Discovery Cove has had Sea Venture, the all new underwater experience, on soft openings for the past several months. Previously, the only way that you could book your experience for Sea Venture was to do it when you first checked in at the park for your Discovery Cove reservation. Now that the attraction is fully open, you can book your experience over the phone. We had already experienced Sea Venture once on our own, but when Discovery Cove asked if we’d like to come out and experience it again, we jumped at the chance.
Sea Venture has been added this year to Discovery Cove as part of their Grand Reef expansion. Grand Reef is a huge interactive swim area that allows guests to get up close and personal with all manner of sea life that they otherwise may not. Sea Venture at Discovery Cove uses helmets that weigh around 70lbs to keep you on the ocean floor. You are guided by an expert, and extremely friendly team of divers who give you a tour of the bottom of the aquarium. During your roughly 30 minute dive you are taken around the different areas of the tank, shown different animals and given a few surprises along the way.
Let’s take a walk around SeaVenture to get an idea of what exactly you csn expect
Because SeaVenture is such a new experience, here are a few Question and Answers that we’ve been asked the most about.
Q:Is SeaVenture open for anyone at Discovery Cove?
A:No, there is an additional fee for SeaVenture. It runs around $59.99 per person.
Q:Is SeaVenture safe?
A:Absolutely! Discovery Cove is not the first place to have SeaVenture, it’s been used all over the world and has registered over 2,000,000 dives without an incident. Of course, accidents CAN happen, but both Discovery Cove and the divers take the utmost care to make sure that nothing does.
Q:What kind of animals will I see?
A:You’ll see several different varieties of fish including parrot fish, clown fish, blue tangs(Dory from Nemo!), and many more. You’ll spotted eagle rays, and sharks, as well as quite a few surprises.
Q:How do they keep the sharks from eating people?
A:First, if a shark bites a person it’s usually a case of mistaken identity. They really don’t like the taste of people. Second, the sharks at Discovery Cove are very well fed, and the most important part you get very close to the sharks…but not close enough for them to nibble at you. You are separated by a huge pane of glass. You have a great view of sharks like Nurse and Zebra Sharks, but you can’t get anywhere near them.
Q:Do any of the other fish bite?
A:No, but the most important thing to remember is to respect the sea life around you. The fish generally tend to stay away from you, they respect your space. Of course they do feed the fish during the Sea Venture tour, but it’s done a good distance away to avoid nibbling the wrong bait.
Q:Do you have to get a scuba license to experience SeaVenture?
A:No! The great thing is that SeaVenture uses a different system than traditional Scuba gear. You don’t have to worry about getting a license. Also the helmet is more like a cup than a scuba tank. Think of the helmet of a cup that you turn upside down and push into the water. The air that is in the cup will stay trapped unless you lean forward. There is a constant stream of air in the helmet, so it never runs out and you always feel cool.
Q:Who can do SeaVenture?
A:Because you are literally under the water, and the helmet is 70lbs, Children over the age of 10 are allowed to experience SeaVenture. Children under 14 must have a paying supervising companion. Those with neck, shoulder,back and heart problems also should not participate. If you have a severe fear of closed spaces (Claustrophobia) you may experience anxiety during SeaVenture and should not participate.
Q:I have an underwater camera, can I bring it with me to take pictures?
A:No. Unfortunately the park does not allow objects such as cameras into the area. But no worries, the park does provide you with an underwater digital camera that takes amazing pictures. You can take as many pictures as you like, and there are also divers taking pictures around you. Those pictures can then be purchased after your dive. The cost is around $30 dollars(last time we purchased them).
From now until the end of the year, Florida Residents will be able to experience Discovery Cove for a reduced rate of $179 dollars for a dolphin swim, and $79 dollars without. Plus guests who book get admission into Sea World for free until the end of January 2012.
For more information, or to book SeaVenture call 1-877-557-7404 International guests, please call 001 (407) 370-1280
