What’s It Like to Be a Shark Tank Cleaner? Diving Into Dangerous Waters
Being a shark tank cleaner isn't your average maintenance job - you'll spend up to 7 hours daily submerged in a 500,000-gallon tank alongside sand tiger sharks. You'll need exceptional diving skills, extensive training, and the ability to read shark behavior while maintaining constant communication with your surface team. During your 6-month training program, you'll command specialized equipment and safety protocols that alter this dangerous work into a managed operation. While the sharks are well-fed and accustomed to humans, you're still sharing space with apex predators, making every cleaning session an intense blend of precision, courage, and conservation. There's more beneath the surface of this fascinating profession.
Meet Matt Martin
A typical workday for Matt Martin involves plunging into dangerous waters alongside some of nature's most intimidating predators. At just 35 years old, he's made a remarkable career as a professional shark tank cleaner at the UK's Blue Planet Aquarium, where he spends up to seven hours each day maintaining a massive 3.4 million liter tank.
You might wonder what it takes to work in such close proximity to sharks, including Storm, a 12-foot sand tiger shark weighing 650 pounds. The answer lies in Martin's specific training - a rigorous six-month program designed to safeguard his safety while working among these powerful creatures. Under the watchful eye of curator David Wolfenden, Martin learned essential protocols and techniques for navigating the shark-filled environment.
The job's demands are intense, requiring Martin to complete over 1,000 dives annually. That's approximately three dives every day, each time entering a world where he shares space with more than 10 different shark species. While the position comes with inherent risks, Martin's extensive training and adherence to safety protocols help him perform his pivotal role in maintaining the aquarium's centerpiece exhibit. Like border patrol agents who undergo rigorous physical assessments, Martin must maintain peak physical fitness to safely perform his demanding underwater duties.
Daily Life Underwater
Working among sharks requires more than just courage and training - it's a daily dance of precision and vigilance. You'll spend up to seven hours a day submerged in a massive 3.4 million liter tank, sharing space with multiple shark species, including a 12-foot sand tiger shark named Storm who weighs in at 650 pounds.
Before you can even enter the tank, you'll need to complete six months of intense training to understand shark behavior and safety protocols. You'll learn to read their body language, especially during mating season when they're more aggressive. Your protective wetsuit shields you from the cold water and potential scratches, while a thorough safety system, including a backup diver and supervisor, monitors your every move.
The work never stops - you'll be part of a team completing over 1,000 plunges annually to maintain the tank's cleanliness. If the sharks show signs of agitation, you'll need to pause your work immediately. Communication is pivotal, and you'll stay connected through an intercom system. While it's considered one of the most dangerous jobs, proper training and strict safety measures help keep you protected as you work alongside these powerful predators. Like circus performers who face daily risks, shark tank cleaners must maintain peak physical condition to ensure safety and performance in their demanding environment.
Swimming With Storm
One of the most heart-pounding moments you'll experience as a shark tank cleaner is coming face-to-face with Storm, the 650-pound sand tiger shark who dominates the tank. At 12 feet long, Storm's massive presence demands your constant attention, especially during mating season when aggression levels spike.
You'll need to rely on your intensive six-month training as you maneuver around this powerful predator. Your wetsuit provides essential protection, but it's your ability to read Storm's behavior that truly keeps you safe. When you notice any signs of agitation, you'll need to signal the aquarium staff immediately. They can pause your diving session until the threat subsides.
Despite Storm's intimidating size and potentially aggressive nature, you'll spend up to seven hours daily in close proximity to this magnificent creature. As you clean alongside nine other shark species, you'll maintain a delicate balance between completing your essential maintenance work and respecting Storm's territory. Your role isn't just about keeping the tank clean—it's about contributing to crucial shark conservation efforts while staying alert to the constant risks that come with sharing space with these powerful animals. Like yoga instructor salaries, your earnings can vary significantly based on location and experience, typically ranging from $25,000 to over $200,000 annually.
