
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/t31.0-8/11416395_10155696206780425_5699042205306524768_o.j pg
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/t31.0-8/11419324_10155696207110425_3670793373261277586_o.j pg
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/t31.0-8/11118477_10155696207620425_5484307730849834004_o.j pg
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/t31.0-8/11406569_10155696208095425_6669466326717746566_o.j pg
https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/t31.0-8/11269310_10155696208405425_1821479378466349997_o.j pg
It was really a neat experience and I am looking forward to the weekend and we'll get loads more photos and videos. Added bonus? they said my team can use it anytime! woo woo