Epcot Dive Quest

It's well worth it to take the extra dive with the whale sharks! Great experience for beginners and advanced as you get to dive with creatures you would normally have to travel the world over to see.

I've been diving for about 10 years. Though, most of that diving came in the first couple of years. This was a dive that I made after a long break and in order to get back into the sport. As someone who is accustomed to diving in the FL Keys and on very secluded reefs in the outer Bahama Islands, I was skeptical about how enjoyable an aquarium dive would be. But wow...this was awesome. The rays were definitely the highlight of the trip. More than once, I had to quickly change directions in order to prevent a collision - they will literally swim right into you! Interacting with the guests was also a lot of fun.

I did this dive on March 8th 2011 and it was a good time. Others have said it but I want to say it again, they will not let you bring your own camera but they will provide you with a DVD for a $35 donation to the Disney Wildlife Fund the same fund that you donate to for the dive so you can feel good about it. They no longer give out the T-shirts that everyone has mentioned, but now you get a bag that is really great for stuffing your wet bathing suit into after the dive. Disney provides everything you need for the dive and post dive except the dry clothing you walk in wearing. If you want to do this dive all you need to show up with is your C-card, ID and a bathing suit, they even have hot showers shampoo, conditioner and dry towels for after the dive. All the gear when I went was ScubaPro, I liked the boots so much I bought a pair when I got home. Everyone has mentioned the aquatic life in the tank and I wrote most of it in my log, turtle, sand tigers, fish, ray etc. but the real highlight for me were the people on the other side of the glass. There are fish in every lake, Ocean and Gulf I have ever dove in, but people that you can interact with, now that is really cool. When I was there they had a Wedding going on in the hospitality room and that was a lot of fun to see as well. The people in the restaurant were more interested in their food than the divers and were less fun to interact with. One lesson I came away from this dive with is that you should never tap on the window of an aquarium whatever you are trying to attract won't know where the sound is coming from, and it is just distracting to them.

This is a 'bucket list' type of dive for me: while I'm glad I completed it, I probably won't rush back unless I happen to be in the area again and find that I can't tolerate Mickey Mouse, Goofy or the noise of the Disney parks any longer. The dive starts with a briefing and then a behind the scenes tour of the facility. All very interesting. The dive itself is easy as can be: no current, unlimited vis, shallow depths, etc. This is probably one of the better aquarium dives, but it is not as spectacular as the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta where whale sharks circle above the divers and a plethora of shark species swim about. The diver accessible portion of the tank in Atlanta is over twice as large as the Disney tank. Then again, the Disney dive is also half the price of the Georgia Aquarium and if you get a group of 10 together and reserve a session, you can pay as little as $100 for the Epcot dive. Given that I have already been spoiled with the magnitude of the Georgia Aquarium experience, I was just a tad bit underwhelmed with this experience. But I bet that had the Disney Epcot dive been my first aquarium dive, I would have been quite thrilled. There is simply less sea life in this Florida aquarium compared to the Atlanta aquarium and the tank is considerably smaller: after 30 minutes and several slow circuits of the tank, I did find myself becoming just a tad bit bored. After the DM 'called' the dive at 40 minutes or so, I was ready to get out. One of the staff videos the experience and you can purchase a DVD memory at the dive's end and I'd recommend you buy one to wow you landlubber friends when you get home (this DVD is also much less expensive that the similar DVD in Atlanta). If you've never done a large aquarium dive and you are in Orlando, you've got to try this. If you've been diving in the Georgia Aquarium, you still might enjoy this one for what it is, but realize it will be a pleasant, but less thrilling experience.

