Our Experts
Ashley McCarthy
Dive Safety Officer
Animal Care, New England AquariumEducation
BS, Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston
About
Raised in Chicago, Ashley (she/her) has always been captivated by the dynamic changes in the underwater world. With experience in dive safety and marine conservation, their career began at Shedd Aquarium and led them to the New England Aquarium in January 2022, where they now serve as Dive Safety Officer. As a NAUI Dive Instructor, Ashley leads cross-functional teams to mitigate diving risks within the Aquarium’s walls, but also in the field from tagging Groupers in the Bahamas to Gulf Stream Orphan collecting in Rhode Island.
Ashley is equally committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in marine science and diving, believing that ocean preservation is intrinsically linked to DEI. As a Board member of the Association of Dive Program Administrators (ADPA), they founded the Diversity Committee and have presented at Symposiums on different facets of Diversity including Ableism, Ageism, and Tracking Diversity within the DSO Community. They have been serving as co-chair of the Aquarium’s DEI Council since 2023 and will join the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Diversity Committee in October 2024.
Affiliations
- Board Member and Secretary, Assocation of Dive Program Administrators (ADPA)
- Diversity Committee, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) – Starting October 1, 2024
- Dive Instructor, National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI)
Behind the Scenes with Our Animal Care Team
At the Aquarium and in our Animal Care Center in Quincy, our team provides exceptional day-to-day support for the animals in our care, managing their diet, providing enrichment sessions, and much more.
