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Published: November 22nd 2009
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Swimming with sharks
Here is the shuttle crew. No, actually, this is the swimming crew before we entered the pool. Are you familiar with whale sharks? Well, I can say without hesitation that I am. I have actually been bumped by a large male shark in the flesh and lived to talk about it. Where, you say? Where else - the Georgia Aquarium.
My three daughters joined together to buy me the opportunity as a Christmas gift in 2008. I decided to wait for the summer to do my swim. Summer came and summer went and I still did not have a reservation.
So, now that school was back in session, I realized that I needed to move quickly to avoid expiration. I booked for Sunday, October 18th. Since all the grandkids live here in the Atlanta area, I was hoping that they could all come down to watch. Unfortunately, a few could not come due to school and sport activities.
But those that did got a real treat. Hannah, Ted, Claire and Grace were able to join me along with Jackie, Jennifer and Melissa. Our condo friend, Arden, and her visiting niece, Madison, also joined us.
We arrived at the Aquarium early enough to tour the facility. It is all wonderful but maybe I should not
Georgia Aquarium
Melissa, Hannah and Jackie check out the fish in the coral reef tank. have toured the new exhibit on the Great White Sharks! Now that was scary. And just before I was climbing in the pool with numerous sharks! What was I thinking?
At the appointed time, which is closing time for the aquarium, I went to the assigned spot to meet with the other people that came to swim. We were taken to a classroom for our safety instruction and swim briefing. There were seven guests in total that would be in the pool. In addition there would be a guide leading the group, another safety swimmer that followed, and a diver filming the event.
I was impressed with the care the staff took to sanitize everything. As we entered in our dress clothes, we had to step in a shallow pool of antiseptic to clean the soles of our shoes. One woman asked to use her own snorkeling equipment and was told she could but it would all have to be cleaned before use. I guess they put the entire aquarium at risk if they did not take these precautions.
After the briefing and getting our wetsuits, we were led to a dressing room to change. Then we
Georgia Aquarium
Here are the spectators. Claire, Grace, Hannah and Ted pose with Papa before the swim. returned poolside to get our breathing apparatus and further instructions. Then it was time to enter the pool. Since I was the odd man, I was last to enter and followed the others. This was okay because at times I allowed them to get a big lead giving me the feeling that I was alone in the pool.
For the swim we did a figure eight. There are four whale sharks in the pool along with many other sharks and other fish such as giant grouper, sawfish, hammerhead sharks, etc. The whale sharks do a nature figure eight in the pool as well. Therefore, we had those monsters passing just under us for the entire thirty minute swim. One of my favorites, beyond the whale sharks, was the manta ray. They are the largest of the ray species. There were several in the pool and some seemed to have at least 15 foot spans.
During the time I was in the pool, my family and friends were given a great treat. They got a full “backstage” tour including meeting with me and the others for a viewing of the video after the swim. I hope to return one
Georgia Aquarium
Madison, Claire, Ted, Hannah, and Grace touch the jelly fish in the pool. day when someone else in the family does this swim so that I can do the backstage tour too.
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