He cautioned that he didnt think that was such a hot idea. In Journey with Gentle Giants experience, plunge into the depths of Ocean Voyager and come closer than ever before to a vast diversity of species from three different oceans. Sign up for our newsletter and get a curated list of the top Its the only place to get up close & personal with these rare sharks. Save on animal encounters with exclusive, online-only Explore Georgia discounts. From trails to theme parks, museums and more, Atlanta has fun vacation options for all ages. United States Copyright, 365 Atlanta Family, LLC, View our Privacy Policy | Subscribe to our Newsletter | Contact Site Owner | View Terms & Conditions | About Us. Discover the unforgettable thrill of swimming with whale sharks at Georgia Aquarium. Guests must reserve their seats for the presentations on the day of their visit (free of charge, or if guests would like preferred, reserved seating, its $5). We only write about places we love in an attempt to help you in your adventures, but we cant guarantee you will love them, too. Participants will be briefed before their dive, change into their wetsuits, be guided around the habitat during their dive, shower and then attend a debriefing session. If you are an unsure swimmer, or have never been snorkeling, dont worry, the divers take care of you. you can see some of the biggest sharks in the world. You'll be transfixed by their languid, rhythmic movement and the unique patterns formed by their polka dot, luminescent markings. The Ocean Voyager gallery is home to four giant whale sharks, the largest known fish to ever inhabit the ocean. Photo by @gcalebjones. The water in the take is pretty cold, so I recommend bringing a sweatshirt to snuggle in afterward. Photo by @krystalweirphotography. Personal masks and dive computers are permitted but must be disinfected by staff before use. They say she was the longest whale shark resident. Guests will receive a behind-the-scenes tour above the surface. Call us at 770-992-3772 and lets chat! This never impacts how we share the destination with you opinions are always our own and we pride ourselves on that. From here, you can look straight down into the tank at the gentle giants swimming in their breathtaking habitat below you. The aquarium said Alice arrived there in 2006 as a rescue from Taiwan. T-Th 11am-6pm "It was a tremendous honor to be the steward of Alices care and for that we will be forever grateful to her," the post says. Birthdays, Christmas, Anniversariessign up now! Georgia Aquarium supplies all needed dive equipment and comfortable changing rooms with showers, lockers and towels. This experience takes place daily at 4:30 p.m. Georgia Aquarium is open 365 days a year with extended opening hours in February, March and April. All rights reserved. Tubing in Georgia: A Must-Have Summer Adventure, exclusive, online-only Explore Georgia discounts. Email us at godive@seaventures.com to schedule a new date! This is a great educational activity for families with curious older children. Sue came to Atlanta after finishing the Walt Disney World College Program where she was a tour guide then guest relations hostess (and no she did not moonlight as Snow White). This exhibit houses thousands of fish, whale sharks, manta rays and Tank the green sea turtle. All gear is provided for the 30-40 minute dive and personal masks are permitted. You can enjoy the experience even more knowing that a portion of the ticket sale goes to support the aquarium's conservation efforts and marine research. Photo courtesy Georgia Aquarium. While in the water, three aquarium divers accompany you; one to lead, one to film and another to make sure everyone (fish and participants) are safely interacting with each other. According to the event page, the Journey With Gentle Giants experience is ''the only opportunity in the world that allows you a guaranteed swim with whale sharks, manta rays, and exotic fish.''. For some reason, I tended to be the problem fish, always floating away from the school. Example video title will go here for this video. A statement in a Monday Facebook post form the Georgia Aquarium said Alice the female whale shark has died. ATLANTA Georgia Aquarium's longest-tenured whale shark is dead after 15 years at the facility. This site uses cookies to enhanceyour experience. You'll see a few galleries tucked beyond the "Employees Only" door. Through routine monitoring and Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Journey with Gentle Giants is the only opportunity in the world where youre guaranteed to dive with whale sharks, manta rays and thousands of other sea creatures. We make no guarantees of any price listed on our site. One word to describe the swimming with whale sharks as part of the Georgia Aquariums Journey with the Gentle Giants Incredible! The program is approximately 2.5 hours, so please plan travel and other Aquarium shows accordingly. Several of our trips are also compensated by the respective tourism boards for the city or state we are visiting. Right: A woman staring up at a whale shark at the Georgia Aquarium. For only $15, you can add a Behind the Seas tour to your ticket, and it is absolutely worth it. First and last names will appear with each comment and the use of pseudonyms is prohibited. The experience includes a tour of the topside of the Ocean Voyager exhibit and a 30-minute guided scuba dive in the habitat (or 1 tank, whichever comes first). The swim or dive lasts 30 40 minutes, during which time you swim in a figure-eight pattern (just like the whale sharks) around the Ocean Voyager tank. The Georgia Aquarium says they decided to euthanize Alice the whale shark. Reasonable accommodations will be made if properly informed of any needs. The experience of gliding through the water with fish that are almost 40 feet long is totally unforgettable and Georgia Aquarium is the only place in the world where you're guaranteed to encounter them!. Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia. Located prominently at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta, the aquarium's exceptional galleries, exciting shows and creative encounters are sure to make this a vacation you will not forget. For the grandest of discounts, book your Atlanta visit at an Aquarium Preferred Hotel, and receive exclusive General Admission Anytime tickets. The can't-miss presentation of your visit is Dolphin Presentation! The whale sharks were very curious and swam right up to us several times. You bring your excitement, and well supply everything you need during and after your dive. The newest encounter is the shark and ray interaction, which is fabulous, and the newest fully immersive program is the Shark Cage Dive. Here's the full statement in the post from Georgia Aquarium: "We are heartbroken to share that our female whale shark, Alice, has passed away. Please note that Narcity Media does not endorse the opinions expressed in the comment section of an article. You will suit up in a wetsuit to snorkel on the surface of the Ocean Voyager gallery, one of the largest aquatic exhibits in the world, with thousands of animals swimming in over six million gallons of water. Wetsuits and equipment are available for customers between 45 and 320 lbs. Its all copyrighted. Its seriously that cool. Multiple dates available dont see one that works for you? All you will need to bring is your swimsuit, proof of open water certification from a nationally or internationally recognized organization and photo identification. After youre changed, the swim/dive team outfits you with snorkel, face mask, gloves and shoes. The staff at the Georgia Aquarium are so well-trained in marine biology, ecology and the encounter experience that they really put you at ease (and get you excited) about getting into the water with some of the worlds largest animals. Known for their placid temperament, these beautiful, ethereal fish are definitely not whales - they are the the world's largest filter feeding sharks. Everyone receives a group photo (taken in full dive gear BEFORE getting in the water) and a t-shirt. GDEcD. I thought of my dad as I watched the sawtooth shark glide along the bottom. Under the Boardwalk is an adorable and informative sea lion presentation that lasts about 20 minutes, showing off the talents of a few rescued pups. Visit Georgia's capital city for an endless array of entertainment and activity. Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia. Suit up to SCUBA dive in the lively waters of the Ocean Voyager exhibit, and have the experience of a lifetime. Are you ready to do this? Those things were big. "She was surrounded by the incredibly dedicated team that cared for her every day," the post reads. For the ultimate aquarium experience, schedule an animal encounter. A group of divers underwater in the Ocean Voyager exhibit. We saw schools of giant grouper, and sharks too. Check out all the great stuff we've added to the store! (1 to 2 emails monthly), Contact Us: 770-992-3772 or godive@seaventures.com, Journey with Gentle Giants Scuba Dive at Georgia Aquarium with SeaVentures. All other marks belong to their respective owners. Sitting in the first few rows increases the likelihood of a shower of sea water from your favorite dolphin friends. Participants must check-in at the Animal Interaction Desk in front of the Ocean Voyager gallery AT LEAST 30 minutes prior to their event time. Next to the gentle giants, this guy was my favorite. Surprisingly, my biggest concern about the Journey with the Gentle Giants was not swimming alongside a none-ton shark; instead, I was preoccupied with fears that my mask wouldnt fit right or that I would have trouble breathing through my mouth. Youll get to swim with a snorkel in the Ocean Voyager exhibit, built by The Home Depot, with thousands of amazing animals for the experience of a lifetime. After youre done swimming with whale sharks, youll shower and change into dry clothes. We had a woman in our group that had never snorkeled before. This experience is available to kids twelve and older as long as they're joined by a participating adult. The exhibit contains 6.3 million gallons of water and ranges from 20 to 30 feet deep (6-9 m) with water temperature controlled at 76F (24C). It makes an incredible gift for someone who loves the ocean or ocean creatures! Any participant under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a participating adult in the water with them with 1:1 adult/kid ratio for kids 12-14, 1:7 ratio for 15-17 year olds. Please dont repost anything elsewhere without asking me first. LAKE BLUE RIDGE CABIN RENTALS FOR YOUR NEXT ESCAPE, ELLIJAY CABIN RENTALS YOURE GOING TO LOVE, ICE CREAM ATLANTA: SENSATIONAL SCREAMIN GOOD TREATS IN ATLANTA (AND GEORGIA), HIGH MUSEUM JAZZ NIGHT AND OTHER UNIQUE DATE NIGHT FUN, HIDDEN SECRETS OF HIGH MUSEUM FREE SUNDAY VISITS. The team made sure to stay with her and even held her hand during