Many different things happen to keep the Disney Parks magical on a daily basis for the guests who visit. There are cast members who can be seen operating attractions, performing, serving, and cleaning every day, to name a few things. Many people work behind the scenes to make sure that the magic is always working at The Happiest Place on Earth! One team that keeps the magic working and alive is the Submarine Voyage dive team at Disneyland. This incredibly talented team is tasked with keeping the Submarines and all of the undersea magic working reliably for guests to have magical and safe voyages with Nemo and friends.

This team is tasked with maintaining the mechanical systems that sit leagues beneath the surface, ensuring the ride remains safe and reliable for guests to enjoy. They dive into the submarine lagoon after the park has closed and guests go home, donning their oxygen masks and wetsuits to do so. Disney shared more about this role and the people who perform it. Check out this incredible team and its work below!

Learning to Dive into the Magic

“I was a machinist at Matterhorn for two and a half years. Then someone came through one day and asked if anybody wanted to learn how to dive,” shares longtime Disneyland diver and Walt Disney Legacy Award recipient Ken Posey, recalling his early days at the resort. “I said, ‘I’ll do it,’ and soon after I started scuba training before moving to work at Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.”

Although he began his Disney days on dry land, Ken quickly fell in love with the unique opportunity to put his passion for solving mechanical puzzles to the test in an underwater world many people never see the depths of. “People don’t realize there are even divers at Disneyland,” Ken says. Years later, the extensive diving skills he learned on the job inspired him to explore some of the world’s most unexpected places, including Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

All in a Night’s Dive

At minimum, two members of the diving team swim through the lagoon waters every night, surveying the attraction for anything that might look out of place.

Depending on the night, the team may replace a light fixture, install a new show element, or support a multifaceted ride refurbishment, all while navigating the buoyant environment.

“We’re trying to keep whatever the engineers design operating properly,” explains beloved Disneyland diving team member Dave Fisher. “If the attraction is deviating from that, whether it’s a safety precaution or a show element, we’re going to find a way to fix it.”

Decades Beneath the Lagoon

For Dave, diving at the Disneyland Resort is a privilege that continues to baffle him, even 25 years into his Disney journey. “I get paid to dive,” he says with a wide smile. His passion for underwater exploration began as a hobby in the 1980s, when a friend encouraged him to take a class for fun. Ever since discovering the Disneyland diving team, Dave has been hooked on the feeling of bringing smiles to guests’ faces using a skill he wholeheartedly loves.

“We want anyone who comes here, even a 2-year-old who spots Nemo, to be happy,” Dave says. “We want to make the ride safe and give guests the best experience we can.”

The next time you climb down the yellow research submarine operated by the Nautical Exploration and Marine Observation Institute (N.E.M.O.), don’t forget the skilled team of cast members who use their fins every night to ensure your vessel remains safe, and that the story swims on.