iflyprops
Contributor
Just dove the living seas at Epcot this past Sunday...it was a blast. We met the Dive Masters outside the park (by far the most laid back Disney employees I've ever met) got a quick tour of the facility and were briefed. Walked into the locker rooms and there were bags with our names on them with all of our gear in them. They had SP BC's, Atomic B2 regs with no octo, Atomic split fins (which sucked in my opinion), and shorty's, so I froze my arse off. (yes I know its 77degree...but I was still cold at the end of the dive.)
The marine life was ok. They had a few small eagle rays, some sting rays, you know the usual stuff. The sharks were tiny 3-5ft, they said, but I'm not sure I believe them on that! They have some 11footers in holding tanks outside that they are trying to put in the main tank, but are a little too "frisky" to put in with divers right now they said. The largest Green Turtle I have ever seen was also in there. Coincidentally, we had to sign some paperwork saying we wouldn't "attempt to interact" with the turtle, otherwise risk ending the dive immediately. The turtle didn't know it was endangered and liked to sneak up under divers and divemasters alike...of course everyone this happened to froze to make it apparent that they didn't want to "interact". The best part of it in my opinion was playing with the kids looking in the aquarium. Something I didn't realize, the Epcot ball will fit in the aquarium with five feet to spare on the sides...about six million gallons of water.
They had hot showers and dry towels waiting for us in the locker room. The Florida Resident rate is about $100 through may (I think). They showed us the video that they shot while we were diving, it was ok, but nothing spectacular. It was $35, all proceeds going to a marine conservation program (don't remember which), also its tax deductible.
The dive was just short of 40 minutes. We dove Alum 63's (I think), and I ended up comming up with 1100PSI....my air consumption tends to be a little on the heavy side at times, especially when I'm cold. The max depth was only 25ft.
A fun dive. I think you should do it at least once! However make sure you are comfortable in a shorty as you will be walking through the middle of the aquarium in it to and from the tank...with everyone looking at you of course!
The marine life was ok. They had a few small eagle rays, some sting rays, you know the usual stuff. The sharks were tiny 3-5ft, they said, but I'm not sure I believe them on that! They have some 11footers in holding tanks outside that they are trying to put in the main tank, but are a little too "frisky" to put in with divers right now they said. The largest Green Turtle I have ever seen was also in there. Coincidentally, we had to sign some paperwork saying we wouldn't "attempt to interact" with the turtle, otherwise risk ending the dive immediately. The turtle didn't know it was endangered and liked to sneak up under divers and divemasters alike...of course everyone this happened to froze to make it apparent that they didn't want to "interact". The best part of it in my opinion was playing with the kids looking in the aquarium. Something I didn't realize, the Epcot ball will fit in the aquarium with five feet to spare on the sides...about six million gallons of water.
They had hot showers and dry towels waiting for us in the locker room. The Florida Resident rate is about $100 through may (I think). They showed us the video that they shot while we were diving, it was ok, but nothing spectacular. It was $35, all proceeds going to a marine conservation program (don't remember which), also its tax deductible.
The dive was just short of 40 minutes. We dove Alum 63's (I think), and I ended up comming up with 1100PSI....my air consumption tends to be a little on the heavy side at times, especially when I'm cold. The max depth was only 25ft.
A fun dive. I think you should do it at least once! However make sure you are comfortable in a shorty as you will be walking through the middle of the aquarium in it to and from the tank...with everyone looking at you of course!