The Cleaning Routine
Daily cleaning duties kick off before you plunge into the massive 3.4 million liter tank, where you'll spend up to seven hours maintaining the sharks' pristine habitat. As one of Blue Planet Aquarium's dedicated cleaners, like Matt Martin, you'll become intimately familiar with your basic tools: a brush and wetsuit. These simple implements are your constant companions during the never-ending task of keeping the exhibit spotless.
You'll complete over 1,000 submerges annually, making this job similar to painting the Forth Road Bridge - once you finish, it's time to start again. The cleaning process is methodical and demanding, requiring you to scrub every surface while staying alert to the movements of the tank's residents, including Storm, the massive 12-foot sand tiger shark.
Before you're allowed to tackle this challenging role, you'll undergo six months of intensive training under aquarium curator David Wolfenden's supervision. This preparation guarantees you can safely traverse the tank while performing your essential maintenance duties. The work is constant - there's no such thing as a completely clean tank, which is why you'll find yourself submerging nearly every day of the year. Similar to how high school teachers face daily stress in their classrooms, tank cleaners must maintain constant vigilance while working alongside potentially dangerous marine life.
Safety Measures and Protocols
All shark tank cleaners must pass rigorous medical screenings and complete extensive training before they step foot in the water. You'll spend weeks learning to read shark behavior, identify warning signs, and respond appropriately to potential threats - even from powerful species like the tiger shark.
When you're working in the tank, you're never alone. A safety diver monitors your movements while a dive supervisor tracks your progress from above. Through a specialized intercom system, you'll maintain constant communication with the surface team, ensuring immediate response to any concerns. The sharks you'll encounter are typically calm and well-fed, having grown accustomed to human presence in their environment.
Your training emphasizes the importance of staying alert to shark behavior patterns. If you notice signs of agitation or unusual movement, you'll follow strict protocols to pause cleaning operations until conditions normalize. This proactive approach to safety has proven highly effective. You'll learn to work efficiently while maintaining awareness of your surroundings, using your training to distinguish between normal shark activity and potentially risky situations. These thorough safety measures protect both you and the marine life under your care. Similar to police officers maintaining perpetual vigilance, shark tank cleaners must remain constantly alert throughout their shifts to ensure safety and success.
Training for Shark Territory
The intensive quest to become a shark tank cleaner begins with a demanding six-month training program where you'll learn to traverse the territory of multiple shark species, including the massive sand tiger shark. You'll need to demonstrate exceptional submerging skills while mastering the art of reading shark behavior, especially when working near Storm, the 650-pound giant that calls the tank home.
Before you're cleared to submerge, you'll undergo rigorous medical evaluations to guarantee you're fit for the challenging environment. Understanding incidents with sand tigers is vital, as these sharks have been known to attack in shallow waters when they feel threatened. Your training will equip you with the knowledge to recognize signs of agitation and respond appropriately.
Key training components include:
- Learning to operate the intercom system for constant communication with your submerge supervisor
- Practicing emergency protocols with your safety submerger partner
- Mastering cleaning techniques while maintaining awareness of shark movements in the 3.4 million liter tank
The extensive training ensures you're prepared to work safely and efficiently in this high-stakes environment where split-second decisions matter. Like underground miners working in extreme conditions, shark tank cleaners must maintain rigorous safety protocols throughout their demanding 12-hour shifts.
Risks Behind the Glass
Stepping into a shark tank isn't for the faint of heart, even with extensive training and safety protocols in place. When you're cleaning a 3.4 million liter tank, like those found in New York's premier aquariums, you're sharing space with some of the ocean's most powerful predators.
You'll quickly learn that timing is everything. During mating season, the risks escalate considerably as sharks become more territorial and unpredictable. Even though these magnificent creatures are well-fed and generally accustomed to human presence, you'll need to stay vigilant and ready to respond to any behavioral changes.
