The Thrill of Working Behind SeaWorld's Giant Aquarium, Befriending Deadly Fish

JAKARTA — The sensation of diving into the underwater world without getting wet can be experienced by visitors to SeaWorld Ancol, a massive aquarium in North Jakarta.

The giant aquarium, which covers approximately 24 by 38 metres with a capacity of five million litres of water, offers stunning underwater views.

Bluish light penetrating the thick aquarium glass reflects the vibrant colours of 175 species, or approximately 8,000 fish swimming freely as though in the open sea.

Thousands of fish seem eager to display their beauty to SeaWorld visitors. Many visitors pause and gaze at the aquarium for extended periods to enjoy the marine life so close before their eyes.

Some visitors also capture these moments on their mobile phones and share them on social media.

However, behind the beauty of the giant aquarium, a dozen divers, known as curators, must work hard every day.

SeaWorld’s Curatorial Manager Heri Mulyono, 49, stated that currently 13 divers work actively every day in rotation.

The divers’ duties extend far beyond performing or entertaining with fish in the giant aquarium. Their work is considerably more demanding.

“We have 13 divers whose tasks include caring for marine life, feeding them, and maintaining the cleanliness of the display facilities,” said Heri when contacted by Kompas.com on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.

Heri noted that to become a diver at SeaWorld, a person must be physically and mentally healthy, not squeamish, not easily frightened, and willing to learn continuously every day.

However, the primary requirement is that curators must possess a diving certificate, so not just anyone can qualify.

Additionally, divers must undergo training lasting between six months to one year, covering aquarium system operation, feeding procedures, and care for sick marine life.

After completing the training successfully, the diver is then cleared to work daily managing the giant aquarium at SeaWorld.

One diver named Chandra, 35, has worked at SeaWorld for nearly seven years.

He recounted that being a diver in a giant aquarium is not straightforward, especially in the early stages of employment.

He noted that diving in SeaWorld’s aquarium is actually more nerve-wracking than diving in the open ocean. When diving at sea, people often struggle to encounter fish and must swim to the seabed.

Frequently, fish in the ocean avoid approaching divers, making their beauty extremely difficult to appreciate.