Being the only diver in the family I was excited to show my parents, siblings, nieces and nephews how enjoyable diving can be. This dive did not disappoint however this dive was a very different experience all together. For beginners I imagine this is about as easy as it gets but you have to understand the wildlife will not bother you if you do not bother them so stay calm and enjoy. For immediate or advanced divers this is still a nice chance to get wet. The good: fairly unique, for your money you are taken on the behind the scenes tour of the Epcot aquarium as well as the dive, the staff are exceptional and seem to really enjoy their job(s) and the dive is among the easiest ever, they provide everything required for the dive. The bad: not really bad but everyone has their comforts, due to the fact that you are not allowed to bring your own gear (I was allowed to bring my own mask- color Yumyum Yellow so my family could spot me easily) be prepared to use 'used gear' but don't fret, gear is well maintained and serviced as needed. They don't allow personal cameras on the dive but do have a videographer diving with you to catch a few moments of you in action. Another key point is you are part of the show, you are on display at all times during the dive. For those who don't know the setting you are in a tank surrounded by windows there the public can view the sealife and divers from inside the aquarium. You can swim up to the windows to interact with your audience, you are encouraged to entertain your audience. After the dive you are released to cleanup and clothe before meeting for the final portions of your tour. Then there's the DVD others have spoken of. Overall the dive is a unique experience that is worth trying at least once for those who are there and want the chance to get wet. If you're camera shy or are not comfortable in a controlled watery environment with sharks and other HUGE fish swimming very close to you then this is not for you. Otherwise take your Dive Cert card, your mask if you wish and smile big for the public. Happy Diving! K

I did this dive with my father when I was 13 years old, you will see his review if you take the time to look. It was amazing to me, I have had previous diving experiences, but this tops it off. The Disney Dive Quest will always be my lasting memory of diving, I loved it. I would do it a million times again in my life if I could. I definitely look forward to doing it again.

I got REALLY lucky and won this experience at a Scuba Diving Equipment Convention! Everyone else in my group (including husband) went off to dinner at Bahama Breezes since my reservation was at 6:30 pm and admission for only an hour or two at Epcot would have been $75 per person. (OUCH!) I will say that the experience was great! All equipment was supplied, (Shorty Wetsuit, Booties, Fins, Mask, BC, Reg) sized correctly, with weight-integrated BC's weighted correctly, as well. Water temp was comfy enough for the 45 minute dive at about 77 degrees or so. The Dive master explained the dive plan and we were pretty much left alone to explore the 25 ft. deep massive aquarium. It seemed well-stocked with an assortment of reef fish and several ENORMOUS loggerhead and green turtles. A few sand tiger sharks swam lazily around pretty much ignoring the divers. The sergeant majors Definitely DO NOT ignore the divers, and just like on a reef, will bite if they feel that their territory had been invaded. I invaded. I got nipped on the elbow. Good thing they are not the size of the sharks. Nice clean shower/locker area with soap, shampoo, conditioner, towels, hair dryers, was also provided. After the dive we had a group meeting with an evaluation of the dive, a t-shirt presentation, and video viewing of our group (DVD available for purchase). This would not have been an inexpensive dive at the full price of $140 or so, but even if I had paid this amount, I would have felt that the experience was worth the price. LOTS OF FUN, and the usual friendly Disney folks made the dive even more fun.

I headed off to Florida for a conference, and since I was staying inland in Orlando, decided to give Dive Quest a chance. I wasn't sure about diving in the aquarium, but I figured it was worth a try. The introduction to the experience was interesting...seeing the 'fish hospital'...the seafood kitchen...and the Back Lots of Epcot Center. The diving couldn't be easier. They weight you perfectly and provide all of the gear. My only disappointment was that you can't bring your camera. After the 'tour' part of the dive, we enjoyed a bit of exploring in buddy teams. After 20 minutes or so, I nearly forgot that I was in an aquarium! Fantastic visibility, great variety of marine life! My favorite part of the dive was a small stingray that seemed fascinated with my buzz cut and ended up sucking on my forehead! Nice warm showers afterwards...and you get to watch (and may purchase) the video of your dive. Your family can watch you diver from the restaurant or aquarium gallery. Recommended for divers who end up at the Disneyworld.

While on a recent trip to DisneyWorld, I joined 12 other divers on the unique Epcot DiveQuest experience. I am the only diver in my family, so the kids and my wife watched from the observation area. Top notch customer service--everything was taken care of ahead of time including BCD, tank, wetsuits, booties, lockers, showers, briefing, video, pre-dive beverages and a behind the scenes tour. You are only allowed to bring your own mask and wrist dive computer. Marine life was fantastic (sharks, turtles, etc.), but I enjoyed interacting with the folks on the observation decks (including my own kids) and the customers eating in the restaurant. The kids loved it when we swam by the restaurant windows and waved or swam up to the windows and touched the glass. Very unique, one-of-a-kind dive experience well worth the $140 full price. Tip -- when making phone reservations, don't forget to ask for AAA discount which brings cost down to $119. There might be other discounts if you don't have AAA. Recommended for divers of all skill levels.

