We’re back! Another outing for the Spotlight Series that casts light on insights across our dedicated, tireless team here at Blue Reef Aquarium.
Today, we meet an aquarist named Owen. You might have seen him busy around the place here at Blue Reef, taking care of myriad creatures, keeping vital cogs vitally oiled, and occasionally climbing into the lizard tank. We keep asking him not to, but there’s no stopping him.
Anyway, without further ado, heeeeeeere’s Owen!
Wait, where’s he gone?
Owen! No. We’ve told you. Get out of the lizard tank!
Blimey.
Here’s Owen.
Blue Reef: Hi Owen, and a huge thank you for agreeing to pull back the curtain on the things that make you tick. Could I get an overview of your time at Blue Reef Aquarium?
Owen: I started this career path through volunteering at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth whilst at Uni and fell in love with the job. I have been at Blue Reef since November, 2022. After finishing my degree and looking for a job this one came along at the perfect time.
Blue Reef: Sounds like it was destiny playing a hand. Do you have any favourite memories of your time at Blue Reef?
Owen: Getting hands-on with some baby loggerhead turtles that had been stranded in the UK. Being a part of their rescue and rehabilitation before sending them back out into the wild was an amazing experience.
Blue Reef: That must have been incredible, and moving. On the flipside, do you have any days you’d rather forget?
Owen: We all end up having favourite animals at the aquarium. Losing them is never a good time. Especially Tofu, the Spiny Boxfish, who was my favourite!
Blue Reef: Ah, I guess that is a perpetual downside of the job. Talking fish, do you have any favourite tanks?
Owen: The coral tanks are some of my favorites. All the corals have stunning colours and they are well established in our displays. The fish all work hard to keep those tanks clean for us so there is always something going on in them.
Hear Owen talk about his favourite tank here
Blue Reef: What would your advice be to anyone considering a similar career?
Owen: If you can, start by volunteering in animal care. Most places will have opportunities to get experience, and it will help you to decide if you want to pursue this as a career. Every place works slightly differently, but experience goes a long way towards ending up with a job in this career.
Blue Reef: Wise words. Although some considerable time away yet, when you eventually call time on your career with the aquarium, what song will be playing as the end credits roll?
Owen: My Way – Frank Sinatra.
Blue Reef: Perfect! Now, life happens away from the aquarium, so, when you’re not busy caring for the aquarium residents, what do you like to do with your days?
Owen: I love being active, either going to the gym or getting in the sea to surf or snorkel. Spending time outdoors in or around the sea as much as possible.
Blue Reef: That sounds like time well spent. Now, that brings us to the end of the weighty bits, and it’s time to get a little bit lighter with the section soon to be known worldwide as ‘The Quickfire Round!’
Blue Reef: What was the last film to make you cry?
Owen: Not a film, but the ending of The Big Bang Theory never fails to bring a tear to my eye.
Blue Reef: Which song always gets you moving?
Owen: Wagon wheel – Darius Rucker
Blue Reef: Is there a book you can never forget?
Owen: The subtle art of not giving a f*** – Mark Manson
Blue Reef: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be?
Owen: I’m pretty settled in Newquay for the time being, but who knows if that will change!
Blue Reef: What superpower would you choose?
Owen: Super-speed, or shapeshifting
Blue Reef: And finally…which four dream guests would you invite to dinner?
Owen: Steve Irwin, David Attenborough, James Acaster, Ed Gamble
And with that, Owen was away again. Off to keep the ebb and flow turning across this indoor ocean of ours, and to fight the urge to climb into the lizard tank.
Wait…
Owen! No!
