Georgia Aquarium, Inc.

Atlanta,  GA 
United States
http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/dema

Welcome to Georgia Aquarium! Among the world's largest!

Journey with Gentle Giants Dive Program

Dive into the depths of Ocean Voyager. This exhibit is so big it actually qualifies as an open water dive! Get up close and personal with rays, sharks, and groupers while mantas and whale sharks swim overhead. It's an unforgettable SCUBA adventure. All equipment is provided for your dive although guests can bring their personal mask. Entire experience is filmed in HD and is available for purchase.  

Journey with Gentle Giants Swim Program

Journey with Gentle Giants is the only opportunity in the world where you are guaranteed to swim with whale sharks, manta rays and more. Guests 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.

NEW!  Shark Cage Dive Program

Beginning January 2021, guests at Georgia Aquarium will be able to don a wetsuit and venture into the deep with some of the most fearsome sharks in this new animal interaction in our NEW Sharks! Predators of the Deep gallery.

Dive Shops receive wholesale rates on all programs.  Now booking for 2020 and 2021!

Don't forget to ask about the new Shark and Ray Interaction as well!

 Press Releases

• ‘SHARKS!’ Has Surfaced at Georgia Aquarium (Oct 28, 2020)

  ATLANTA (November 10, 2020) - Years in the making, Georgia Aquarium’s long-awaited and newest gallery, ‘SHARKS! Predators of the Deep’, has opened to the public. On Friday, October 23, 2020 we opened this new gallery and guests are now able to see one of the largest shark exhibits anywhere in the world.

  “On behalf of the dedicated staff at Georgia Aquarium, we are excited to announce the opening of our new gallery, Sharks! Predators of the Deep. A lot of work went into creating a spectacular guest experience, including new features and interactive elements that were designed for guests of all ages and abilities,” said Dr. Brian Davis, president and CEO of Georgia Aquarium.
  
  Featuring many unique elements and state-of-the-art technology, guests are guaranteed to have an unforgettable experience with one of nature’s most formidable apex predators. Sharks are featured in the 20-foot-deep, 185-foot-long exhibit and can be spotted in the floor-to-ceiling acrylic windows. Thousands of pilchard fish also shimmer and school throughout the 1.2 million gallons of saltwater amongst the sharks. The exhibit also accompanies an entirely new main entrance to the Aquarium.

  “As guests explore our new gallery, they will find themselves standing inches away from some of the most feared and mysterious animals on the planet,” said Dr. Davis. “We hope to turn that fear into fascination and ultimately an appreciation for sharks. Our goal is to have guests leave with a deeper understanding of all shark species and a respect to protect them.”
  
  Two brand-new immersive and interactive experiences are available for guests to get even closer to sharks and rays. In a one-of-a-kind immersive experience guests will go behind-the-scenes and wade into an immersion pool attached to the main shark habitat. Accompanied by Georgia Aquarium staff, guests will learn about zebra sharks and stingrays while simultaneously being in the water with these animals. This immersion experience is available starting November 2020 and reservations can be made now here.

  In addition to zebra sharks and stingrays, guests can be submerged into the waters of the main habitat and get daringly close to the sharks – from the safety of a dive cage that moves underwater. No dive certification is necessary as participants are guided by Georgia Aquarium Dive staff. The dive cage experience is available beginning in 2021 and reservations are available now here.

  The Aquarium hosted a virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony presented by general contractors, Brasfield & Gorrie on October 23, 2020 to commemorate the opening of the new exhibit.

  As a leader in aquatic research and exceptional animal care, Georgia Aquarium is dedicated to fostering a deeper appreciation for our ocean and the animals that call it home, including sharks. Georgia Aquarium has been performing important research on shark species like hammerheads, sand tigers, and tiger sharks in conjunction with this new endeavor. From tracking hammerheads in Floridian waters to nutritional research on tiger sharks in the Bahamas, the non-profit organization hopes to contribute important scientific knowledge to shark conservation, in addition to learning from and caring for the sharks at Georgia Aquarium.

  SHARKS! Predators of the Deep is included with General Admission and ticket reservations are available now. Due to COVID-19 precautions, guests are required to purchase entry tickets in advance of their visit. To purchase your tickets, visit georgiaaquarium.org. 