Had a great time.. Lots of marine life!

Great dive. As easy as can be. No current, great visibility, and lots of fun being part of the action with all the kids around. It's not cheap but they make everything as easy as possible. I truly enjoyed it and will certainly do it again in the future. It's a completely different dive than anything else you will ever do. It is something to be done for divers of all levels as it has unique characteristics such as waving to a little kid who is so excited to see a real live scuba diver waving to them. It's all part of the fun.

I've been here twice. It's expensive but will one day do it again! Fantastic staff, top shelf like everything else at Disney. You can not imagine how cool it is to become part of the show. Lots of critters, perfect conditions.

Hey fellow Divers! Prepare for a totally unique diving experience: the Living Seas pavilion at Walt Disney World resort which features a six million gallon indoor aquarium with more than 65 species of marine life, including sharks, huge sea turtles, playful eagle rays and schools of colorful tropical fish. With guaranteed calm seas, no current and unlimited visibility, your quest for the dive of a lifetime ends here. Dive Quest at EPCOT takes place daily in the Living Sea exhibit, and allows certified scuba divers to dive on the Living Sea's coral reef accompanied by a Disney diver. Strictly Dive Quest is treated as a theme park tour, and reservations are made in the same way by calling the WDW Tour number (407) WDW-TOUR or (407) 939-8687. In total, Dive Quest lasts for approximately 2.5 hours, with the dive itself lasting for approximately 40 minutes in total. All dives are videotaped and, after each dive, the guests are given the opportunity to view the video tape, and to purchase a copy. On completion of the dive guests also receive a certificate of completion, along with an Epcot Dive Quest T-shirt, and refreshments. Dive Quest participants must provide proof of a current scuba "open-water" adult certificate. The, Jr. Diver Certifications (for divers ages 10 and up) are also accepted for younger divers. Dive Quest costs $140.00 per person. All diving equipment is provided, and included in the cost; theme park admission is not required or included in the price. Like Epcot's Dolphins in Depth program, all proceeds from the Dive Quest program is given to the Wild Life Conservation Fund. So you can feel good knowing that the money that is spent is going to a good cause. On January 11th 2006, I participated in my 13th dive experience with the Dive Quest Program at Walt Disney Worlds Epcot Theme Park. With the abundance of ocean life from 2 giant sea turtles to 10 different kinds of sharks and 65 different spices of fish to the history of how the Living seas was built and the Dive Quest program was started in 1993. Every time that I go to Disney I try to get 3 or 4 dives in. In my opinion this is one of the best dive experiences in the would, and knowing that your money spent on the dive program goes to the Walt Disney World conservation funds make you feel like that your doing your part to help out earth and oceans. Truly a magical experience, I believe that all divers should participate in this magical experience. It would take you over a life time diving in 100 of different oceans to see what you see during your 40 minute dive experience. So fellow divers feel free to experience this magical experience for yourself.

An excellent dive. Good water temp, excellent facilities and loads of marine life. Turtle, Sharks, Rays, and fish -- you cannot get this bio-diversity in one dive anywhere. Not all of it was to my liking. I didn't like the fins; I hate split fins and use longer solids normally. The reg wasn't that great, but I normally use a Cressi-Elipse Titanium. I wasn't that thrilled about not having a backup reg and having backup air only as close as the dive-master. The interaction with the crowd was really fun but I don't think it is for everyone. My kids thought it was really cool to have Daddy in the exhibit. The staff are awesome. They let my son go backstage with me and see the briefing room (even gave him a T-shirt). He thought it was really cool to see the backstage area. The next day they remembered him and he got to be the assistant with the diver lockout chamber. All in all, this dive cannot be done anywhere else, and, if you are a beginner diver (or afraid of sharks), you will love this dive.

Great dive. Didn't have to worry about tables. Most of the wildlife was very interactive (even the sharks!). And the Crew was great; they were professional and courteous.

