Epcot "Dive Quest"

[Barracuda2]

When I did Dive Quest I signed up for the 3:30 slot. Evidently I was the only one to sign up in that slot. However, the 4:30 slot had 3 signed up. Of course I came on time, about 3:00, but the staff person asked me if I would wait for the 4:30 slot and team up with the other three divers. They told me that if I did, I would get double time in the tank for my inconvience. No problem mon!! We went through the routine, got in the tank, and had a ball for 70 min.!!! I actually got a little chilled by the time the dive was called and two others got out a little early because they got cold. No sand tigers at that time, darn it!! I really had a great time entertaining the restaurant guest and window spectators. It's a dive definately to be done once; but I doubt if I'll do it again unless I don't encounter some sand tigers on some future dive trip. Are there sand tigers in Yap or Palau?---that's my next big trip.

 

[mstevens]

All equipment is provided, you are allowed to take your own mask and watch. Computers are frowned upon.

Nobody even commented on my family's computers. We did ask, to be sure, and were assured we didn't need them but they'd be OK (we had no concern about nitrogen loading given the depth and time, but like to log our dives this way.

 

[mstevens]

That isnt what i was told and directly contradicts the advert and paperwork i got off them.

All of that state only admission into the park with a valid ticket, otherwise its exit through guest services.

I agree that's what our paperwork said, too. However, as others have said, they escorted us to the front of Living Seas (closed at the time we went) and waved us out into the park. If it's important I wouldn't count on it, but it gave us some time to play before our dinner reservations at Flying Fish.

 

[parrothead600]

Next question is this: If you want to do the dive only and don't pay for a park pass, will they allow non-diving family members into the facility to watch? Or do they need to buy a park pass?

 

[Sirelroka]

At least in my experience non-diving guests would need a park pass. When you get taken 'backstage' they are left to find their way into the park through the regular gates and around to the Living Seas or the Coral Reef restaurant.

 

[String]

Nobody even commented on my family's computers. We did ask, to be sure, and were assured we didn't need them but they'd be OK (we had no concern about nitrogen loading given the depth and time, but like to log our dives this way.

I asked about a computer in the briefing room and was told it was fine, got into the suit and started kitting up and one of the staff (a different one) said they dont really allow computers. I offered to remove it but he said it didnt matter and allowed me to keep it on.

I wanted it as a timer and to download later as all my logs are electronic.

 

[SKBRDVR1]

I think it kinda depends on the staff at the time. We dove Christmas Eve 2005. Originally, we were told our non-diving guest would have to make her way by herself to the viewing area, which would mean park admission. When the "crew" came to get us, they allowed her to come along and go through everything until suit up time, then they took her to the viewing spot.We exited into the Park. Maybe they were feeling "Christmassy"?

 

[cal2632]

That isnt what i was told and directly contradicts the advert and paperwork i got off them.

All of that state only admission into the park with a valid ticket, otherwise its exit through guest services.

I made a point of emailing Disney beforehand and they assured me I would be allowed into the park so long as it wasn't at capacity.

 

[DiveBandit]

Every time I've done the dive they didn't even ask for a ticket and just let us out into the park. Of course I've always had a ticket so I wasn't worried about it.

Now that you mention it they never did ask for my park pass either before sending me off into the park. I do however have annual passes if they had asked.

 

[adjuster-jd]

I keep marine aquariums and have seen this before as well. It is hard to say what exactly causes it but some of the causes could be related to poor nutrition, stress, or even a slight electrical current being released into the water by a peice of equipment. We have adopted a few fish with severe HLLE (Head and lateral line erosion) and we have been able to cure it by providing a stress free environment with good nutrition. As large as that tank is, I am sure some of the fish get picked on and are stressed and some of them might not be getting the nutrition that they need to prevent it. It happens in nature too since the more dominant fish will get to the food first and the weaker fish will have to eat the leftovers, or go without. It takes a long time to heal a fish with HLLE in a typical aquarium (mine is 125+ gallons). I imagine it would be impossible to treat a fish in an aqaurium the size of The Living Seas. They will either recover from it, or they will live with it until they die just like they do in nature.

Andrew

I dove at the living seas this past spring. I noticed several of the fish looking pretty bad while I was in the observation area before going in for the dive. I asked the dive guide about this and he talked a lot about the disease. They basically don't know the cause or the treatment. They are conducting a fair amount of research on this disease at Epcot but they really at that point did not have answers as to the cause.
There seemed to be a lot of fish there that had this disease.
Hopefully they'll find some solutions.