Meet our Staff - Dive Team  

Steve Ewens – Aquarist and Animal Adventure Guide

My Role:

I’m an Aquarist at Kelly Tarlton’s, working in the Fish Department. My responsibilities include preparing food and feeding the fish, sharks, and stingrays, talking to the public about our marine life, maintaining the filtration of all our tanks and last, but not least, vacuuming up fish poo.

I am also one of the diving instructors and Animal Adventure guide. This involves teaching people how to dive and taking them in with the sharks, stingrays, and fish.

Career path:

Growing up in Papamoa, I enjoyed snorkelling around the rocks and have always had a keen interest in marine life. After finishing school I completed a Diploma in Marine studies at the BOP Polytechnic, and 5 years later I got my dream job at Kelly Tarlton’s.

Most enjoyable part of my role:

The most enjoyable part of the job would have to be teaching people how to dive or taking them in the shark tank. I get to meet so many different people from all over the NZ and the world.

I also really enjoy shark feeds and overcoming challenges of getting a new display up and running.

Most memorable moment:

My most memorable moment thus far would have to be when I got to be part of the team that released our sea turtle back into the wild after rehabilitation. It was a truly amazing experience.