The divers of Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland Park

Many guests know the cast members who keep the walkways clean, stock pretzels, and ensure the rides run smoothly during the day. Yet once the sun sets at Disneyland Park, a very different shift begins. When the park lights come on and the last guest has left, a dedicated team slips into wetsuits and oxygen masks to create magic beneath the surface.

They are the diving team of the popular submarine attraction Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage — a passionate group of divers who keep the lagoon safe every single night. With real dedication they maintain the complex mechanical systems located deep underwater, making sure the submarines operate safely and reliably for Nemo, his friends, and every guest.

“I worked as a machinist on the Matterhorn for two and a half years. Then one day someone came by and asked if anyone wanted to learn how to dive,” recalls Ken Posey, a longtime Disneyland diver and Walt Disney Legacy Award recipient. “I said yes right away, completed scuba training, and soon transferred to Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.”

Although he started his Disney career on dry land, Ken quickly fell in love with the unique challenge of solving mechanical problems in an underwater world most people never get to see. “Many people don’t even realize there are divers at Disneyland Park,” he says. The skills he gained on the job later inspired him to explore extraordinary places such as Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

Every night at least two divers swim through the lagoon, inspecting the entire attraction and fixing anything that looks out of place. Depending on what’s needed, they replace light fixtures, install new show elements, or support major refurbishments — all while working in the buoyant underwater environment.

“We try to keep everything the engineers designed running perfectly,” explains Dave Fisher, another longtime team member. “If the attraction deviates from that — whether it’s a safety issue or a show element — we find a way to fix it.” For Dave, who has worked at Disney for 25 years, it remains a dream job. “I get paid to dive,” he says with a smile. His passion for diving began as a hobby back in the 1980s. Today he especially loves using that skill to create unforgettable moments for guests of all ages. “We want everyone who comes here to be happy — even a two-year-old seeing Nemo for the first time.”

The next time you climb aboard the yellow research submarine of the Nautical Exploration and Marine Observation Institute (N.E.M.O.), remember those quiet heroes with fins who work every night so the underwater world of Finding Nemo runs perfectly and the story keeps swimming on.