Two years ago, we visited Aruba for the first time and instantly fell in love with the beautiful Dutch Caribbean Island nation. With daily picture-perfect warm and sunny weather, gorgeous white sand beaches, and breathtaking clear blue waters, Aruba rightfully earns its nickname, “One Happy Island”. Among the countless happy moments we enjoyed while vacationing there, my oldest son discovered a pastime that has since opened his eyes to a brand new world. Snorkeling in Aruba’s calm and clear waters was a huge hit for him, and he ultimately became inspired to explore more than what he could see just from the surface.
Ever the adventurer, he started researching Scuba certification soon after returning home from our second Aruba vacation. He found a highly-rated PADI 5-Star dive center local to us and signed up for his first Scuba training course with them. After several weeks of comprehensive classroom instruction, pool training sessions, and six open water checkout dives, he completed all the requirements to earn his PADI Open Water Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy, and Coral Reef Conservation certifications. He was so excited and, as luck would have it, he would soon be able to take advantage of the perks of this accomplishment.
When our kids were younger, we spent many Disney vacation days exploring the Seas With Nemo & Friends Pavilion in Epcot. They were happy to spend entire mornings riding the Finding Nemo attraction, watching Turtle Talk with Crush, and exploring the pavilion’s impressive 5.7-million-gallon saltwater aquarium. I vaguely recall seeing people in scuba gear swimming around occasionally during those visits, but I assumed they were Cast Members at work keeping everything functioning smoothly in the aquarium. About a month after my son became Scuba-certified, however, it dawned on me to further investigate my memories of those Scuba-clad swimmers. I soon realized they had likely been part of the Epcot Seas Adventures – DiveQuest experience. I shared the details of my discovery with my son and, sure enough, he was thrilled by the idea and decided to make a reservation for our Disney World trip that was just weeks away.
Epcot DiveQuest is part of Walt Disney World’s Enchanting Extras Collection of add-on experiences and is available to be booked for guests aged 10 years and older who are Scuba-certified. (Guests aged 10 to 15 must be accompanied by a participating adult.) This 2-hour experience is offered daily at 2 PM and 5 PM. Participants enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the Seas Pavilion followed by a leisurely dive in the saltwater aquarium. Reservations for Dive Quest can be made up to 60 days before your visit, and are highly recommended as spots are limited. Same-day reservations and walk-ins may be accommodated, subject to availability.
On the day of my son’s reservation, we arrived at Epcot’s main entrance about a half hour ahead of his scheduled time slot. Check-in started 15 minutes before the experience, just outside of Guest Relations. During check-in, the Education Manager of The Seas with Nemo & Friends greeted the participating guests, took pictures of their PADI certification cards and photo IDs, recorded their wetsuit and dive boot sizes, and gave them waivers to fill out and sign. (Guests aged 10 to 17 also need a parent or guardian present to sign a waiver.) Once these pre-requisite tasks were complete, the DiveQuest tour manager took over the reins and asked the divers to introduce themselves and tell the group how long they’d been diving and their favorite Scuba experience. My son’s group was a mix of seasoned and novice divers. The tour manager was very excited for the newly certified divers and assured them that the aquarium’s calm waters with minimal current, great visibility, and the opportunity to swim with over 2,000 sea creatures would make for a wonderful first dive. After checking to see if anyone had any last questions, we parted ways with my son and he followed the tour manager and the rest of the divers backstage to begin the DiveQuest experience.
DiveQuest begins with a 45-minute guided tour of the aquarium in Epcot’s Seas Pavilion, complete with fun and interesting information about the aquatic animals in the tank and the staff’s daily tasks. My son enjoyed the tour and said highlights for him included seeing the separate habitat where Epcot’s two resident manatees are kept and the kitchen where the meals for each animal are customized and prepared. After the tour, participants were taken to locker rooms to change into their swimsuits and prepare for the dive. All diving equipment was provided, including a shorty wetsuit, dive boots, BCD, fins, mask, and unlimited air tanks. (Except for a dive mask, no other personal dive equipment is permitted during this experience.) Once the divers were suited up, they were escorted to a catwalk above the aquarium that they used as a final prep point. PhotoPass photographers were on hand to take a picture of each diver, and then they lowered themselves into the water.
Once all the divers were in the tank, they followed the lead Dive Master for one full lap around the aquarium to get acclimated, and then they were free to explore for the remainder of their dive. Cameras and video equipment are not allowed backstage or in the water. Still, it was easy for friends and family to record and photograph the divers from the aquarium’s giant windows.
The divers spent 40 minutes in the Seas aquarium swimming amongst various marine animals including sea turtles, sand sharks, and sting rays. The clear and calm waters allowed divers terrific views of all the aquatic species, ensuring a memorable experience for everyone. My son said his favorite part of the dive was actually something he hadn’t expected – the opportunity to interact with park guests at the aquarium. The kids visiting that afternoon were thrilled to see the divers, and my son took notice and swam up close to one of the windows to wave hi to a small group that had gathered. He motioned “rock, paper, scissors” signs to suggest this game, and they eagerly agreed to play along with him. He had so much fun, and seeing the kids light up and make memories of their own with him was so heartwarming to watch.
At the end of the 40 minutes, the divers resurfaced and were helped out of the aquarium and escorted back to the locker rooms to shower and change. Towels, shampoo, soap, and hair dryers were all provided. Once everyone was ready, the tour manager walked the divers back to Guest Relations at Epcot’s main entrance. The divers got their dive logbooks signed, and they were each gifted a souvenir wet bag. And this concluded the Epcot DiveQuest experience!
Seeing my son in his element and enjoying his newfound passion was such a treat for our family! Unless my husband, kids, or I become Scuba certified, it is unlikely that we’ll be able to watch him dive again as we did during DiveQuest. I am so thankful that we could share some of this unique experience with him! And while DiveQuest may not be the end-all and be-all of scuba diving, my son still had a wonderful time and I know he will always treasure the memories of that special afternoon.
