Dive Quest at the living sea

[tacomaranch]

Have you even done the dive quest at the living sea? I just saw it on the travel channel and want to do this. How was it? Was it worth it? How does it compare to reef diving?

Thanks,

 

[Michele]

My BIL did this and loved it. I can't say for sure how it compares to reef diving, Disney was only about his 4th time diving. He just liked being able to see so many different things all in one place. Said he would do it again.

 

[tacomaranch]

Thanks so much, I am going to try to find out where to sign up. I told the DH it would make a nice birthday present for me.

 

[Don Pacho]

My best friend did it and he loved it. He said it was a lot of fun. He always dreamt of doing this at Epcot.
I taped him and his diving group from the viewing areas but they also videotape the entire adventure then they give a tape (a DVD nowadays, I guess)

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

My dh has done this twice. You call 1-407-wdw-tour. If you have AAA or an AP you get 15% off the price, which brings it down to around $120 or so. You will have your choice of 2 dive times, can't remember what they are at the moment though...been up since 4am, sorry! I think one was around 4pm though. They'll give you all the info of where to meet etc. when you call to book it. It has to be paid for at the time of booking. Hope that helps!

 

[MCazer]

My husband and I did this a few years ago. It was great!

They have you take a class first, show you a movie, and you get a shirt and a certificate afterwards. The dvd or (VHS as it was with us) is an extra charge, but well worth it, because we had no one to video tape us outside the windows.

We has shorties, and bc's and everything supplies by Disney (not sure if I was allowed to use my own mask), as they do not want anything from the outside in their tanks (could kill the fish).

We loved it and will do it again in the future when our kids are old enough to be alone during the time we are away.

You are in the tank with the sharks, although they do not get that close to you, they always can! I have done 2 shark feeding dives, so it did not bother me. It was a great experience.

On our last trip (2 weeks ago) we ate at the Coral Reef (with the dining plan). One of the best meals of our trip! Well we had a table right at the window, and all these divers came up to our window and were waiving, and it brought back wonderful memories of doing that same thing!

Have fun!

 

[ourhappyplace]

I highly recommend it - I saw so much is such a small, easy to get around place! It was the easiest dive - all equipment already set up for you and a video to go home with! It was awesome! Plus nothing can beat being able to interact with those on the other side of the glass and feeling like you are a superstar as you walk through the areas in your wetsuit. I will do it again as soon as my fiance gets certified!

 

[disnut8]

My father and stepmother, both master divers and all that did this several years ago. I surprised my dad with it for his 70th birthday. I was worried because they had their own dive business and certified people. They still talk about this dive as being their favorite - seven years later.

They thought they would just get in the water and swim around for a while and that was it. They were so impressed with how everything was handled. They take a video of your dive and make sure you get it. If you have family members, they can watch your dive from The Living Seas. In fact, they can be part of the video. I think I had more fun than my dad and stepmother just watching them in the tank. So yes, it is well worth it.

Don't forget your C-card. And remember that the fee you pay is tax deductible because it all goes to research.

 

[tacomaranch]

Wow, it sounds so wonderful. I am going to do it. I do have a rather stupid question though. Does my open water card ever expire? It has been at least ten years since I moved out west and sold my dive gear. I haven't logged a single dive since. I don't even have my log book now.

I still can do my tables, clear regs, clear mask, swim with my legs not arms, gentle roll back and forth. I still swim but just don't dive.

Am I still certified? Can I do this dive? I do have my card.

 

[Lisa0503]

Wow, it sounds so wonderful. I am going to do it. I do have a rather stupid question though. Does my open water card ever expire? It has been at least ten years since I moved out west and sold my dive gear. I haven't logged a single dive since. I don't even have my log book now.

I still can do my tables, clear regs, clear mask, swim with my legs not arms, gentle roll back and forth. I still swim but just don't dive.

Am I still certified? Can I do this dive? I do have my card.

My DH is a PADI Scuba Instructor so let me try to answer your questions. If you got your Open Water Certificate thru PADI then you are certified for life. (I am not sure what the NAUI standards are) PADI does recommend that you take a 'refresher course' if you have not dived recently, just to make sure your skills are up-to-date but it is not a requirement. Since you are interested in Dive Quest, I wouldn't think you would need a refresher since it is a controlled environment (If you were going to dive in the open water, then I would definately think you would want to take a refresher course) I don't think Disney needs your log book...just your certification card should suffice but you can check with them to be sure.