As a tank cleaner, you're never alone in the water. You'll work with a team of safety swimmers and supervisors who monitor your every move through sophisticated communication systems. If sharks show signs of agitation, you'll need to pause your work immediately. While the aquarium curator maintains that risks are minimized through thorough preparation and the sharks' familiarity with humans, you're still swimming with apex predators. It's a job that demands constant awareness, split-second decision-making, and unwavering focus on safety protocols. Similar to cruise ship crews, tank cleaners undergo comprehensive safety training to prepare for the unique challenges of their dangerous work environment.
Conservation at Work
Diving into shark-filled waters may seem risky, but you're actually contributing to essential conservation efforts with every cleaning session. When you're maintaining the 3.4 million liter tank, you're directly supporting the aquarium's mission to protect these magnificent creatures and educate the public about conservation challenges facing sharks worldwide.
Your work as a tank cleaner helps create optimal living conditions that keep the sharks healthy, which is critical for the aquarium's broader conservation initiatives. Through your maintenance efforts, you're enabling the aquarium to:
- Maintain healthy shark populations that serve as ambassadors for their wild counterparts
- Support ongoing research and educational programs about shark conservation
- Demonstrate proper shark care techniques to other facilities worldwide
While you're scrubbing those tank walls and monitoring water quality, you're playing a pivotal role in Blue Planet Aquarium's public awareness campaign. Your behind-the-scenes work makes it possible for visitors to observe these magnificent creatures up close, cultivating a deeper understanding of why shark conservation matters. It's more than just cleaning - you're helping shape public perception and supporting global shark protection efforts. Much like a flooring installer who must maintain attention to detail when measuring and cutting materials, a shark tank cleaner needs exceptional precision when performing maintenance tasks.
Equipment and Tools
Safety equipment for shark tank cleaning is surprisingly minimal, consisting primarily of a specialized wetsuit and a sturdy brush. You'll find that the wetsuit serves two critical purposes: protecting you from the cold waters of the 3.4 million liter tank and shielding your skin from potential shark scratches during close encounters.
While the specialized equipment might seem basic, you'll rely heavily on communication systems to safeguard your safety. An intercom allows you to maintain constant contact with your safety diver and dive supervisor throughout the cleaning process. Before you even touch this equipment, you'll need to undergo rigorous training to learn proper handling techniques and shark behavior patterns.
Your medical fitness is also considered part of your essential toolkit. You'll need to pass comprehensive health checks to ascertain you're physically capable of handling the demanding underwater work. Similar to biohazard cleanup protocols, strict safety measures must be followed to protect both the cleaner and the environment. The combination of these tools - wetsuit, brush, communication systems, and verified medical clearance - creates a complete safety system that enables you to work effectively in one of the world's most unique cleaning environments.
Behind the Scenes
Working behind the scenes of a shark tank cleaning operation reveals an intense daily routine. At Blue Planet Aquarium, you'll find dedicated professionals like Matt Martin spending up to seven hours daily maintaining a massive 3.4 million liter tank. The professional challenges of cleaning while surrounded by various shark species, including the imposing Storm - a 650-pound sand tiger shark, require exceptional focus and preparation.
Under curator David Wolfenden's supervision, the behind-the-scenes operation involves:
- Completing rigorous 6-month training programs before any submerger can enter the tank, ensuring they're equipped to handle potential dangers and recognize shark behavior
- Performing over 1,000 submersions annually to maintain the tank's cleanliness and monitor shark health
- Conducting regular medical checks and safety assessments, with immediate suspension of submersion activities if sharks show signs of agitation
The backstage operations are particularly demanding during mating season when sharks become more unpredictable. While the sharks have grown accustomed to human presence, the cleaning team must remain vigilant. Their extensive training and experience alter what could be an extremely dangerous job into a managed, professional operation. Similar to special education teachers, these professionals must demonstrate remarkable patience and adaptability while working in challenging environments.
