diswedwish
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2002
- Messages
- 812
We did this tour last Sunday, we want to go back
We did this tour because we thought it would be very interesting and we were right. DH was a little nervous about the scuba-assisted snorkeling since our only experience was at Shark Reef, but once we started he was fine.
We met outside Epcot at Guest Relations. Our tour guide, Leslie, was a few minutes late and we were worried we'd be forgotten about since we were the only 2 there. Never fear, Leslie and the diver who watched us (can't remember her name) came out for us.
She took our shoe sizes and the size of the t-shirt we would like as well as our room keys for the Platinum Plan information. After this we walked towards the Living Seas and she pointed out their filtration systems and explained how they worked. I asked what they did during the hurricanes and she explained that they have a ride-out team ready for situations like that and they stay at their posts through the storm.
We went backstage in the Living Seas and she walked us through some of the exhibits including the manatees (went onstage and backstage for this one), went backstage near the dolphins, got to see food preparation and saw the divers right before feeding time. We watched a brief video about what we were to do/not do, how to identify some of the fish, and how to get into what we were to wear.
She led us to the locker rooms and gave us keys. Over one of the changing/shower room doors was a bag with my name on it and my lovely short wet suit and booties in it. We both changed, and when we came out she took our keys. We went upstairs to the tank and once more they explained the dive gear to us. It's just like snorkeling excpet instead of the breathing tube type thing (I really know all the technical terms, right?! lol), there's a tank for your air and a PSI reader thingy. If it went to the orange area or below 500 you had to come back for a new tank, or if it was less than 5 min. until the end of your time just sit it out. There were flotation things on either side of the air tank, so there was no way you could go below the surface.
At this point there were 3 more new people who would be snorkeling, but it seemed like they were on their own tour, they had a different guide, etc.
Once we were in our gear, but before the snorkel masks went on, they took our picture. After that it was time for the fun to begin
We had to stay at least 10 feet away from the dolphins' wall, but other than that we could go wherever. We also couldn't touch the 'coral', chase the fish, or touch them. So we swam everywhere we could and it was so much fun! I waved to some of the people on the observation level and in the Coral Reef, got to see the VIP room with the glass piano, plus lots and lots of fish. Halfway through our time the sea turtle came out, even more fun I only jumped once, because I was contemplating the fact that the sharks really looked close, even though she said they wouldn't bother us... Then a fish swam right past my nose - lol!! My favorite parts were following the rays, watching fish eat the broccoli and other greens they tethered to the bottom (we'd been shown this before we suited up), and the sea turtle.
When our 30 min. was up, the divers came up to us to tell us we should head back to the platform. My only slight problems were that my mouth was dry and I managed to tighten one of the flippers a bit too much.
We were shown to the locker rooms again, given a chance to shower (aloe vera body wash, shampoo, and conditioner provided for me, other more "manly-smelling" body wash and conditioner for DH - lol!). There was a hair dryer in the locker room as well although I didn't really bother (my hair's long, it takes a bit, and I figured it'd dry in the sun later).
After that, Leslie led us into the same room where we'd seen the video. We got our complimentary sodas, t-shirts, pictures, and conservation pins (I was surprised they don't make special pins for the Living Seas tours). We filled out a survey, and were shown out into Epcot.
It was great that it was just the 2 of us on the tour, we could ask all of the questions we wanted, and we felt very relaxed. We would definitely do this tour again, we both really enjoyed it.
We were on the Platinum Plan for this portion of our trip, so the tour was included. Otherwise it's $100/person. We were told that most of the $ goes towards the Wildlife Conservation Fund, which we thought was great.
Any questions? I'd be happy to answer
We did this tour because we thought it would be very interesting and we were right. DH was a little nervous about the scuba-assisted snorkeling since our only experience was at Shark Reef, but once we started he was fine.We met outside Epcot at Guest Relations. Our tour guide, Leslie, was a few minutes late and we were worried we'd be forgotten about since we were the only 2 there. Never fear, Leslie and the diver who watched us (can't remember her name) came out for us.
She took our shoe sizes and the size of the t-shirt we would like as well as our room keys for the Platinum Plan information. After this we walked towards the Living Seas and she pointed out their filtration systems and explained how they worked. I asked what they did during the hurricanes and she explained that they have a ride-out team ready for situations like that and they stay at their posts through the storm.
We went backstage in the Living Seas and she walked us through some of the exhibits including the manatees (went onstage and backstage for this one), went backstage near the dolphins, got to see food preparation and saw the divers right before feeding time. We watched a brief video about what we were to do/not do, how to identify some of the fish, and how to get into what we were to wear.
She led us to the locker rooms and gave us keys. Over one of the changing/shower room doors was a bag with my name on it and my lovely short wet suit and booties in it. We both changed, and when we came out she took our keys. We went upstairs to the tank and once more they explained the dive gear to us. It's just like snorkeling excpet instead of the breathing tube type thing (I really know all the technical terms, right?! lol), there's a tank for your air and a PSI reader thingy. If it went to the orange area or below 500 you had to come back for a new tank, or if it was less than 5 min. until the end of your time just sit it out. There were flotation things on either side of the air tank, so there was no way you could go below the surface.
At this point there were 3 more new people who would be snorkeling, but it seemed like they were on their own tour, they had a different guide, etc.
Once we were in our gear, but before the snorkel masks went on, they took our picture. After that it was time for the fun to begin
We had to stay at least 10 feet away from the dolphins' wall, but other than that we could go wherever. We also couldn't touch the 'coral', chase the fish, or touch them. So we swam everywhere we could and it was so much fun! I waved to some of the people on the observation level and in the Coral Reef, got to see the VIP room with the glass piano, plus lots and lots of fish. Halfway through our time the sea turtle came out, even more fun I only jumped once, because I was contemplating the fact that the sharks really looked close, even though she said they wouldn't bother us... Then a fish swam right past my nose - lol!! My favorite parts were following the rays, watching fish eat the broccoli and other greens they tethered to the bottom (we'd been shown this before we suited up), and the sea turtle. When our 30 min. was up, the divers came up to us to tell us we should head back to the platform. My only slight problems were that my mouth was dry and I managed to tighten one of the flippers a bit too much.
We were shown to the locker rooms again, given a chance to shower (aloe vera body wash, shampoo, and conditioner provided for me, other more "manly-smelling" body wash and conditioner for DH - lol!). There was a hair dryer in the locker room as well although I didn't really bother (my hair's long, it takes a bit, and I figured it'd dry in the sun later).
After that, Leslie led us into the same room where we'd seen the video. We got our complimentary sodas, t-shirts, pictures, and conservation pins (I was surprised they don't make special pins for the Living Seas tours). We filled out a survey, and were shown out into Epcot.
It was great that it was just the 2 of us on the tour, we could ask all of the questions we wanted, and we felt very relaxed. We would definitely do this tour again, we both really enjoyed it.
We were on the Platinum Plan for this portion of our trip, so the tour was included. Otherwise it's $100/person. We were told that most of the $ goes towards the Wildlife Conservation Fund, which we thought was great.
Any questions? I'd be happy to answer
