Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

702.tv’ host takes plunge to show unique Vegas jobs

Silverton Aquaruim Mermaids

Justin M. Bowen

Denise Spidle, host of “702.tv,” shoots video with an underwater camera as “mermaid” Heather Carrasco entertains the crowd at the aquarium at the Silverton Casino on Thursday, June 11.

Silverton Aquarium Mermaids

Food is prepared for the inhabitants of the aquarium at the Silverton Casino Thursday, June 11, 2009. Launch slideshow »

Beyond the Sun

702.tv host Denise Spidle trained with an aquatics safety diver at the Silverton Casino last week, then took the plunge two days later for a video shoot.

Spidle swam with two "mermaids" in a 117,000-gallon saltwater aquarium, a signature attraction at the south valley casino. The dive, filmed in conjunction with National Zoo and Aquarium Month, is the first segment in a new series displaying unique Las Vegas jobs on the “702.tv” television program. (The program will air at 10:30 p.m. tonight on Vegas ONE Channel 14).

Accompanied by aquatics safety manager Jerry Cowley, Spidle carried a handheld camera in a waterproof plastic bag to document her dive, getting up close to stingrays, small sharks and a puffer fish that the staff said is notorious for its anger.

"I actually got nipped when I was down there," Spidle said, "but it was the parrot fish with the beak."

Aquarium manager Thomas Harder said about 150 species of fish live in the tank, the largest being a stingray that measures 3 1/2 feet wide and weighs about 100 pounds.

At 1:30 p.m. daily, an aquarium staff member dives into the aquarium and hand feeds the stingrays and sharks. Harder said this ensures bottom-feeders are fed because the smaller fish are likely to eat food at the water's surface before it can drift down. It's also a way to check on their health.

To prepare for feeding time, aquarist Alexis Shorb slices and dices shrimp, squid, dolphin, fish and mackerels -- all restaurant-quality food.

"I'm pretty sure these animals eat better than we do," she said.

On Thursday, using a special scuba mask with a built-in microphone, Harder narrated his dive to onlookers. A crowd gathered near the 16-foot-tall aquarium to watch. Children scampered to the front of the tank, pressing their hands against the 6 inches of plastic that separated them from the underwater world that one child remarked "looks a lot like 'Finding Nemo.'"

Similarly, Harder described swimming in the tank as "Disney-like."

"You know, it's like you're in a movie, and there's stoplights and fish going in different directions. There's quite a number of animals in there," he said.

Like "The Little Mermaid"?

"I don't know," he said, laughing. "It's hard to explain."

Spidle changed into her wet suit and practiced breathing under water through her regulator with some help from Cowley. Meanwhile, the Silverton mermaids, Heather Carrasco and Timery Middleton, zipped into their costumes: two neon-colored, glittery mermaid tails with a hue reminiscent of a 1980s windbreaker. The staff helped Carrasco and Middleton onto a swing and gently lowered them into the water.

Both are experienced divers. Carassco won a gold medal in synchronized swimming in 1996 and was later a consultant for the U.S. Olympic team. Middleton was on the swim team at UNLV and has a background in acting.

"It's something I just really like to do," Carrasco said. "I mean, how many mermaids do you know? There's only two in Las Vegas that I know."

She added that it's sometimes difficult to swim in the suit and primarily uses her arms to move around. She also wears a 15-pound weight to keep herself grounded toward the bottom of the tank. But it's worth it, she said, to do a job she loves.

"Being in the water with the fish, doing something that I've done my whole entire life, incorporating it into a performance that's underneath the water -- that part of it is just a joy in itself,” she said.

Spidle, Cowley and the two mermaids swam in the aquarium for about 30 minutes. While Carrasco and Middleton put on a show for the casino's guests by posing, twisting, spinning and somersaulting, Spidle explored the tank, camera in hand.

"You can't really hear anything," Spidle said. "You can hear the bubbles, you can hear yourself. You can hear yourself breathing. That's about it. You can't hear anything through the glass, and your field of focus narrows considerably. Half the time you're not even aware of what's around you."

Afterward, Cowley said Spidle had done well. Although she said she has gone scuba diving before in Florida, Spidle admitted to being a little nervous the first time she went into the aquarium. The training she received two days earlier included learning techniques to clear her sinuses because of the change in pressure and how to cope in unplanned situations.

"Today went much smoother. On the training run I got a little cocky, waving at some children, and crashed headfirst into some coral," Spidle said. "Didn't happen today, so I consider that a vast improvement."

Asked if she ever expected to swim in an aquarium in a casino in Las Vegas as part of her job, she smiled and shook her head.

"You know, life is funny that way," she said. "I suppose I should get certified now? It's nice to know I could change careers if the show doesn't work out. If the video I shot is just that bad, I'm going to come back begging for a job."