the dive. See the Aquarium'swebsite for full details. Yesterday, her condition worsened and despite our teams extraordinary efforts, she did not improve, and the only humane option was to euthanize her. Follow our simple ideas for enhancing your aquarium experience, and saving some cash in the process. She was surrounded by the incredibly dedicated team that cared for her every day, many of whom cared for her since she arrived in 2006. Photo by @hesamusicman. The app is also handy for checking out show times, managing tickets and more. Prior to 365 Atlanta Traveler, Sue published an award winning family travel blog called Field Trips with Sue for eight years, and produced a TV segment with the same name on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta. The highlight is a spectacular view of the whale sharks eating lunch. It was a tremendous honor to be the steward of Alices care and for that we will be forever grateful to her.". Official website of the Georgia Department of Economic Development 2022. We are not responsible for content on external web sites linked from ours, including linked resources, an external blog post, any partner site, hotel property sites, or affiliate sites. We highly recommend you arrive at the Aquarium at least 1 hour prior to allow time for parking, security and check-in. 2019Great American Days. We love all they do to protect our oceans. This program is also an introduction to Georgia Aquariums whale shark research and conservation program with a portion of the proceeds going to support the Aquariums research and conservation efforts. Follow our simple ideas for enhancing your aquarium experience, and save some cash in the process. Check out other discounts (Military Mondays, Georgia Resident Birthdays, Discount Parking, etc.) Dolphin Presentation and Under The Boardwalk are two spectacular animal presentations included with your General Admission ticket; however, you will need to plan accordingly to see them. Whether youre an avid diver or a never-even-gone-snorkeling aquarium enthusiast, this experience is something youll remember for a long, long time. But the Georgia Aquarium team made sure to push me back into place, yet were good to wait until the gentle giant swimming near had passed. Our experience was pretty amazing, but not just because of the whale sharks. Why You Should Go: This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to swim with some of the largest sharks in the world, and view marine life from a brand new perspective. Don't expect to secure a same-day spot. Personal masks and dive computers are permitted but must be disinfected by staff before use. You will have the option to register for an account after your purchase. A Giant Great White Shark Is Near Tybee Island On The Georgia , The Georgia Aquariums One Of The Few Places In The World , One Of The Biggest Sharks In The World Is Near The Carolina Coast , There's A Huge Great White Shark Right Off The Georgia Coast & He's Almost 10 Feet Long - Narcity , Freya, A Teenage Great White Shark, Loves To Lurk The North Carolina Shoreline - Narcity , The Georgia Aquarium Is Hosting An Ultra Rare Shark Event You Can Only See In This US City - Narcity , Experts Say The Sharks Responsible For Recent Long Island Attacks Are Likely Just Confused Teens - Narcity . Posts may contain affiliate links at no cost to you. But if you want to get up close and personal with the ocean's wonders, this unique program will take you below the surface. Open Water certified divers ages 12 and up are eligible to participate in the SCUBA program. Personal masks are permitted. Journey with Gentle Giants is the only opportunity in the world where you are guaranteed to swim with whale sharks, manta rays and more. Follow these insider tips for things to do and places to eat near Centennial Olympic Park, the center of Atlanta's tourist district. I kept trying to move my hair out of the way and thats when my mask got a little off kilter. ), Then, youre off to the locker rooms to change into a wetsuit (the Georgia Aquarium swim with whale sharks program includes all of the equipment; all you need to bring is your swimsuit and enthusiasm!). In order to make this possible, we monitor comments to keep spam, hate speech, violence, and vulgarity off our pages. Visitors to Atlantacan't go wrong with a stop at Georgia Aquarium. Availability: Contact us for booking information. The discussion includes details about the swim/dive and the animals you are about to see (hint: its more than just whale sharks. The Georgia Aquarium has designed the locker room and dive platform to meet ADA regulations. Must be 12+ to attend with nationally recognized proof of Open Water SCUBA certification and photo ID. She was our longest whale shark resident and contributed valuable information to the understanding of whale sharks, but most importantly, she was a larger-than-life ambassador for her species wowing guests from all corners of the globe. The Georgia Aquarium is the only place in the Western Hemisphere where you can go swimming with whale sharks; and probably the only place in the world where you can swim with such a diverse variety of fish. Our divers are with you at all times to answer questions and ensure your safety. Get up close and personal with the ocean's gentle giant, a Whale Shark. Another tip, if you have long hair like I do, make sure to pull it back before getting into the water.
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