Hello Dive Buddies: The PADI Blog: Are you an aquarium diver?

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Are you an aquarium diver?

Did you know that there are a number of aquariums in the United States and other countries that allow divers to swim in their tanks? That’s right! For a fee (will differ at each aquarium), you can dive with endangered sharks or with the most exotic fish on the planet.

I did a quick online search and found these aquariums/resorts that offer dive opportunities:

Georgia Aquarium – dive along with the largest fish in the world - the whale shark (yeah, I said whale shark!!!)
Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey – swim in a 550,000 gallon tank along with over 850 sharks (over 20 different species)
Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas – walk across the bottom of the shark exhibit in a specialized glass helmet
Epcot Center in Orlando, Florida - dive in the largest saltwater tank in the world along with over 6,000 different underwater creatures (PADI Diving Society members receive a special discount)

Of course there are other aquariums/resorts that offer once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to the public. Anybody have any aquarium diving stories or know of aquariums in your area that offer these dives? Tell us about it!

17 Comments:

Alexandra said...: I was working in South Korea and did a 'dive' (much more of a walk) in the shark tank at the Pusan Aquarium- lots of sand tiger sharks, lemon sharks, a few black-tipped reef sharks, and a grouper that was almost bigger than some of the sharks! Lots of fish, a few stingrays and turtles. I went with some friends that had never done any diving before, now 3 of the 5 are certified open water divers! A great way to introduce friends to the wonderful world of diving we all love so much!!

http://www.scubainkorea.com/Shark_Diving/Shark_Diving.htm; April 8, 2009 9:08 PM
Kyle M. said...: I've been a volunteer diver at the Oregon Coast Aquarium a handful of times now and I have to say, it's probably the best diving I've ever done. My first experience, feeding the wolf eels and octopus with all of the kids' faces pressed up against the glass, had to be about the most fun dive I've made. The amount of life and the clarity of the water are unbeatable. The animals tend to be pretty tame around divers but are still very curious. On my most recent volunteer day there I was lucky enough to be tasked out with catching a leopard shark. I can't say enough about diving in the Oregon Coast Aquarium, I look forward to it every time I go there.; April 9, 2009 2:11 PM
avra said...: I imagine it may be both fun and educational to sign up for a paid aquarium dive experience. But many aquariums have volunteer dive programs. These allow a diver to enjoy this experience year round on a regular basis and at the same time make a valuable contribution to the institution. Aquariums provide the only opportunity non-divers may have to view and learn about these animals. For many, it provides the introduction to marine conservation issues.

Volunteering also allows you to learn a great deal about the marine life on exhibit and at the same time perfect your dive skills. That is a win-win all around! Contact aquariums near you to find out if they offer a volunteer program.

Avra Cohen
New York Aquarium
Volunteer Dive Team; April 12, 2009 9:37 AM
Allison Blair said...: I’m a volunteer at the Georgia Aquarium and just learned that the Swim/Dive program has a lot of open availability now and wanted to pass along the info to other dive enthusiasts! You can SCUBA dive with thousands of animals, including whale sharks and a manta ray, for $325 – that includes all equipment. If you or a friend isn’t SCUBA certified, you can swim on top for $225. This is a great option if you don’t have the time or funds to travel abroad this year! Just call 404.581.4000 or visit http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/Swimordive/index.aspx to get more information and reserve your spot. Some days are also open to same-day registration – just call!; April 13, 2009 1:10 PM
Anonymous said...: I dove at Disney and had a great time. It is especially nice if you go with young members of your family because they feel extra special that the diver in the tank that EVERYONE is gawking at is showing them attention. There is also the dining area down stairs where it is fun to interact with people. There are eagle rays, Goliath groupers, all your typical reef fish, and a few sharks. Also, the money you spend goes toward the ocean conservancy. That makes it easier to spend the money, I think.; April 28, 2009 8:19 PM
Ashley said...: The PADI X interns at the University of Central Florida coordinated a dive experience for college students at Epcot Living Seas. Read about their amazing experience here...

http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/2.10660/scuba-club-dives-in-epcot-living-seas-1.1421752; April 29, 2009 9:14 AM
Carlos Sanchez said...: The Aquarium in Barcelona (Spain) allows to dive in. I think the aquarium it's not very big (some sharks, rays, moreys and a lot of small and medium fish), but the experience is incredible.

http://www.aquariumbcn.com; May 6, 2009 4:17 AM
allie said...: That is awesome!
Hey everyone , I'm just spreading the word on an awesome job opportunity. Open to anyone and everyone, all you need is a love for the sea, sun and outdoors. Also offering a generous salary package. Visit www.southfloridadiveshop.com for details.

