Disney's Scuba Experience at Epcot - Dive Quest
Under the Sea at Epcot:
The Scuba Dive Experience!
By Anna Trosper I am a diehard Disney fan and an avid scuba diver. When I learned I could combine the two - I was definitely the happiest girl in the World!Those looking for an aquatic adventure while visiting the Walt Disney World Resort will enjoy spending time at The Seas with Nemo and Friends Pavilion, where you can scuba dive in the Caribbean Coral Reef. The reef is a 5.7-million gallon saltwater aquarium with unlimited visibility. All you need is to be a certified SCUBA diver and have a reservation - they take care of the rest! Disney supplies all your needs, from wetsuit to regulators. You can bring your own mask if you want but that is it. They do not allow you to bring any of your own gear or camera. They do not want to take the chance of anything getting into the water that can make the fish sick. The gear and wetsuits are all scuba pro and in great shape.When you arrive for your day of underwater magic, you meet at guest relations and wait for them to take you back. During this time you complete your release forms.Once backstage, you will see how Disney takes care of more than 6,000 sea creatures. You will see and swim with sea turtles, angelfish, dolphins, eagle rays and sharks. You will see how dolphins and manatees are cared for also. Photography isn’t allowed in this area.Following this, you will gather to go over your dive plan and all of the dos and don’ts. Disney magic is evident in the locker rooms - no one asked for my size or my husband’s size for our wetsuits. They hand us a key to a locker with all of our gear, and all of it fit. It was amazing!When we went to the reef, cast members told us that when we walked through the doors and headed out to smile, that we would be like cast members at that point. Other Disney guests could see us in our wet suits and would be taking photos. I just smiled and waved. It was so cool!Into the reef we went … it was so clear. There was no current - just fish, coral, rays and sharks. (If you kneel down at the begging of the dive, the sharks will come right by you.) There is a photographer there taking video of the experience, which is available for purchase.During the 40 minute dive, you and your dive partner can explore all the reef offers. Family and friends can watch for you through all the windows that look into the tank, and guests dining at Coral Reef Restaurant can wave as you swim by.The tour lasted about three hours, and is a must-do for any scuba divers who also love Disney. Those who are not scuba-certified can also take part in aquatic fun through Dolphins in Depth or the Epcot Seas Aqua Tour, which are also located at The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion.If you would like more information about this or other special experiences available at the Walt Disney World Resort, contact your Wishes Family Travel agent, or visit my Facebook page, Wishes Family Travel – Anna.