February 17, 2018
For years swimming with whale sharks has been on my bucket list. I don't know why I like sharks, I don't even know that much about them. But the way they move, the legends and stories, the false fear I just love it. As I started putting together my 30 to 30 list in the early stages I fiddled with could I get the whale sharks on the list. Financially and scheduling-wise it was impossible but it lead me to look at the Denver Aquarium and what I could do there. They offer scuba diving, cage diving and snorkeling among other experiences... for a cost.
So I decided to take the plunge . . . pun intended . . .
. . . Into the . . . deep . . . blue.
I signed up to do the Downtown Aquarium/A-1 Shark Cage Experience. You don't need to be a certified diver so I was sold. They guide you to the backstage area and you see the behind the scenes. Its the same area for both shark and scuba in the other tank.
We had a few different guides all certified in diving and who work at/with the aquarium. They made sure it was both educational and fun, there wasn't a rush and they worked with each individual to make sure we felt safe and comfortable before moving to the next person or starting the clock. At no point did I feel rushed or pressured.
Sunken Shipwreck is a 400,000-gallon aquarium with five varieties of sharks: Sand Tiger sharks, Brown sharks, Zebra sharks, Blacktip sharks, and Sandbar sharks. Among them are 3 Green Sea Turtles, Great Barracudas, Guitar Fish, Humphead Warase and 3 Saw Fish. The Warase and Saw Fish are both endangered species
I have never been scuba diving. I struggle snorkeling because something is so close to my nostrils. This was no different. I was the first in the water and it was hard to get the hang of breathing. Not so much breathing. That was easy, it was the feel of plastic under my nostrils that made me panic. Two of us had this issue and ended up standing on the bench closer to the surface the majority of the time. The other two were rockstars and went right down. I did end up getting down but struggled as my mask was just loose enough to fill with water rather than allow me to force out the water normally, probably because I kept touching it. I purchaced a waterproof case for my phone on Amazon. With that and my already waterproof phone case my phone was safe for photos but the multiple layers of plastic made the sharpness of the images less.
I purchased a waterproof case for my phone on Amazon. With that and my already waterproof phone case my phone was safe for photos but the multiple layers of plastic made the sharpness of the images less. They tested it for being water-tight before-hand so I knew I was good. They did warn the pressure could affect the phone but said I should just come up and hand it off if that happened. The gloves did make use difficult.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072Q6RZSS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
So because you either found this because you are my friend or because you are wanting to know about this experience at the Denver Aquarium and if you should do it, here's my opinion. I will do this again if given the opportunity. The cost was $100 dollars (I wasn't charged extra for bringing my camera like the site said), you get 20 minutes in the water (plus while everyone else gets in and out, you get an introduction to the backstage of the facility and they tell you about the species and what they are doing to help, because a lot of the animals like the Saw Fish are endangered. You get a "goodie" bag which has information on shark conservation, diving, and a1sucba (discount there as well), a sticker, a magnet and of course a t-shirt. You know how much I like t-shirts. In addition, you get a coupon for the aquarium restaurant or a discount on another experience, and you get either a parking voucher (make sure you park in the right lot if you want this option) or entry into the aquarium (its regularly $20.50). I think its all a good deal, between the experience its self and the additions, its worth it. They also take a photo of you in front of the cage that they put on the facebook page for free vs the aquarium buy option). (I did buy the lowest photo package because I wasn't spending other money that I knew would stay at the aquarium its self, I don't know how much went to the aquarium vs a1suba)
I am so glad I did this and its the best way to start off my 30 things before I turn 30. I learned a lot, it is something I will remember for the rest of my life and I didn't die. Though I stand by my original thought that it would be hilarious to die of a shark attack in a land lock state a mile above sea level.