This is a national job search for 14 special individuals to fill these positions.; May 9, 2009 11:32 PM
Ashley said...: If you are in Dubai - check out this cool acquarium and underwater zoo dive

http://www.ameinfo.com/195830.html; May 10, 2009 1:02 PM
Anonymous said...: Underwater World in Singapore has a really cool dive with the sharks experience that my wife and I did. It's one of those really big aquariums that has a tunnel that people can walk through underneath. It's great because you can wave at visitors while swimming with sharks. I was even able to use my own scuba gear which I had brought with me. Especially important was my camera, of course!; July 22, 2009 2:32 PM
Anonymous said...: You can also dive at the Maui Ocean Center in Hawaii. It's usually not very crowded and located a bit far from most tourists attractions (Lahaina area), but the drive is pretty and it's on the way from the airport. I did the dive the day I arrived on the island and thought it was a nice intro to my week of diving. Enjoy!; September 26, 2009 12:04 PM
Anonymous said...: Re: New York New York Aquarium's volunteer dive Program

Great Program, however its illustrious leader Mr. Blankfein, is losing site of what this program is about. This program is about people who love SCUBA diving; who pay with their free labor, time and finances to be part of this program.

Mr. Blankfein’s Napoleonic complex gets in the way of making this an even better and inviting program.

Mr. Blankfein’s ego has alienated many divers with his obsessive need for fault-finding and boasting with threats of having fired divers who in fact are volunteers.

As someone who has been in this program for over 1 year and left this program, I am sad to say that I would not recommend this program to anyone who loves SCUBA diving or wants to volunteer and enjoy going there every other week…Unless you are masochistic.

If there is any argument to be made for “New Young Blood” & "Imagination" This program is in need of all of the aforementioned.

But unfortunately that will NOT happened given how politically well situated Mr. Blankfein is within the New York Aquarium organization as he so aplenty boosts to Volunteers.; November 3, 2009 9:26 PM
Anonymous said...: As another diver with 2 years of volunteering at the New York Aquarium, I agree somewhat with the comments made regarding their Dive Safety Officer.

Mr. Blankfein seems to be more concerned about his own ego than the image of the Aquarium. He has denied any substantial turnover rate for his dive team, but the facts show many of his volunteers leave because of his harsh treatment.

Just curious.. but how does one fire a volunteer anyway? The Wildlife Conservation Society would likely receive more funding if they replaced this individual.; December 8, 2009 8:36 PM
Anonymous said...: Unfortunately, the anonymous writer for the article of the New York Aquarium Dive Team has to hide behind their anonymity. If the program were so bad, why did you stay for an entire year and be subjected to the wrath of Mr. Blankfein. It seems that the volunteers that have been there of nearly 6 years have a different story to tell. Could it be that you were fired because you were a total screw up and didn’t follow the rules? Instead of attacking behind your "No Name", come out in the open, what do you have to lose?; January 2, 2010 7:40 AM
BigDog said...: This post has been removed by the author.; February 11, 2010 9:23 AM
Iwan van Eer said...: This post has been removed by the author.; February 12, 2010 8:37 PM
Iwan van Eer said...: As someone who has also volunteered there, I have to concur with both comments made by the 2 Anonymous X-Dive volunteers, I on other hand see no need to hide.

I personally saw Mr. Blankfein Fire people for what in my opinion, did not warrant firing furthermore, I also heard him boost about how volunteer divers could not appeal his decisions because of how he is positioned within the organizational decision making structure.

After having witnessed incidences like this, I knew it was just a matter of time when I was next hence I left this program before I gave him the pleasure of Firing Me

The overall “work atmosphere” when Mr. Blankfein is around is extremely tense…I could not help but notice the relief in everyone’s faces when he was not around during one of our days of volunteering at the aquarium.

The Volunteer program is a Great program, all the volunteer make great sacrifices financially as well as in terms of time to be part of this program and yes people do screw up. Nevertheless, they come to the aquarium because like me, they love it.

I, like the other volunteers would not come to the aquarium for no pay on a freezing January early day diving in a below 50F Sea Lion Pool removing poop and scrubbing the walls with a pneumatic brush If it was not for the love of it. That’s the reason I believe many of us stayed with the volunteer program.

I am sure there are some cases that warrant “Termination” from the program. Nevertheless from what I saw and during own interactions with Mr. Blankfein.... it's all EGO driven.

The ones who remain tent to be the one who are GOOD AT showing deference to Blankfein’s Ego.

Mr. Blankfein would make a great Head of Security or Accounting …But as a Dive safety officer of the Dive Volunteer program…he is its worst enemy.

This program is indeed in need of new ideas and new blood; February 12, 2010 8:45 PM

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Are you an aquarium diver?

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