Georgia Aquarium dive, worth it?

[kwinter]

Folks, if you think this diving is really cool, then maybe you should investigate opportunities closer to home. I have been a volunteer aquarium diver for 10 years. It used to be the state aquarium, but privatized about 5 years ago. Most states have a few large public aquariums and may make use of volunteer divers. It might be mostly grunt work, but I have a lot of fun swimming with the critters.

 

[dirkmy]

I did this dive last August and it was worth the money. If you do go do one of the certifications with it. It is about $50 more and you get an extra 15-20 minutes in the tank. They take you to the top of the tank at the end of the dive where all of the large animals hang out. The whale sharks will swim up right next to you and the manta rays do the same. Awesome experience. One of my friends actually got ran into by a whale shark (or pushed out of the way). It is a lot more pricey than diving other places but a great experience. One suggestion is to either bring or ask for a hood as the water is a bit chilly.

 

[T.C.]

One suggestion is to either bring or ask for a hood as the water is a bit chilly.

You'll have to ask for it; they don't let you bring anything other than a mask and swimsuit into the swimming pool.

 

[Zaixon]

I just did this dive last Friday and it was one of the coolest things I've ever done. Forget the whale sharks, they are like giant floating cows. They were cool, but the great hammerheads were even better. If you are a shark person, like me, you can see multiple types. For divers who need to get over a shark phobia, like me as well, this is a good dive to get much closer and much more personal than you would in the wild. (unless you were on a shark feeding charter). The manta rays also love playing in our bubbles overhead. This is an incredible chance to be around multiple pelagics in crystal clear vis. Hardcore divers can check their ego at the door because this is a dive to be simply enjoyed. One other thing, we got to stay down for 40 minutes on ours.

If I could pay $300 again and get that close to a great hammerhead, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Sure you could pay to see them in the wild, but try doing that for under $2,000 minimum.

This is a great experience!

Not to go off topic or anything because the aquarium is something that I have been interested in doing for quit some time I just think the price point of $325 is a little steep.

But if you are interested in Hammerheads, Tigers, Bulls and many more sharks up close you should venture down to Jupiter, FL. We see them all on the regular here for only the cost of a dive trip which is awesome. I'm a big shark fan so I very much enjoy Jupiter. (much less than 2,000 haha)

 

[Sharkphoto]

Travel to Cancun in July - Aug each year and swim with the wild aggregation of whale sharks there. You can swim with along with them as they ignore you and feed at the surface. Would not recommend going to Utila - one of the worst places I have been for a vacation and dive. Utila is just a bunch of dead reefs with the promise of seeing a fleeing whale shark.

Going into the tank will be a unique experience, but not really the same as a dive in nature.

 

[drbill]

I've been to the Georgia Aquarium with my nephew. It was impressive to see their big tank. I'm not sure I'd be interested in diving it though. I prefer my big animal encounters in the wild, but your mileage may vary. Besides, $300 would give me 50 air fills or about 60-75 hours under water.

 

[6-1]

I may have the opportunity to do this. Anybody have more up to date information/experiences?

 

[Lorenzoid]

I may have the opportunity to do this. Anybody have more up to date information/experiences?

Though I can see the GA Aquarium from the window of my residence, I don't have any information beyond what's on the web site and what friends have reported: great fun, but expensive as aquarium dives go. I used to visit the GA Aquarium often, but in recent years I've developed a negative attitude toward their keeping of animals in captivity beyond what is necessary for their survival, so I have no interest in diving the GA Aquarium.

 

[sportxlh]

I may have the opportunity to do this. Anybody have more up to date information/experiences?

I've done it once..... definately a bucket list type dive given it is so expensive but was worth it for me. That big tank is chocked full of various species of sharks, rays and fish including the whale sharks. The dive only lasts 30-40 minutes but the experience is several hours long since you'll get a behind the scenes tour plus some generalized training/instruction. Bring some extra cash because you'll want to purchase the video they take of your dive group. You can't use any of your own equipment but they have high quality gear. Fun to do..... once

 

[2thdiver]

GA Aquarium dive immersion program was fantastic. Aquarium staff was informative and customer service oriented. They helped one of our group propose to his girlfriend underwater. Got the entire crowd at big window involved. They took great pictures and video. You would need to dive the world to see the animals we swam with. Whale sharks, mantas, sawfish, humpnosed wrasse... list goes on. The one unique thing about this trip is you know you will spend time with these creatures. I thought the dive may feel a bit small given it was in a tank. But the tank is a football field in size 20-30 feet in depth. Fantastic experience. Only my wife and I went. We'll be bringing the whole family next time. Well worth the money. KUDOS to a top notch dive crew at the aquarium.