| There is an interesting dive option for certified scuba | | | | the only gauge attached is an air pressure gauge. |
| divers who are vacationing in the Orlando area | | | | There isn't even a depth gauge or octopus second |
| especially with family members who are non-divers. | | | | stage as they are not considered necessary for this |
| The Living Seas at Disneyworld's Epcot Center is | | | | shallow dive. After the dive briefing, the divemasters |
| home to a marine tank that measures over 200 feet in | | | | help the divers with their equipment on and everyone |
| diameter and 25 feet in depth. This tank contains a | | | | moves to a descent line at the middle of the tank. |
| sample of Caribbean marine life in an artificial salt | | | | The dive itself is usually beyond most divers' |
| water and reef environment. Through the center's | | | | expectations. There is a lot of marine life in this tank |
| Divequest tour, certified divers can take a special three | | | | including sharks, rays, turtles and lots of Caribbean fish |
| hour program that includes a forty minute dive in this | | | | of all sizes. In fact, the staff claims that divers will |
| marine tank. | | | | see more variety of Caribbean marine life during this |
| The current price is $140 US with advance | | | | one dive than many dives combined out in the open |
| reservations required. Divers meet at the Guest | | | | sea. One of the neat things that divers can do on |
| Relations office just outside the main Epcot gates. | | | | this dive that they can't do elsewhere is interact with |
| Epcot park admission is not required or included. | | | | the public Epcot guests. There are sixty observation |
| However, I was let out in the main area of The Living | | | | windows all around the marine tank including views |
| Seas after the tour so I ended up seeing other parts | | | | from the main restaurant. The divers become part of |
| of Epcot for free anyway. Twice per day at 4:30 | | | | the attractions at The Living Seas as the public behind |
| pm and 5:30 pm, a maximum of twelve divers per time | | | | the windows wave and snap photos. Some divers |
| slot are taken on a behind the scenes tour of the | | | | made arrangements with family members to be on |
| facilities at The Living Seas. All scuba equipment is | | | | the other side of the windows while a designated |
| provided. In fact, divers are not allowed to bring their | | | | divemaster videotapes the entire scene. Even |
| own equipment for the fear of contaminating the | | | | though I was skeptical at first, I have to admit that I had |
| marine tank. Even jewelry must be removed prior to | | | | fun interacting with the public behind the glass. I had |
| the dive. Scuba wetsuits (shorties), BCs, regulators, | | | | forgotten that the vast majority of people out there |
| fins, booties and masks are provided. Divers are | | | | are not certified divers and we are somewhat of a |
| allowed to bring and use their own masks and bathing | | | | curiosity for them. |
| suits but these are the only exceptions to the rule. | | | | For scuba divers who dive mainly to see marine life, |
| After the facility tour, wetsuits and towels for each | | | | the Divequest at Epcot will not disappoint. It's an |
| diver are already waiting in private stalls that include | | | | opportunity to swim through a few large schools of |
| private showers in the change rooms. The setup is | | | | fish and see some creatures like the sharks and turtles |
| well organized but a bit odd because after changing | | | | up close which as most divers know, is a real hit and |
| into wetsuits, the divers are paraded through the public | | | | miss out in the open water. It is also a very unique |
| areas where the other Epcot guests are before going | | | | opportunity for non-diving family members and friends |
| into the main level of the marine tank. Once at the | | | | to see divers in the underwater environment. |
| marine tank, divemasters are waiting with tanks and | | | | Divequest is certainly a special dive that is worth doing |
| BCs already assembled for each diver. The BCs are | | | | at least once. |
| weight integrated with more weight than needed and | | | | |