Walt Disney World offers a lot of tours. Most of them are very expensive, and very few are good for kids (i.e., there’s a lot of walking).

When we were last there, I took the opportunity to sign up for DiveQuest at Epcot. Basically, it’s a chance to scuba dive in the huge aquarium at Epcot’s The Seas with Nemo and Friends pavilion. It may not be the Caribbean or the Great Barrier Reef, but it’s certainly a unique place to dive.

I’ve been diving in Hawaii, the Philippines, and Thailand. Obviously, this was the clearest water with the most…well-curated fish.

Unfortunately, no photos were allowed while on the tour. So I don’t have any cool shots of backstage to share.

The aquarium is a 5.7 million gallon saltwater tank, and they claim to have more than 6,000 sea creatures: turtles, shark, rays, and all variety of fish. You do not swim with the dolphins, though. They’re in the same enormous tank, but there’s a gate separating them from the rest of the animals. So you can see them, but you’re just not that close.

The tour began outside Epcot’s gates, so park admission is not required. We were taken in through a cast member entrance and got to see a little bit of “backstage” that visitors don’t see (i.e., parking lots and the back of The Seas pavilion). Outside, we got to see (from a distance) the water filtration system they have on-site for the aquarium. Inside, we got to peek into some of the labs and storage rooms they utilize for food prep, medical care, water analysis, etc. We were also taken behind the manatee enclosure to see some of the “guts” of the impressive facility.

Once we were suited up in our wetsuits, we were guided into the public area of The Seas, got a guided tour of the aquarium from the public side, and were put at the front of the line for the Nemo & Friends ride. In our wetsuits. We were quite the parade.

Finally, it was time for the dive. Up above the aquarium’s water level, you get a true sense for how large the tank is. And for how much work goes into maintaining the facility and caring for that number of fish.

Yup, that’s me.

In terms of equipment, they took care of everything. We didn’t need to hook up the tanks, regulators, or anything. We just needed to strap in and start swimming. Same for post-dive. The crew there took care of everything.

The actual dive was about 40 minutes, and we were given immense freedom. Technically, we were on a buddy system, but the dive masters just need to be able to see everyone. With water that clear, visibility isn’t a problem, so we were free to go almost anywhere we wanted.

It’s a toss-up for which is more memorable: swimming with the sharks and thousands of beautiful fish…or hamming it up for visitors to The Seas and eating dinner at the Coral Reef Restaurant. It was a blast to flip upside down and play rock paper scissors with some of the kids in the restaurant.

Verdict? If you’re a diver, this is a great experience. It’s expensive, so that weighs heavily against it. But it’s certainly nice to do once. I’m not sure I’d ever do it again.

Keep the following in mind:

• You need to be SCUBA certified, obviously. And remember to bring your card, since they collect them for verification.
• There are two tours daily, and the times vary depending on time of year.
• The entire tour runs about 3 hours.
• I was on a 5:30 tour and was let out into the park afterward, so we were able to catch Illuminations without paying admission. (But I wouldn’t count on this being the norm.)
• The tour isn’t cheap. It’s currently on the website as $175, but there’s a discount if you use a Disney Visa card.
• Friends or family cannot come backstage with you at all. They’ll be able to see you in the tank while you’re under water (and wave through the window), but they’ll have to pay park admission to get there.
• An underwater cameraman is in the tank with you, and they offer a nicely edited video of your dive. For an added fee. I don’t remember how much it was. Something on the order of $35, if I recall.

To schedule a tour, call (407) WDW-TOUR. I had no trouble, and the people taking the reservations were cheerful and helpful as always.