As per Dive Quest, DH did this a few years ago and LOVED it. He highly recommends it to everyone he know who dives... He did say that you can use your own mask and he recommmends you do so.

Does anyone know what times the dives are? I would love to be dinning in CR while the divers are in the water. I think my DD would love it!!

 

[mousermerf]

The dives are daily at 4:30 and 5:30 (actually that's when the whole thing starts, so they're in the water after that).

It's $140 per person, and you need to show your dive card. All else fails, Disney Tours has info on how to get your dive card from your agency.

Lisa, you hubby might be interested in the 6:30 Dive Industry group dive. It's offered at a flat rate of $1000 for 1-12 people, who are part of a Dive Industry shop or school. (If you can get 12 people together it's a $680 savings from individual dives - but you do have to be part of a dive shop or school).

 

[mousermerf]

Incase you'd be interested in the Sea Aqua group in the tank.. their tour starts at 12:30, but has a class first to train them on the basics (It's an assisted snorkle).

The fish feed occurs at 1pm sharp, and so with 30mins in the water, I assume they'll be in the tank at 2pm.

 

[Lisa0503]

Lisa, you hubby might be interested in the 6:30 Dive Industry group dive. It's offered at a flat rate of $1000 for 1-12 people, who are part of a Dive Industry shop or school. (If you can get 12 people together it's a $680 savings from individual dives - but you do have to be part of a dive shop or school).

Mousemerf - Thanks for that info...I will let him know about this. Right now he is not associated with a dive shop but he teaches Scuba classes/certifies the local Fire Departments Dive Team. I doubt he would get a large group together to do this but you never know about the future...

 

[tacomaranch]

Hi Lisa,

Thanks so much for the PADI info. I would have never known about the lifetime cert. I also have a naui crossover but lost the card. I really want to do this but the DH says it is a lot of money. Heck I just sold a horse yesterday that would pay for 3 of these. I will respect the DH wishes for this year but next year it is my time!

MOUSEMERF, where is the auqa tank? I read something about the water parks having a snorkel with fish for free, is that it?

 

[mousermerf]

To clairfy..

The Living Seas has 3 tours.

Dolphins in Depth puts you on a platform with your feet in the water, and you converse with the dolphins, if they want to.

Sea Aqua Tour put you through a quick training bootcamp and then tosses you in the tank with an assisted snorkle setup. You swim around freely but are tethered to an air pump thingy.

DiveQuest reminds you of the rules for being in the Living Seas and such, then tosses you in the tank, and you scuba dive around - you needs certs and such for this one.

Over at Typhoon Lagoon there's Shark Reef which is an area with live sharks and other sea life, that you snorkle through, as part of the park admission. There's typically a line, and you have to keep moving, so while not the most indepth experience, it is kinda neat.

 

[alloyd1170]

I did it back in 2000 and loved it! If I remember right, you start with a short orientation and tour, then you change in the locker rooms. You then get about 30 mins in the tank (maybe it was longer) where they take you around, let you go into the diving bell (we were allowed to remove our mask and regs to say hi to the video camera. My 4 yr old now wants to do that too), and then you spend the last few minutes buddying up with someone to go around on your own. When I did it, the ride was still in operation so we hung out and waved to the people below us which was fun. You also get to show off to those dining in the restaurant. Be sure to tell your family/friends to hang out by the windows (you can find out what time they think you will be in the water) because they can be in the video. That was my favorite part since it was the first time my parents ever got to see me underwater, and the last video footage I have of my mom (she died a year later).

By the way, the coral isnt real so dont expect a real coral reef dive. I was able to get close to the sharks too (I wasnt afraid-theyre well fed and Ive dove with Great Whites before). You get to keep the video and a tee shirt. Be sure to bring your log books as you can get a special stamp for it too. I would love to do it again to show off to my kids. I think I will wait until my daughter is older (she just turned 1) so she can understand what is happening. My son cant wait to do it (hes only 4).

alison

 

[CTFamilyCruisers]

I just booked DiveQuest for my husband for our trip in December!!! It will be a surprise (Xmas present, actually). He knows about the trip (that is a surprise for the kids). I can't wait to tell him!!!

Has anyone done this recently? There aren't a ton of reviews on this - my web search revealed many that were 4 or 5 years old. Would love to hear recent reviews from anyone who has been.