Shark Reef at Typhoon Lagoon?

[brighteyes]

Has anyone does this and what exactly is it? Do you really get to swim with the sharks? Does it cost extra?

Thanks

 

[jcriket]

Yes you do swim with sharks, they're not dangerous. You actually swim over the reef. I don't like it though because the water is a little too cold for me. you can see other fish besides sharks.

 

[Hemi-mom]

DS and DH did this when my son was 9 and abosolutley loved it! You swim over top of the sharks since they are all bottom swimming sharks and fish. It is about 15 feet deep and you get a somewhat bouyant neoprene vest and snorkle. Some confidence in the deep water and ability to float is necessary. Water is colder but the vest helps with that. I am going to do it next time!

 

[typhoonlagooner]

This does not cost extra, but you have the option to pay to scuba dive in a different part of the tank if you wish...

You'll basically walk up to the "shack" and be given a snorkle, mask, and appropriate vest. The vest are made out of scuba suit material and help keep in your body heat and float; it must be worn.

You'll then shower, and walk over to the tank...

Once at the starting end of the tank, there is a "life guard" in the water that gives instructions and directions. The general idea is to slowly float/gently kick your way to the otherside of the tank. It's very relaxing but the water is pretty cold as another poster commented.

There's several different species of fish and many will swim right up to you. There are sharks... but the very tame kind... think along the lines of a nurse shark. They're smaller in length and stick to the bottom of the tank. I think I've seen at most two sharks in the tank in all my years of snorkling.

 

[brighteyes]

WOW this sounds cool...is there a long lineup for this? I have never snorkelled before, do they give u a lesson on w hat to do? I know nothing about it. Has anyone ever been hurt doing this?

Do they only offer this certain hours? Or do u just walk up and wait?

I might try this with my DS12 if we feel brave enough.

Thanks for the info

Stephanie

 

[Disney1976]

WOW this sounds cool...is there a long lineup for this? I have never snorkelled before, do they give u a lesson on w hat to do? I know nothing about it. Has anyone ever been hurt doing this?

Do they only offer this certain hours? Or do u just walk up and wait?

I might try this with my DS12 if we feel brave enough.

Thanks for the info

Stephanie

A few years ago, there was a mother who reportedly sued Disney claiming that her son was "bitten" by a shark in the tank at TL. Disney insisted that the injury occurred when the boy scraped his thigh across some coral in the tank, that the sharks in the tank generally are not aggressive towards people and early doctor reports seemed to back them up (no teeth marks in the wound, etc). That's the only one I ever recall hearing about. Not sure what the end result was though.

 

[brighteyes]

Thanks guys, I will check it out.


Stephanie

 

[Stittsville]

We went in May 2007. Not sure about the neoprene vests people are talking about, nobody was wearing one when we were there. Perhaps it depends on the weather? It was a beautiful 82 degrees for us. Yes, the water was cold, but was OK on a nice day.

Snorkelling is really easy, but you have to get your mask on correctly, and RELAX. The mask should be tight so you need to remove glasses if any. Breathing feels weird, but not difficult, and you have to get used to the big piece of rubbery plastic in your mouth. The salt water adds buoyancy, and since your head does not need to be out of the water, it is very easy to float.

 

[DOOM1001]

They have the vests available to whoever wants them,it's easier to float with them on.The water is cold and kind of hard to get in to at first, but once you're in it actually feels really good.As far as lessons I remember we were the second group to go and I was seeing the group in front of us getting good instructions from a lady lifeguard,then came our turn and she left and this guy lifeguard took her place and his instructions were, "OK GO".

 

[brighteyes]

They have the vests available to whoever wants them,it's easier to float with them on.The water is cold and kind of hard to get in to at first, but once you're in it actually feels really good.As far as lessons I remember we were the second group to go and I was seeing the group in front of us getting good instructions from a lady lifeguard,then came our turn and she left and this guy lifeguard took her place and his instructions were, "OK GO".

If the guy said "OK GO" I would kindly say, "no that's ok, ill just watch" until the other girl came back.

I could just imagine DS saying "YEAH, SURE!!"

Stephanie

 

[TisBit]

We do this every time at TL, you are swimming over the fish/sharks or whatever.....they really don't even come up towards to the top. You aren't allowed to stop or anything so it is just a slow snorkel across the top of the tanks. Never really had a wait, other than a couple of minutes, just so people got through the tank.

there are numerous lifeguards in the tank so it is pretty safe, they keep a good eye on everyone. Incidently, it was hilarious when one of the girls (19 y/o) on our trip had to be "rescued" out of the tank....she doesn't really swim and when her mask leaked she paniced.....

 

[rufusrex]

Are you allowed to bring/wear your own mask and snorkel or do you have to use the Disney ones?

 

[ConcKahuna]

A few years ago, there was a mother who reportedly sued Disney claiming that her son was "bitten" by a shark in the tank at TL. Disney insisted that the injury occurred when the boy scraped his thigh across some coral in the tank, that the sharks in the tank generally are not aggressive towards people and early doctor reports seemed to back them up (no teeth marks in the wound, etc). That's the only one I ever recall hearing about. Not sure what the end result was though.

It was thrown out of court.

The sharks are Leopard sharks. They are bottom feeders (shellfish and carrion are their favorites) and I dont think they could even bite a leg on anyone larger than an infant. These sharks are also very docile, and are commonly used in "petting pools" at aquariums.

The water is a bit chilly, I think it's kept between about 74 and 76 degrees.

There are also lots of other reef fish in there. If you have hairy legs, watch out! On my last visit a wrasse decided my leg hair looked tasty

This is a wrasse by the way, they are just tiny things (he was like 4" long)...