Orlando area diving..EPCOT?

[cid90]

I have a week in October where my other half will be attending a convention in Orlando...while I lay around in the hotel and raid the mini-bar.
Someone told me that divers could tour or even dive with the staff in the EPCOT aquarium???? Sound too good to be true. I looked on the Disney web page and did not see any info on that.

If that is not possible, what is the closest dive site and operator?
Thanks :diver:

 

[Wendy]

Here is a link to info on it. There is also a coupon at www.naui.org for 10% off. Here is a link to info on the dive.

http://www.naui.org/NAUI_DiveQuestInfo.html

I know several folks that did the dive and really enjoyed it.

There are several springs to dive within and hour or two drive of Orlando and also some good ocean diving along the east coast. Jupiter is only like 2 hours away and has some nice drift diving. www.jupiterdivecenter.com

Hope this helps.

 

[cid90]

Thanks! The info you folks provide on this board and the quick response continues to amaze me. Thanks again.

 

[miked]

Hi, Cid90,
Wendy' s post had it right. You can dive in "The Living Seas"at Epcot. I did the dive a few years ago, and it is interesting, to say the least.
You are met outside the Epcot entrance, C-cards are checked, and your sizes are taken - you must use the gear supplied by Epcot,as they fear "contamination" of the closed environment of TLS. (I have heard that a prescription mask may be allowed)
You are then taken in a side door, go"backstage", as the Disney people call it, and enter TLS biulding. You go upstairs for an intro video and general info presentation, then are taken to a locker room, where you change into the wetsuits provided. Then,up top, to the still-indoor "surface" of the water, and on to the dive.
The dive itself is nice, in part due to the "population density"- many fish, eels, rays, in a relatively (compared to the open ocean) small area. It is also fun to watch the people watching you through the big viewing windows.
Two pieces of advice: Book asap, because, while October is probably not one of the busier months, I have heard of people
not getting the chance to do the dive. Although things may be different now, when I did my dive, they were doing 2 dives a day, with a maximum of 6- 8 divers per dive.
Second, remember that this is Disney,which means expensive.If memory serves, it was $140. A lot for one dive, but it is a nice memory (and of course,you can buy the video of your dive $$$)

Good Luck,
Mike

 

[chuckrt]

The Living Seas is a fun dive. I've been there twice and enjoyed every minute of it. I would try to get the later dive if possible as they give you a little more time. You may also use your own mask even tho it is not prescription. SSI also has a coupon for this dive so I would check your dive agency site for these. You will also be let out into the park afterwards so you can see the fireworks and parade.

For reservations call 407-wdw-tours

Enjoy and the Springs are great dives as well.

chuckrt

 

[The Chairman]

let me know when and maybe we can dive together... your call!

 

[cid90]

Cool. I may do that closer to departure time. Thanks for the offer NetDoc.
:approve: