It all started in the summer of 2006. That is when we became a Disney family. We took our boys, ages 5 and 3 at the time, on a road trip that included a few days at Disneyland. They loved it. Mrs. Girl really loved it. Out of curiosity, and also to get a $50 gift card, I visited the sales presentation for the Disney Vacation Club. Long story short, we bought in. No regrets. Disney travel has been a big part of our lives ever since.
I admit that I have many hobbies. My wife might say that I have too many hobbies. When I can, I like to find ways to combine my various passions. Even better is when I can include my family. This little adventure with T is a perfect example.
The SeaBase Aquarium at EPCOT is a massive indoor habitat for thousands of fish and marine animals. The 5.7 million gallon enclosure is one of the largest manmade ocean environments in the world. Visitors to exhibit enter through the Seas with Nemo & Friends attraction, or to dine at the Coral Reef restaurant. Guests can observe areas of the aquarium from a few panels in the restaurant or in the viewing gallery. A small pool area in the manatee rehabilitation area is also available for park visitors.
One way to see more is to participate in DiveQuest. DiveQuest is a 2 hour backstage tour that includes a 40 minute dive in the aquarium. The facility is massive. The tour includes the manatee rehabilitation facility, the kitchen facilities, the water treatment apparatus, and more. I don’t have many pictures because Disney is very protective of the “magic”. Backstage areas aren’t themed or decorated, so photos are not allowed.
Everything you could need is provided. Wetsuits, BCDs, regulators, and tanks. Divers are allowed to bring a personal mask (or one is provided) but all other equipment is from Disney. This protects the environment of the aquarium. The locker room has hot showers, soap/shampoo, and fresh towels for after the dive.
The dive itself is a unique experience that I would recommend for any diver. A thorough pre-dive brief gave information about the marine life, the areas to avoid, and some highlights to look for. Several cast members are there to help divers get suited up and the dive begins. On first decent, a dive master leads a quick tour and then divers have 40 minutes to explore.
The aquarium has a max depth of 27′ and visibility is crystal clear. My first goal was to find the hammerhead shark and at least one of the sea turtles (they have 3). Other sharks, rays, and countless fish kept my eyes constantly roaming. A new addition to the aquarium, a young eagle ray, was in a small enclosure that could only been seen by divers. After a few minutes with the critters it was time for some fun. I was able to find Mrs. Girl and Declan on the dry side of the glass. Kids pressed to the viewing areas to see the divers in the tank. I made a quick stop at the restaurant viewing glass and played a quick game of Rock Paper Scissors with one of the diners. A few young kids came over to the glass from their table and I posed for a picture with them. It was cool to be part of the Disney show.
Let’s be honest, this isn’t the same as an ocean dive on the reefs of Key Largo or a 120′ drop to the Bianca C in Grenada. It lacks the chance encounters and the wide open feel of the ocean. But it is a climate controlled guarantee to see the marine life without the possible seasickness from a small boat on the waves. And it is a great way to see a different side of Disney. I would highly recommend this for any certified diver, or as a reason to become a certified diver for any Disney fan.
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