Swimming with the sharks?

[melissa.irwin]

Hi, I've been trying to find firm information on swimming with the sharks but all of the sites I've looked at do not state any firm prices for this. I've read that it is included with the admission, also read that there is an additional option that costs $20.00 (or so) and also that there is a third option that costs $150.00 (approx). Has anyone done this that can provide some feedback on prices and if they enjoyed it?

My 11 year old son wants to do this (and I would love to see him) but I'm still pretty new to this and want to plan/budget accordingly.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[OlderMan]

Check the Seaworld website.

They have a dive with the sharks program--cost depends on scuba certification vs not, sucba rental vs snorkel, etc.

I don't know the costs though.

 

[melissa.irwin]

Check the Seaworld website.

They have a dive with the sharks program--cost depends on scuba certification vs not, sucba rental vs snorkel, etc.

I don't know the costs though.

Thanks, do I understand correctly that Seaworld is completely separate from Disney? I've never been and am still trying to learn the ropes.

 

[yoplit]

yes, Disney and Sea World are two different places. though in Typhoon Lagoon at Disney you are able to snorkle with all sorts of different marine life (including mini sharks). you would obviously get much more with Sea World, but they are two separate things.
Hope some of this is helping with the trip planning

 

[wilde_oscar]

seaworld is not disney, disney is not seaworld... you can swim with the sharks at Typhoon lagoon, it does not cost any extra.

 

[mickeystoontown]

As a previous poster said, you can swim with the sharks at Typhoon Lagoon. It doesn't cost anything above and beyond the cost of admission.

Have you checked out the Dive Quest that's at Epcot? Go to the www.disneyworld.com website and put the information in the Search box. It should pull up information for you.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Found the DiveQuest link for you:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/tourDetail?id=EpcotDiveQuestTourPage

 

[toonjie]

For DiveQuest you have to be a certified diver and although some dive agencies offer a jr certification for those as young as 10, DiveQuest only takes full certifications, which would mean they would have to be at least 16. Seaworld does have a dive with the sharks option, it is in the main shark tank and participants are behind a cage and are helmet diving, not scuba.

 

[melissa.irwin]

Found the DiveQuest link for you:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/tourDetail?id=EpcotDiveQuestTourPage

Thanks for the link! Have you ever done this?

 

[mickeystoontown]

No we have not as we are not certified. They do have another program at Epcot (I can't remember the name) but you didn't have to be certified and my 10 year old son could have done it too.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

The only other ones I see for Disney are the Seas Aqua Tour for ages 8 and up, children 8 to 11 must be accompanied by a parent and the cost is $115 and Dolphins in Depth, for ages 13 and up, those under 18 must have a parent participating and the cost is $150.

I want to do Dolphins in Depth.

Suzanne

 

[karmalicousss]

I really enjoyed it!

 

[toonjie]

Looking at the link posted above, it looks like now they do allow jr. certifications, so if your child gets certified, then they can go. I have done it twice, 1999 was the last time and it was great! I would definitely recommend doing it!

 

[browning]

I myself looked into swimming with sharks at Disney, but was discouraged to find that a scuba certification is necessary. If you or your children are certified, then go for it! I have heard that it is WORLDS above Dolphins in Depth.

 

[melissa.irwin]

I myself looked into swimming with sharks at Disney, but was discouraged to find that a scuba certification is necessary. If you or your children are certified, then go for it! I have heard that it is WORLDS above Dolphins in Depth.

Thanks for the info, I was disappointed to hear about the need for certification as well (none of us are certified) .

 

[skeeder]

This may be moved. Hey melissa I have been trying to PM you but it wont go through. My email is makeedaruth@yahoo.com.

 

[FmrCastMembr]

my daughter and i swam w/ sharks (small and friendly) and fish/other marine life/stingrays at shark reef in typhoon lagoon. there was no additional fee. she was 9 at the time. they provided the mask and snorkel and a short lecture on what/what not to do. you have to shower off b4 you can get into the tank. we really enjoyed it. there is a small little island in the middle if you have to stop. the water is a bit colder than the other water in the park because it is salt water.

funny story - she said she won't do it again because when we were getting out, there was a stingray parked on the steps! kinda freaked her out...

 

[VillianGeorge]

Looking at the link posted above, it looks like now they do allow jr. certifications, so if your child gets certified, then they can go.

My DD did DiveQuest last trip (2006) when she only had a Jr. Cert. My wife went in with her while I watched through the glass with my twin 9 year old boys (just a few months shy of their Jr. Cert., dang it!).

This trip (March 19 - can't wait) all 5 of us are going under, including the 11 year old boys with their Jr. Cert.

It was kinda cool to see my DD through the glass. I started hearing people say stuff like "hey, that person is really just a kid", and "why is she only waving at him (referring to me)". When I explained that she was my 11 y/o daughter, people thought that was really cool. I hope it inspired some folks to take their kids diving.

Anyway, it'll be way fun to have the whole gang in the water. But the weird thing is there's gonna be nobody we know to wave at. I guess waving to strangers will be fun tho.