Sea World FAQs
How do I become a whale trainer? Is there really a Shamu airplane?...and other interesting questions!
There are certain questions about Sea World that make readers particularly curious. This "SeaWorld FAQs" page will attempt to answer those questions about various aspects of SeaWorld and Shamu the killer whale that are asked time and again.
Sea World FAQs:
Question--How do I become a Shamu the Killer Whale trainer?
Hello, future whale trainers! There must be plenty of you out there, because this website gets a number of questions from young people looking for information on becoming Shamu trainers, dolphin trainers, etc. The best advice I can give you is to visit www.seaworld.org, the SeaWorld website devoted to all sorts of animal facts & information...info about whales and different marine animals, info about educational "Adventure Camps" at SeaWorld, and lots of information about preparing for various jobs at SeaWorld. Here's a direct link to
www.seaworld.org
When you get to the SeaWorld.org website, take some time to browse around. Be sure to click on the "Career Resources" tab. That link will take you to a whole wealth of information. A new page will open up with still more links. Be sure to follow the link that says, "Info Books." That link doesn't really lead to books...for some strange reason. (So, why don't they change the name of the link?) The "Info Books" link is a gateway to all sorts of career information. You'll find out how to prepare for careers not only in whale, dolphin and sea lion training, but also as aquarium keepers, sea bird caretakers and specialists, veterinarians and vet assistants, animal researchers...and many others!
But, there are other things you can be doing right now to help your chances of landing this sought-after job. Learn to swim; all whale trainers must be strong swimmers! Getting a SCUBA certification isn't a requirement, but it's a good "plus" to have in your list of credentials.
Also, get some experience working with animals. Working in a vet's clinic or animal shelter might be one way of doing this. SeaWorld doesn't care that the experience you have is with whales; any animals will do.
You may apply for a job at SeaWorld before you finish college; in fact, you SHOULD. There are many positions available as animal care helpers (you know...the people who feed the animals & clean up after them), tour guides, Adventure Camp hosts and hostesses, employees who stand around the exhibits answering visitors' questions, etc.
SeaWorld would like you to spend some time in these less-visible positions first...before you can apply as a whale trainer. (But don't forget...these positions are REALLY IMPORTANT to both the animals and the park visitors. They're not really "less important" jobs at all!)
Working with the public in these other important positions will also give you another skill that you need---the ability to speak in front of the public! SeaWorld's whale trainers don't JUST train whales; they also run the whale shows! Since not many people feel comfortable speaking before a crowd of thousands of visitors, "breaking yourself in" by answering guest's questions one-at-a-time...or leading a tour group of 3-4 dozen people...is a good way to build up that confidence and public speaking ability.
Sea World FAQs:
Question--Does Southwest Airlines really have a Shamu airplane?
Southwest Airlines actually has 3 Shamu planes! Sometimes the Shamu planes head to San Diego from Phoenix or other western USA airports. However, at times, the Shamu planes are used for other routes instead.The Shamu plane's exterior is painted just like a killer whale! Inside the Shamu planes, however, there are no "whale" features; the interior looks just like any other jet airplane.
The Shamu plane is certainly fun to look at. With luck, you'll be able to see it in person some day...or even to fly aboard. Unfortunately, however, Southwest Airlines won't guarantee that you'll get the Shamu plane for your flight...even if you pick a route along which it usually runs. A Southwest Airlines representative informed me that the planes switch routes and times regularly, making it impossible for them to give out any advance information about where the planes will be at any particular time.
The Texas campaign was a success...and the following year, Sea World San Diego got in on the fun, as well. "Shamu Two" was created, and started flying out of the Oakland, California airport. When that campaign, too, turned out to be a success, then "Shamu Three" was created (in 1990.)
Did you know that the 3 Shamu planes aren't the only specially-painted planes in Southwest's fleet? Southwest Airlines also has planes painted like the flags of several southwestern states---California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas! To see photos of Southwest's "planes of the states" and Shamu airplanes, here's a link to Southwest's
Specialty Planes page on the company's official website.
Drive from SeaWorld to Disneyland
Sea World FAQs: Can you tell me how to drive from Sea World San Diego to Disneyland?
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From SeaWorld, get onto I-8 heading west. From Interstate 8, take I-5 northwards to Anaheim, California, about 90 minutes away (depending on traffic.) From Interstate 5 in Anaheim, take the Katella Ave exit and follow the signs to Disneyland Park.
Or, upon leaving Sea World, you may follow the signs to I-5 Northbound, instead. Head north...and you'll be in Anaheim about 1 1/2 hours later.
However, try not to travel during the evening rush hour! Many San Diegans head to their homes in North San Diego County after working all day in downtown San Diego. Between 4 pm and 7 pm, Interstate 5 northbound from SeaWorld is quite congested. Try to travel to Anaheim, therefore, before 4 pm or after 7 pm...and your trip will be much more pleasant.
You may wish to view a street map of the Disneyland area in Anaheim...or other maps of the Disneyland Resort. If so, just use the following link, then, and you'll be able to view this website's "Disneyland Maps" page.
Sea World FAQs: Killer Whale Anatomy
I've been asked for photos of various parts of Shamu the killer whale's anatomy! So, here are pictures I took especially for those of you very curious about Shamu's body parts!In the photo to your left, you can see Shamu's "blowhole." A killer whale breathes in and out from his blowhole. It is like the nostrils on a human being.
While under water, Shamu must hold his breath. Shamu and other whales cannot get the oxygen they need from the water like a fish can. That's because Shamu is a mammal...just like you and I. He can only breathe air.
While Shamu is under the water, a muscular flap closes tightly over his blow hole...so that water won't get inside his trachea (breathing tube.) As Shamu comes to the water's surface, he snorts forcefully...to blow any water away from the edge of his blowhole. Then, when he breathes in, he'll get only air...and no drops of water mixed in.
Compare the picture of Shamu's head with the photo of a whale skull on your right. They look the similar, don't they? You can see the blowhole in the whale's skull in this picture.
Did you know that whales make noises from their blow holes...not from their mouths? Killer whales make 2 different types of sounds---whistles and clicks. Human ears can hear only some of the sounds that whales make; other sounds are so high or so low that only their other whale friends can hear them speaking.
Some of the whale sounds---the clicks---have to do with the whale's "echolocation" system. That's just a fancy word meaning that whales can find their food in the dark because they can send out sounds. When the sound bounces back from the food...like an echo...then the whale knows which direction to swim so he can find the food (even if there's little light.)
Humans don't have the ability to perform echolocation, but here's a simple experiment you can try...just so you can feel what it might be like to be a whale! Fill a squirt gun or spray bottle, and head for a room in your house where it won't matter if you get things wet. (The kitchen or bathroom, maybe?)
Hold the squirt gun or spray bottle in front of you and close your eyes. Start walking towards the wall slowly while spraying water on the wall ahead of you. Keep your eyes closed! But don't worry that you'll run into the wall---because once you get close enough, you'll hear the sound of the water echoing off the wall. You will know to stop walking without using your eyes; and THAT'S feeling just like you're Shamu, getting your directions from your sense of SOUND rather than sight.
To discover more fun facts about killer whale anatomy, don't forget to view the very informative "Killer Whale Physical Characteristics" page of the www.SeaWorld.org educational website!
MORE SEA WORLD SAN DIEGO PICTURES! --->
Use the button to your left to see photos of still MORE Sea World attractions and fun!
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