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Georgia Aquarium


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#1 DoctorB

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Posted 03 February 2013 - 03:40 PM

I just got back from diving the Georgia Aquarium. It was a lot of fun.

Georgia aquarium has the world's largest aquarium exhibit, holding over 4.5 million gallons. It is almost the size of a football field w/o the end zones, and is 25 feet on the shallow end and 35 feet on the deep end. It is also the only aquarium in North America that has whale sharks and manta rays.

The diving was very easy. There were 3 DM's in the water with us. There were only 3 of us diving that day, but they take up to 8 at a time. Everything was well organized. We checked in, and gave them height, weight, shoe and shirt size. We were taken up an elevator to the top of the exhibit, given a thorough briefing, and taken to the locker room. We were given a locker with our name on it which had properly sized wet suit, towel, boots, and bottle of water for the end of the dive. Once on the dive deck, our equipment was there with our name on it. True valet diving, they put your BC on for you, and in you go. We had about 30 minutes in the water (as a guided tour, not a free swim). I did the manta ray specialty add on, which gave me about 10 extra minutes to swim alongside a manta ray and see them up close. After we were done, they take your gear off you, and send you to the locker room to get cleaned up.

It was a great experience. All gear is provided, and the only piece of personal equipment they allow is a mask, which they disinfect first, and swimsuit. If you don't bring a mask, they have regular and even some corrective masks available! They have a videographer who produces a souvenir DVD that you can buy afterward.

The experience is a little pricy (I figure this is EASILY the most expensive single dive I have ever done), but where else can you be guaranteed to see whale sharks and manta rays.

If you are in Atlanta, I would definitely recommend the experience.


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#2 dive_sail_etc

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Posted 04 February 2013 - 06:48 AM

Great report, Charles! I agree the Atlanta Aquarium dive is a unique experience which provides not only a guaranteed encounter with otherwise relatively rare open ocean leviathans, but with the added perspective of how it feels to be in the exhibit looking out at all those strange two legged creatures gawking in at you. :-)

Several of our Atlanta members have dived the aquarium, both as paid guests and staff volunteers; perhaps some of them will share thoughts and stories of their own...

Brad, the Fledgling Journeyman Master Hedonist
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