Yet another positive Dive Quest review, with caveats. Let me first say that my wife and I enjoyed the dive and would do it again. That being said, nothing is perfect. This was the perfect setting for us as we hadn't dived in many years. I assumed that since it was Disney, it would be as safe as it could be, which was the truth. Facilities are nice. So, here are my caveats. I am actually on the fence for the most part as most of these things might seem a bit picky, but they did cross my mind… <br>1: Visibility is 203 feet. Great, but all that means is that you can see that you are in a tank. 2: Interaction with "guests" is encouraged. This is fine, but after a while I just didn't want to do it anymore. It's not my thing. 3: Twenty-five foot depth. Great as you don't have to do dive profiles, etc., but I found myself clearing constantly as I went up and down (there are some walkways that you have to swim up over). 4: Sharks were sick so they couldn't come out due to being treated for parasites - obviously not Epcot's fault and is understandable. 5: No real plants, no sun - it is like a dusk dive. 6: Lastly, they clap and "announce" you as you walk through to get ready. eh. Not my thing. <br> Given all of this, though, it was a great time and we would definitely do it again. Agree with another reviewer that the video is mainly an ad with your dive party in it for a few seconds. One big bit of praise is the quantity of species you get to hang out with. Very Cool. Lastly, we couldn't find my wife's dive card anyplace. They allowed PADI to fax a letter of certification. Also Very Cool.

Awesome it is well worth it. You will see so many different kinds of fishes and the sharks are really cool. The gear is top of the line and they provide it all. Also we had the last dive of the day and the gear was nice a dry to start out with, and if we had any fitting problems they took care of it.

I agree with the other posts that this is a REALLY, REALLY fun dive, so I'll ignore most of that and point out some of the details that stand out in my mind. We had a exactly 45 minutes in the water. For hospitality, friendliness and easy living, this is Disney all the way! You won't find a dive resort anywhere, that "takes care of you" like these people will. Leave EVERYTHING but your mask, and cert card at home. For cleanliness reasons, you can't bring anything into the tank. Don't even bother with a towel. It's all provided. A personal camera would have been great, but since you can't bring one, they video tape the dive and you can preview the video before you pay the $35 to buy one. It's more of a commercial than anything, which is strange, since you just did the dive, and don't need to be sold on the idea. I was a bit disappointed in the amount of video that was actually of OUR dive. (I bought one anyway…) We were WAY overweighted!! Even before you go in the park, they take your sizes for suit, fins, BC, and boots. It'll all be ready for you, when the time comes, but they never ask about weight, and they just load you down!! You'll sink like a rock. :-) They just added two 8-foot sand tiger sharks to the tank less than 10 days before we went. They were IMPRESSIVE!! I didn't think it'd be any fun to play with the people behind the windows, but I ended up spending 1/2 the dive playing with small children. Their faces light up when you point and wave at them, and they just loved it. As I did. :-) You'll be in LOTS of personal vacation photos!! The animals may not be as varied as on an offshore reef, but they make up for it in quality. The Goliath Grouper is over 550 pounds. The sharks are large and very docile, the eagle rays are amazing. Some of the largest tarpon I've ever seen. The list is impressive enough to keep you looking, and healthy enough to make you smile at yourself. The reef and plants are all made of dental plaster. They even tell you, "if you break it, we'll just make more". Looks great from a distance, looks fake when your on it. If that's your thing, you won't like this dive. Leave your jewelry and expensive camera in the car. They made us take off EVERYTHING. You have a locker to keep all your street clothes and stuff in, but they have the keys the entire time your diving. Probably you'd never, EVER have a problem, since this is Disney, and most people are good, but the divemasters are almost all instructors/divemasters working part-time in the evenings, and people are strange. The t-shirts were nice, but our night, they didn't have my size, so I'm stuffed into a smaller size. The DIVE QUEST stamp in my log book is a nice touch. No currents. No waves. EXCEPTIONALLY easy entry and exit. 23-27 feet of depth depending on the "tide". 210 feet of visibility. A MUST dive for a novice. A great dive for an intermediate. A relaxing dive for an advanced.

I recently got back into diving after a long hiatus and found this site. I think the previous reviews say it all, but I thought I'd post because I went there in 1997, and everything that people have described here was true then, as well. It was an experience I'm glad I had, and should I find myself back that way again, I will do it again.

Vacation Disney World! My cousin and I participated in Dive Quest June 15th. It was a surprise for her - I grabbed her PADI dive card when she wasn't looking before we left home for the 1000-mile plus drive and then nabbed her swimsuit out of her suitcase at the motel without her knowing. A few hours later there we were sitting at the window ledge on the second floor looking into the living seas in amazement. While we were sitting there Epcot Divers swam by feeding the fish. Then she says how cool that would be to be able to dive here in the aquarium. At that point I handed her the brochure about Dive Quest. She asked if we could do Dive Quest next year. I told her no next year wouldn't work very well. But here is your PADI Card - we are scheduled to dive today at 4:30pm. Talk about excitement.<br>This was the best dive we have been on. Everything was taken care of right down to the shampoo, hair dryer and a cold soda after the dive. All we had to bring was our C-Card, picture ID and a swimsuit. Epcot videotapes the entire dive, then you are able to view it BEFORE you buy - talk about nice! The video was great; everyone who participated in the dive was in the video more than once. The staff was outstanding; they explained the dive talked about the fish, the coral, and the aquarium. They covered it all. Not only were they professional, but you could tell they love their jobs. Smiles all the time and more than willing to answer any and every question.<br>At first you dive as a group, following the instructions of the dive master. Then you are free to dive the whole tank. From watching the people in the restaurant eat to giving high fives to the kids through the glass on the observation platform while a brown shark swims by only a foot away. If your family and friends are coming to watch you, tell them if they have a manual 35mm camera or a camera without a flash make sure they bring it. My family had a Digital Video Camera, a 4mega pixel digital camera, an automatic camera and an old 35mm manual camera. The Best Pictures came from the old manual 35mm 800-speed film 30 to 60 shutter speed and a wide-open aperture no filter.<br>The video my family took was good too, but a little dark when we would swim away far away from the observation platform.<br>Be sure you make your reservations in advance, at least a month if possible. This was well worth the $140.00 fee. Of which none of the fee goes Epcot or their employees; it instead goes directly to fund the Disney Wildlife Reserve fund. How much better can it get? A great experience and a great way to make sure future generations enjoy 'Our Living Seas'.

Should we consider this a shore dive? The Disney staff could not make the dive any easier to do. You walk onto a wide ledge, then back into your BCD. Take a few steps forward and your diving! I got within a few feet of some sharks and a spotted eagle ray. Not as many reef fish as I've seen in the "real world" though.

My wife and I did this dive 01/03/03. It was great because the staff treats you like a real VIP. Best thing is all equipment is provided, set up, and cleaned by their staff. The sea-life was unafraid of the divers. I had to swat away several Porkfish who kept pecking my legs. Got up close to the sharks, rays, and the Grouper who would grunt if you got to close. A first class tour. We will do it again on future trips to Disney.

I took my 13 year old Daughter on this dive and had GREAT time. Well worth the cost, BTW all the money collected is donated to conservation projects. The Disney Staff treat you like royalty. Everything is provided, No Cameras are allowed. All of the gear was top of the line, right down to the Atomic Platinum Series regulators. My Daughter was impressed with the giant sea turtle and of course "playing" with the crowd on the other side of the large Plexiglas windows into the tank. You also get a great "backstage" tour of Aquarium set up.

This dive isn't cheap at around $145 per person, but IT IS worth it. Epcot does a nice job making you feel like a VIP and the experience is great from start to finish. From playing with guests eating in a restaurant to watching the sharks, rays, and turtles, this dive is cool. If you are into coral and plant life, forget it. It's all fake. This dive is more about being a part of the Disney family in a most unique way. Leave all equipment at home except your mask. They even supply shampoo and towels. They supply a shorty and split fins. Mostly Scuba Pro stuff, if I recall correctly. The water is 76 and the viz is 200+. Bottom time is exactly 40 minutes with a max depth of 25ft. You will love this experience. Discount with PADI membership. You pay for parking. Non diving visitors have to pay park entrance fees to watch. That stinks. You can stay for free after the dive, but not much time left since the dive program happens later in the day. Free t-shirt. Video of dive is $35. My wife and I didn't regret the money spent. A woman actually asked me why we didn't have the manatees in the exhibit today. She thought the divers worked for Disney/Epcot because they walk the group through the "ride" in shorties to get to the water. Very funny. I told her they were at a party. She gave me a strange look. I was so excited about the dive, I just felt like being silly.