Maui Ocean Center Shark Dive

[JokerGirl]

Does anyone have experience with this? I'm going to Maui in November for my wedding, and am interested in maybe doing the Ocean Center's shark dive.

It's a little pricey, at $199, but to be in a tank with a 9ft Tiger as well as Hammerheads and the like would be amazing. I see the price as more of a "donation" to the Maui Ocean Center, which really does an awesome job at taking care of their animals.

I havn't had a chance to see a shark on any dives I've done yet, so it would be my first time experience.

Thanks!

 

[Romedizz]

I did the Shark Dive back at the end of May and it was amazing! There were only two of us so we had the whole tank to ourselves. You def have to check out the spotted eagle in there, its the friendliest I've ever seen and loves to play. The sharks are quite inquisitive as well, I have pics and video if you'd like to see them I have no problem sharing!

- Jeff

 

[JokerGirl]

I would love to see them, if you wouldn't mind!

 

[Capt_Cully]

I was there in April. That Tiger was a little too big for my tastes. The eagle ray was definitely beautiful. While we were watching one of the reef sharks tore into a trevali and like 10 others finished the job in under 10 seconds. I'm gonna stick to my side of the glass when it comes to that tank.

God bless ya for taking the plunge. It's gonna be a rush.....

Not good, but here's the Tiger...

Here's the tank from the outside with one more Trevali in it than when I left.....

 

[Capt_Cully]

sorry those guys are jacks....not trevali...

 

[sunfishh]

JokerGirl please tell us what it was like to dive the tiger tank.

Capt_Cully great story

 

[Capt_Cully]

thanks, and No, thats not me in the fancy shorts. just some random dude.

 

[ezcompany]

a 9 ft Tiger would be a real rush.....

 

[eland]

Come do some diving on the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and save your $200.

 

[copps]

I'd also recommend the dive... I did it last year and it was worth it for the tiger shark alone... I also just returned from MACNA where I dove with the whale sharks, manta ray, and a VERY girthy and curious 9 foot great hammerhead that followed us through the dive...

Anyway, here are a few shots... the first one my wife got me following the tiger shark, which is usually one of the "get out of the water when you see it" sharks... what the heck... we live once!

Copps

 

[phk36]

wow not for me

 

[Capt_Cully]

Great shots!! But I'll stick to taking mine from the dry side of the glass!

 

[DocMark]

I will do this dive next time in Maui.
Look forward to your reports.
mark

 

[Pink Ocean]

That is definitely something I would not be able to do without panicking.

 

[JokerGirl]

Just got back from Maui. The tiger shark wasn't there for some reason. I ended up not doing the dive because my brother wanted to dive with me, so we went to Molokini and a boat wreck off of Ulua beach in Wailea.

Still on my books for next time, though.

 

[sunfishh]

Wow those pics of the tiger are awesome.

Joker I think they only keep tigers until they start to do badly and then they release them back into the wild.

Jokergirl and copps what is the cost of diving in the aquarium?

 

[copps]

They keep the tigers until they grow to a certain size... then release them... the cost of the dive was ~$200... expensive maybe... but you keep the memories for a lifetime and forget the cost quickly... That was an eventful Hawaii trip... check out this thread for other events of that trip here...

Copps

 

[Phillybean]

Wow, I can't imagine diving with a Tiger Shark. They must keep him well fed :lol: