How deep is the water in Shark Reef?

[always quiet]

This will be the first year that we will be doing the water parks and the kids want to swim in Shark Reef at TL. Does anyone know how deep the water is?? What about the sharks???? In the video on disneyworld.com, they look HUGE!!

 

[4forDis]

I'm not sure exactly how deep the pool is, it looks like 12 ft or so. You have to swim from one end to the other without kicking your feet. There is a large rock formation in the middle where you can stop and look at the sharks. The sharks are about 4 ft long and stay at the bottom of the pool.
It's a fun experience.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Yep, 10-12 feet sounds about right. It's deep enough for an underwater viewing area - themed like a sunken ship.

 

[Mom2AAA's]

The sharks don't come near you but the other fish do, it is great. The life vest they give you pretty much make you float so it's easy to just glide across. I would have your kids "practice" with a snorkle ( sp) and mask maybe in the tub, It's a very odd feeling for kids (and adults) the first time they do it, my son couldn't do it the first year he tried, he was 8 then but by the next year he was fine.

Beware... the water is cold! and salty

 

[Dizzy for Dsny]

We did the shark reef and I would estimate that it was about 10-12 feet deep, maybe a little less. The sharks are small and mainly stay to the bottom. When you start out, they basically tell you to move along slowly, but keep up the pace and go straight to the other end. It is not a free-for-all and you can't swim around in circles, opposite direction, etc... You can take your time in enjoying the underwater view but have to keep moving.

We had a mishap with the whole incident, but would probably do again. My 9 year old son (never had snorkeled, but swims) had a mask that the seal wasn't good, so we all started out, my husband first, my son next, and me last. Well I popped my head out a couple times to see if son was alright and after last look, heard noise in water, popped head out again and my son was panicking in the water. I had to yell to husband and Cast Member to get to him immediately because I was at least 15-20 ft ahead of him and he started going in the opposite direction. My motherly instict was to swim as fast I could to get him, but one of the CM's yelled out "Don't flail your arms around so much, swim gently across". I soon found out later that was because I could aggrevate the sharks! And I wasn't doing anything except normal breast stroke to get my son! We had a good laugh after our trip, but my son isn't quite sure about doing it again. I'm sure if he was more experienced with a snorkel and mask he'd be fine.

Good luck - it really is quite neat. Just remember to swim SLOWLY!

 

[markºoº]

The water is probably about 12 feet deep. There is a ledge that you start out on with water about 2 feet deep. You are supposed to lay flat and gently glide across the tank using only your arms. The combination of life vest and the salt water should make it easy for most people to float across.

The first time DS was 9 and had never really snorkled before. He did have problems with the mask & snorkle and popped up several times. I had to help him with the mask and eventually he made it across. There are many CMs around and in the tank so I would not worry too much. I'm sure there have been many times they have had to help people across.

Two years later he did a great job and we swam the tank several times. The difference was that he had snorkled several times by then and had learned how.

If your kids had never snorkled before, I would try to get the some practice before hand. You really do not have a chance to practice at the tank. Put the gear on and swim across without stopping. If they are already comfortable with snorkling they will enjoy it more.