Cleaning a window takes on a whole other level when you’re looking to tackle the inside of the underwater glass viewing window at Edinburgh Zoo’s penguin enclosure.
So how do you do it? Well with a giant bag full of squidgy cloths and a diving suit!
Whilst almost everyone would agree that sunshine is lovely, the ultraviolet in sunlight actually encourages algae to grow, meaning that three to four times a year Edinburgh Zoo has to undertake the task of cleaning algae from the windows of the underwater penguin enclosure.
Luckily a number of army personnel from the Royal School of Military Engineers were on a training exercise at Edinburgh Zoo, practising their surveying and drawing techniques, when the army instructor and his wife volunteered to do the dirty job.
Interestingly enough, apparently cleaning underwater is more difficult than it looks due to working at depth.
As a long term solution the works department at Edinburgh Zoo are arranging for an ultra violet film to be added to the window to slow future growth.
Edinburgh Zoo is open all year round.
A great day diving with the penguins and scrubbing the windows, although no problems with ‘depth’ at only 2 metres!?! The algae was a little tougher to remove than we had anticipated though – lots of elbow grease required for a couple of hours! We recommend scotchbrite rather than a squidgy….
The team of students from the Royal School of Military Engineering, Chatham, did a wonderful job when they were in Edinburgh earlier in the week, carrying out a condition survey and drawing plans of some of the older zoo buildings.
We’re both available for other underwater cleaning activities!
Si & Jane
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