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Just when you thought the world had spun off kilter as far as it ever could, something new comes along...
[h=2]GRAND OPENING: OCTOBER 11[/h]Experience the heart-pumping thrill of getting up close to more than a dozen massive sharks,including a 9-foot, 450-pound Lemon shark. Eye-to-Eye Sharks is the only warm-water exhibit dive in the Pacific Northwest with so many sharks.
You will wear a specially designed dry suit that zips over your street clothes and seals out water. No need to even bring a swim suit! Whether you're a certified diver or an adventurous non-diver, there's an exhilarating, underwater journey that is perfect for you.
Visitors can sign up to dive with the sharks at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, starting Monday.
When the Eye-to-Eye Shark Dive program starts Oct. 11, people 8 and older can do a cage dive into the South Pacific Aquarium with surface-supplied air, without any diving experience.
Certified scuba divers 15 and older can swim alongside the sharks with a guide.
The cage dive is $65 and the scuba dive is $175, though theres a $15 discount for visitors with a zoo membership.
The program encourages marine life conservation by educating visitors about the animals, the zoo said.
Experts suggest that as many as 73 million sharks are killed each year, primarily for their fins, which are used to make shark fin soup, zoo deputy director John Houck said.. They desperately need our help, and we believe the Eye-to-Eye Shark Dive is a great way to get more people involved in helping these animals.
For more information and to register, visit www.pdza.org/dive.
____
[h=2]FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT EYE-TO-EYE SHARK DIVE[/h]
What are your diving programs?
We have two.
· Underwater Cage Dive for non-certified divers. No experience is necessary.
· Scuba Dive for certified Scuba divers. Proof of certification required.
Where are the dives held?
In the 240,000-gallon, warm, salt-water South Pacific Aquarium.
How many sharks do you have?
17 sharks, including a 9-foot, 400-pound lemon shark. You can see a list of all of our sharks and learn more about them here.
How much do the programs cost?
· Cage Dive: $50 for Zoo members; $65 for non-members
· Scuba Dive: $160 for Zoo members; $175 for non-members
How do I register for a dive?
All reservations are handled online starting Sept. 16.
How long does a dive last?
· Cage Dive: Approximately 20 minutes in the water. The entire program runs about 1 hour.
· Scuba Dive: Approximately 30 minutes in the water. The entire program runs about 75 minutes.
Are there any restrictions for participants?
Yes.
· Age: 8 and up for the cage dive; 15 and up for the Scuba dive
· Weight: No more than 275 pounds.
· Health: You must be in good health and fill out a health-question form. Pregnant women may not dive.
What is a Cage Dive?
We have a sturdy cage suspended in the South Pacific Aquarium. You will view the sharks while standing underwater in the cage with a trained diver as a guide.
Will I leave the cage to swim in the aquarium?
No. Cage Divers will remain in the cage during their experience.
If I dont Scuba dive, how will I breathe underwater?
You will wear a mask and breathe surface-supplied air through a special mouthpiece. Dive staff will show you how to use it.
Can you describe the Scuba dive?
Yes. Scuba divers will be escorted into the South Pacific Aquarium exhibit by a trained dive-guide and will swim to specially selected viewing spots inside the aquarium.
Do I need any special equipment?
No. We supply all the necessary gear for both cage divers and Scuba divers. You dont even need a bathing suit. Our dry suits will zip over your street clothes and seal out water.
[h=2]GRAND OPENING: OCTOBER 11[/h]Experience the heart-pumping thrill of getting up close to more than a dozen massive sharks,including a 9-foot, 450-pound Lemon shark. Eye-to-Eye Sharks is the only warm-water exhibit dive in the Pacific Northwest with so many sharks.
You will wear a specially designed dry suit that zips over your street clothes and seals out water. No need to even bring a swim suit! Whether you're a certified diver or an adventurous non-diver, there's an exhilarating, underwater journey that is perfect for you.
Visitors can sign up to dive with the sharks at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, starting Monday.
When the Eye-to-Eye Shark Dive program starts Oct. 11, people 8 and older can do a cage dive into the South Pacific Aquarium with surface-supplied air, without any diving experience.
Certified scuba divers 15 and older can swim alongside the sharks with a guide.
The cage dive is $65 and the scuba dive is $175, though theres a $15 discount for visitors with a zoo membership.
The program encourages marine life conservation by educating visitors about the animals, the zoo said.
Experts suggest that as many as 73 million sharks are killed each year, primarily for their fins, which are used to make shark fin soup, zoo deputy director John Houck said.. They desperately need our help, and we believe the Eye-to-Eye Shark Dive is a great way to get more people involved in helping these animals.
For more information and to register, visit www.pdza.org/dive.
____
[h=2]FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT EYE-TO-EYE SHARK DIVE[/h]
What are your diving programs?
We have two.
· Underwater Cage Dive for non-certified divers. No experience is necessary.
· Scuba Dive for certified Scuba divers. Proof of certification required.
Where are the dives held?
In the 240,000-gallon, warm, salt-water South Pacific Aquarium.
How many sharks do you have?
17 sharks, including a 9-foot, 400-pound lemon shark. You can see a list of all of our sharks and learn more about them here.
How much do the programs cost?
· Cage Dive: $50 for Zoo members; $65 for non-members
· Scuba Dive: $160 for Zoo members; $175 for non-members
How do I register for a dive?
All reservations are handled online starting Sept. 16.
How long does a dive last?
· Cage Dive: Approximately 20 minutes in the water. The entire program runs about 1 hour.
· Scuba Dive: Approximately 30 minutes in the water. The entire program runs about 75 minutes.
Are there any restrictions for participants?
Yes.
· Age: 8 and up for the cage dive; 15 and up for the Scuba dive
· Weight: No more than 275 pounds.
· Health: You must be in good health and fill out a health-question form. Pregnant women may not dive.
What is a Cage Dive?
We have a sturdy cage suspended in the South Pacific Aquarium. You will view the sharks while standing underwater in the cage with a trained diver as a guide.
Will I leave the cage to swim in the aquarium?
No. Cage Divers will remain in the cage during their experience.
If I dont Scuba dive, how will I breathe underwater?
You will wear a mask and breathe surface-supplied air through a special mouthpiece. Dive staff will show you how to use it.
Can you describe the Scuba dive?
Yes. Scuba divers will be escorted into the South Pacific Aquarium exhibit by a trained dive-guide and will swim to specially selected viewing spots inside the aquarium.
Do I need any special equipment?
No. We supply all the necessary gear for both cage divers and Scuba divers. You dont even need a bathing suit. Our dry suits will zip over your street clothes and seal out water.
