From Iris Hernandez on August 8, 2008 at 5:36 PM
That report was AWESOME!!! I'm curious, did you pay for the trainer for a day program or was it something completely different? Like strictly a reporter thing...? Anyways, sounds like you had a blast. My ultimate dream and goal is to be a SeaWorld Animal Trainer/marine mammal keeper, so thanks for all the great info and giving me the more specific requirements to get the job.

From Robert Niles on August 8, 2008 at 6:01 PM
No, this was not the "Trainer for a Day" program that SeaWorld sells. It was a series of interviews that the SeaWorld public relations department arranged for me upon request.

The Beluga whale interaction I'll write about on Monday was the same Wild Arctic interaction that SeaWorld sells -- I did it with seven others -- but, again, that was arranged for me through the SeaWorld PR department, so that I could get up-close photography for use on TPI. Since it was an arranged visit, I won't be evaluating or reviewing the interaction, just describing it in first-person detail and showing you the photos.

From Brian Emery on August 8, 2008 at 6:56 PM
Very nice… I enjoyed it….
I guess my pee in the water question did not come up, huh.
Shamu as many of you know, means friend of the ocean….
And Shamu I will be for the rest of my life…

Let’s keep hoping the Busch Family keeps these beautiful parks.

From Anthony Murphy on August 8, 2008 at 7:01 PM
Excellent!

From Melissa McCall on August 8, 2008 at 10:21 PM
isnt behind the scenes such an awesome experience. I did career camp and advanced career camp and its the best thing that ive ever done. To be able to talk to the supervisors for all the positions and like they say all the requirements really do narrow down finalists for trainers. I always wanted to be one but going to camp made me realize i want to do animal care! very cool interview!

From Robert Niles on August 9, 2008 at 9:16 AM
Actually, Brian, they told me that they cycle the water in the 7-million-gallon killer whale tanks every five hours. And the 600,000-gallon Beluga whale tank every 90 minutes.

So, yeah, they pee in the tank. But let's put it this way: the toilet is always flushing.

FWIW, SeaWorld San Diego pulls its tank water from nearby Mission Bay. So it is the only SeaWorld park that's using natural salt water. SeaWorld filters the sea water before putting in the tanks, then again before it is recycled into the bay. Several trainers made a point of saying that the water is cleaner when SeaWorld puts it back in the bay than when SeaWorld takes it out.

From Deidre Dennis on August 11, 2008 at 9:17 AM
This is cool. We leave on Friday from Washington State heading to California for a week's vacation in Southern Cal. My son and I have been before, but the other 8 people we're taking with us, ranging in age from 2 to 73, will be their first time. This just gets me more excited for the things they are about to witness and experience for the first time.