In the Curator’s Words: Birch Aquarium dives deep in the waters with ‘Meditation Ocean’

In the Curator’s Words is an occasional series that takes a critical look at current exhibitions through the eyes of curators.

There’s something peaceful — meditative, even — about being in the water.

“Meditation Ocean: Aquarius Reef Base,” a new exhibit at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, explores that concept.

Megan Dickerson, director of exhibits at Birch Aquarium, talks about the exhibit, which opened Nov. 20 and is on display through Feb. 22.

Q: Tell us more about the “meditation” concept tied to this exhibit. 

A: A meditator might focus on “the breath,” something usually invisible yet deeply felt in the body. In scuba diving, divers breathe from a finite air supply that allows them to exist in a world humans weren’t built for. Beneath the surface, the invisible becomes visible as streams of bubbles rise toward the light. Breathing can even physically move you: a breath in, you ascend. A breath out, you sink.

“Meditation Ocean: Aquarius Reef Base” begins here, with breath as both a physical and metaphorical link between humans and the ocean. In the exhibition, we’re connecting to the growing understanding that being immersed in natural environments can enhance empathy, awareness and wellbeing. Soon-to-be-published studies suggest this is especially true for aquanauts, who spend extended time — sometimes as long as a month — living...