By: Holly Bourbon & Felicia Silva
The Aquarium
What many may not know is that the National Aquarium was originally spearheaded by Baltimore’s 45th Mayor William Donald Shafer and Baltimore city planners. At that time, the aquarium was originally named the Baltimore Aquarium but one year after breaking ground in 1979, Congress designated the facility as what we now know to be the National Aquarium. This designation recognized both its world-class potential and its affiliation with the smaller National Aquarium in Washington, D.C.; which dates back to 1873.
In 2005, both facilities, Baltimore and D.C., unified under the National Aquarium umbrella with the partnership of NOAA and a 2-million-dollar renovation for the D.C. location. The staff as well as the animals housed in D.C. were transferred to the Baltimore location. The aquarium now stands as a not-for-profit and public-private partnership with the city owning the land and building.
Today, National Aquarium houses over 20,000 aquatic animals and has continued to innovate and improve not only their exhibits but also their conservation and advocacy work. Their Marine Mammal Pavilion (Pier 4) opened in 1990, creating new housing for dolphins and belugas. The Australia Habitat (& Crystal Pavilion) opened in 2005 that features a 64,500-square-foot pavilion housing the immersive, Australia: Wild Extremes. Additionally, in 2018, the aquarium opened their Animal Care and Rescue Center and in 2024 their Ocean City Stranding Response Center was up and running.
The Dive Program
The driving force behind supporting animal welfare, habitat cleanliness, and guest programs is the Dive Team! Currently National has about 41 staff divers and 73 Volunteer Divers. In 2025 their dive team conducted 3,254 dives! National’s operations consist of commercial, scientific, and recreational programs that can be seen in their animal feeds, power scrubber dives, and Guest Immersion/ VIP operations.
National is partnered with their local dive shop, Atlantic Edge, that assists with their Guest Immersion Program and also works with ADPA member Todd Hall’s company BioDive Solutions, which has helped the Aquarium with their dolphin pool and Atlantic Coral Reef habits window sealant work. Currently, the Dive Safety team is working on their AAUS training dives which they hope to wrap up by the end of this year. While the team was excited to share their story with us , they have one secret that is on the horizon for them, barred with a non-disclosure agreement. We look forward to seeing what the Dive Safety team will be up to in the future!
Director of Dive Programs
Calling the shots for National Aquarium’s Dive Program is Director Holly Bourbon. Pre-vet was Holly’s original career path, but as I am sure you know there was another road in life that brought her to National. While attending Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, Holly took on an internship that forever changed the course of her future. New England Aquarium (NEAq) offered their first opportunity to host a Penguin Colony Internship, and it was Holly who landed the job. This was not only her first introduction to the world of aquariums but also her first step into the world of diving. As an intern she had the privilege of caring for river otters, Kemp’s Ridley turtles, african and rockhopper penguins; she figured if she was going to work with the team, she needed to start diving.
After a semester-long diving course and seasonal work with NEAq’s whale watch boat, in May of 1987 Holly got the call. The Whale-Watch Captain let her know there was an opening on the dive team, Holly stepped from Intern to Aquarist to Sr Aquarist and finally to Dive Safety Officer. With 20 years of tenure at NEAq, Holly became their first Dive Safety Officer.
Diving now for 40 years, Holly has built her career by marrying her love of animal care with her years of diving. It is no wonder she is in the Women Divers Hall of Fame. While Holly manages her program, she is also an active player in all things ADPA. But when not diving, you can find Holly in her garden, behind her camera, or spending time with her family.
Dive Staff
Brittney Fleenor, Holly’s right hand, is National Aquarium’s Dive Safety Officer. Brittney launched into the world of diving during her Semester by the Sea program where the Introduction to Scientific Diving course jumpstarted her path. From Open Water to Rescue Diver to an AAUS Scientific Diver, Brittney partnered her certifications with her aquarium science knowledge from her time at Oregon Coast Community College to later become the DSO at the Fort Wayne Zoo. Her time there inspired her passions in zoo and aquarium dive programs, which later brought her to the National Aquarium. Brittney is an avid audiobook listener and loves going on hikes with her Bernese Mountain dog, Dixie.
Supporting both Holly and Brittney are a team of ADSOs that specialize in different areas. Sr. Assist. DSO/Equipment Coordinator, Josh Foronda, has been diving for 30 years. Josh not only specializes in gear, he is more of a jack of all trades. While his role focuses on diving and equipment, Josh also has his hands in the world of animal husbandry- which he loves.
Alongside Josh is Sr. Assist. DSO/ Field Diving, Ben Giraldo. Ben has 18 years of diving under his belt and spends his free time as a volunteer at the Navy Yard. Ben supports Josh with equipment, but we might say he is an expert at tinkering.
Last, but not least is Tanner Hughes, Assist. DSO/ Volunteer Diver Coordinator. Tanner started diving at an early age (11!) and has a knack for seeing the bigger picture. At his core, he loves knowing that the work he does supports not only the lives of the animals in their menagerie, but also reaches the hearts of Baltimore to educate the community about our oceans. Tanner loves 35 mm photography, camping, backpacking, and mountain biking.
