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Swimming with whale sharks!

Will B avatar
Moderator
3,634 views1
Mrs. SC won a dive package at the last volunteer appreciation night. For my birthday, she bought me the same package. Yesterday, we swam in the Ocean Voyager tank at the GA Aquarium. The quality of these shots aren't so great as I grabbed them off of the DVD that came with the package.

I have, yet, to gather all the pictures and video that was taken of us by Debbie's family from the pedestrain tunnel and viewing room. I'll post them as soon as I get 'em!

Definitely, put this on your "to do" list. You don't have to be certified as a scuba diver. Worth every penny!!

Here are the shots!



The group shot before the dive. Mrs. SC and I are on the left.



Mrs. SC getting her tank.



Me getting my tank.



Walking to the dock.



Putting on the fins.



Nice shot looking up. Not sure if this is us or not.



Approaching the pedestrian tunnel. The darn grouper got in the way.



The families in the tunnel as we swam over.



A shark passing beneath. Don't think it's me, but I know it's not Mrs. SC.



Me and the Mrs.



Me. The white fish you see on the surface are mullet and small tarpon.



Mrs. SC.



The group passing the big viewing window with a shark approaching from behind.



A shark passing under the group.



A shark passing next to us.



A shot of divers as opposed to swimmers. I grabbed this from the stock footage to show the difference in the planes that the divers swim in as opposed to the swimmers. They are beneath everything. On another odd note, one of the male sharks has started swimming through the diver's bubbles with his mouth wide open like he thinks he filtering krill. It looks really odd!

Replies

12
Mango avatar
SoWal Insider
#2
I was hoping you would post pics soon. This is so cool. Can't wait to see the video. :clap:
SHELLY avatar
SoWal Insider
#3
Just how many "pennies" does it take to swim with the whale sharks?
Miss Kitty avatar
Meow
#4
:yikes:...cool for you, but not on my to do list! Why don't they bite and keel you?
KISH7374 avatar
Beach Fanatic
#5
Will, were you diving or basically snorkeling? Either way it looks like an experience of a lifetime. I am a certified diver and would love to be able to dive the tank. The shots are amazing. Glad you had a great time and I am looking forward to the rest of the pictures and any videos. Thanks for sharing. Dan
Will B avatar
ModeratorAuthor
#6
Just how many "pennies" does it take to swim with the whale sharks?
22500 pennies to swim (what we did) / 37500 to dive. For those of you who can't do math, that's $225 and $375 ;-)

:yikes:...cool for you, but not on my to do list! Why don't they bite and keel you?
Because they eat lil' shrimp, krill, and plankton. Despite the size of their mouths a whale shark's esophagus is only the diameter of a quarter.

Will, were you diving or basically snorkeling? Either way it looks like an experience of a lifetime. I am a certified diver and would love to be able to dive the tank. The shots are amazing. Glad you had a great time and I am looking forward to the rest of the pictures and any videos. Thanks for sharing. Dan

Basically, snorkelling, but we had the small tanks. Some opted not to use them, but I did because I kept turning upside down to look behind me. They offer either option but don't mix groups. You either swim or dive. Oddly, the most aggressive fish in the tank are the groupers. They are very territorial, but since we were on the surface we didn't have to deal with them.

Edited

aggieb avatar
Beach Fanatic
#7
:clap:wow! thank you SC, fantastic photos. i wanna do that.:D

Edited

Lynnie avatar
SoWal Insider
#8
SC - checked you out on fb! These are amazing and I had no idea this was right in my backyard! I've added it to my list for 2009! Even if I wanted to work this year, I have no time left between playing and traveling..........oh well!!!

Cheers and thanks for sharing!!!!!
DD avatar
SoWal Expert
#9
SC!! How cool is that? I'd do it in a heartbeat. I'd be more worried about the whole "equipment" thing than the sharks.
Scooter avatar
Beach Fanatic
#10
My husband gave me a gift card for Christmas to do this. I'm still trying to find a day. I'll do it soon! Can't wait.
Will B avatar
ModeratorAuthor
#11
My husband gave me a gift card for Christmas to do this. I'm still trying to find a day. I'll do it soon! Can't wait.

for the dive or the swim? I've noticed that they are two totally different experiences both of which are great; however, you will get a lot more face time with the whale sharks and manta ray on the swim rather than the dive.
Scooter avatar
Beach Fanatic
#12
The swim. Can't wait to see the manta ray!
DuneLaker avatar
Beach Fanatic
#13
This was fantastic. Perfect experience for you, SC.

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