Swimming With Sharks - Bob and Vicki Thomas

For hire: Couple seeking part time work scrubbing large fish tank. Prefer large metropolitan area with plenty of people watching us work. Enjoy diving among dangerous sea creatures in exotic marine environment. Pay is negotiable - WE LOVE OUR WORK! Call Bob and Vicki Thomas today!

Well it didn't quite happen this way, but through a tremendous zest for scuba diving, Bob and Vicki Thomas have secured what they consider to be the #1 job in Omaha -- cleaning the Walter and Suzanne Scott Kingdoms of the Seas Aquarium tank at the Henry Doorly Zoo.

"Every dive with the sharks is exhilarating," said Vicki Thomas. "Having twelve, seven foot sharks swimming around you is intense. They do come up quite close because after all they are curious. It's an up close and personal experience."

Bob Thomas' interest in scuba diving goes all the way back to 1969 when he originally received his scuba diving certification. But after a couple years of diving his career entered a long hiatus. Then, in 1995 Bob and Vicki moved to Utah and found themselves in need of a new hobby.

"We had been members of the Portland Power Squadron which is part of the Coast Guard facility. When we moved to Utah we needed to find a new outlet and so it was then that we started scuba diving. Plus we were vacationing in the Caribbean so we decided to take advantage of that, too."

Vicki is a dive master and Bob is a scuba diving instructor. Between the two of them they have over 1100 dives under their belt. However, their journey into the aquarium tank at the Henry Doorly Zoo is a story in itself.

"We were actually training to become staff members to dive at the Columbus Zoo's Discovery Reef Aquarium [in Columbus, Ohio.] Then we moved to Omaha because of Bob's employer. We contacted the Henry Doorly Zoo and said we'd be interested in diving in their aquarium. They interviewed us and it's all worked out."

The scuba diving duo have been cleaning the tank at the Henry Doorly Zoo for nearly four years. Vicki currently cleans the tank two times a week -- once on Wednesday and again on Saturday. Bob joins her on Saturdays.

"We have to have two staff members in the tank with us because there are certain standards that we have to follow. One person is the shark tender and they help out while we are cleaning the tank or talking to visitors at the zoo. We wear a full face mask with a built in microphone and earphones. The kids always want to know if the sharks have bit anyone and what kind of sharks are in the tank. They want to know the temperature of the water which is 72 degrees. They also want to know how much water is in the tank. It's a 450,000 gallon tank with a 450,000 gallon backup, so it takes 900,000 gallons of water."

In addition to their job cleaning the aquarium, Bob and Vicki have a variety of other interests. They are both on the Ralston dive and rescue team as part of the Ralston volunteer Fire Department. Bob is Captain of the dive team. The commitment to the rescue team means being on a 24 hour-7 day a week alert. They regularly are called out for rescue missions, including seven calls in the month of June alone this year. Bob is also on the Boys Town Fire Department and often gets called out for duty there as well.

When they are able to get away Bob and Vicki do enjoy traveling outside the bounds of Nebraska. They're favorite hot spot is the Caribbean but when it comes to scuba diving they love it all! And as for the sharks, Vicki will let you in on one little secret that might help alleviate your fears.

"They do keep them well fed."