Oasis of the Seas' AquaTheater

Which is why the Oasis of the Seas has several one-of-a-kind specialists – in other words, individuals who do jobs you’ll not find elsewhere in the cruise business.

That was one of the big revelations from a series of morning press events today, designed to introduce Royal Caribbean’s massive new ship to the media. Among the specialists the ships has: a bagpiper, a horticulturalist an and aqua cast support diver.

The bagpiper keeps crowds entertained, the horticulturalist keeps the ship’s Central Park leafy and green, but what about the aqua dude?

Well, it turns out that Oasis has a water show at its AquaTheater, replete with high divers and synchronized swimmers. That’s unique enough in the cruise industry. But a water show demands a specialist of another sort, too.

Namely, John Wilson.

The 43-year-old Canadian is a SCUBA instructor who’s been with Royal Caribbean for nine years. Now, he’s spending his days “backstage” at the Oasis show, which means he stays underwater throughout the presentation, helping spot the divers, moving props in place and being there just in case of an accident.

It’s an especially important job, says Wilson, because the pool is relatively small – at least by normal aqua show standards. “The divers definitely have to hit their mark,” says Wilson.

So what does Wilson do aboard the ship in his free time? “I love the jogging track,” he says.

Naturally, Oasis’ track is unique, too. Measuring a half-mile, it’s the largest on any cruise ship.