• Take A Journey with the Some of the Ocean’s Giants (Oct 28, 2020)

  ATLANTA (November 10, 2020) - Georgia Aquarium’s Journey with Gentle Giants Program is the only opportunity in the world where you are guaranteed to get in the water with whale sharks, manta rays, and thousands of other sea creatures. The Aquarium offers both swim and dive programs so that every guest can see these incredible creatures up close.

  Journey with Gentle Giants: Swim

  In the Journey with Gentle Giants swim program, you will be surrounded by whale sharks, manta rays, and many other incredible sea creatures.

  This experience is approximately 2.5 hours, with a tour of behind the scenes of Ocean Voyager Built by The Home Depot and a 30-minute swim. Our Ocean Voyager exhibit contains 6.3 million gallons of water and houses thousands of fish including whale sharks, zebra sharks, and several species of rays, just to name a few! This program is also an introduction to Georgia Aquarium’s whale shark research and conservation program with a portion of the proceeds going to support the Aquarium’s research and conservation efforts.

  Georgia Aquarium’s dive team give guests an overview of the swim and information about the animals they will see. Guest will then don a wet suit and swim with a snorkel in Ocean Voyager. This immersion allows guests to swim alongside thousands of amazing animals, giving them the experience of a lifetime.

  Don’t worry about having prior snorkeling experience, Georgia Aquarium dive masters will be with you at all times to answer questions and ensure your safety. Wet suits, snorkel, masks, and towels are all provided. You will also receive a souvenir photo and an exclusive t-shirt.

  To book your swim experience or to learn more, click here.

  Journey with Gentle Giants: Dive

  In our Journey with Gentle Giants Dive program, you dive deep down into the waters of our Ocean Voyager Exhibit. For guests with SCUBA certification, this is the opportunity of a lifetime to be surrounded by our ocean’s giants and many other creatures.

  The experience includes a tour of behind the scenes of the Ocean Voyager Built by The Home Depot exhibit and a 30-minute guided scuba dive in the habitat. Our Ocean Voyager exhibit contains 6.3 million gallons of water and houses thousands of fish including whale sharks, zebra sharks, and several species of rays, just to name a few! This program is also an introduction to Georgia Aquarium’s whale shark research and conservation program with a portion of the proceeds going to support the Aquarium’s research and conservation efforts.

  During the program, our dive team will give guests an overview of the dive as well as information about the animals they will see. Guest will then change into their wet suits and SCUBA dive in Ocean Voyager.

  Georgia Aquarium dive masters lead the group through the exhibit and ensure your safety. Georgia Aquarium supplies wet suits, masks, scuba equipment, and towels. You will also receive a souvenir photo and an exclusive t-shirt.

  Please note that in order to participate in the dive program, guests must provide proof of autonomous Open Water SCUBA certification from a nationally or internationally recognized organization.

  To book your dive experience or to learn more, contact Mich Franklin at mfranklin@georgiaaquarium.org. 

• Turn Your Fear into Fascination with our Shark Cage Dive (Oct 28, 2020)

  ATLANTA (November 10, 2020) - Georgia Aquarium now offers guests the thrilling opportunity to get in the water with sharks! This immersive experience was designed to bring guests up-close and personal with one of the ocean’s most feared creatures. This program was created with the intent of turning that “fear” into “fascination” by educating our guests on the importance of sharks to our oceans’ ecosystem. This experience is an exploration behind the scenes of our Sharks! Predators of the Deep gallery, and an in-depth look into Georgia Aquarium’s research and conservation efforts with sharks and rays.

  Guests will don wetsuits and be fully submerged into our shark habitat from the safety of a dive cage. The cage will seamlessly glide throughout the waters of the exhibit, giving guests a thrilling view as sharks swim past just feet away. The program lasts for approximately two and a half hours and includes an educational orientation on the biology, care, training, study, and conservation of different shark species; an exclusive behind the scenes look at the shark habitat; and an exciting cage dive experience.

  Our “Sharks! Predators of the Deep” is a 20’ deep habitat that contains 1.2 million gallons of saltwater. This habitat houses several shark species, including the incredible great hammerhead and sand tiger sharks, which guests will get the opportunity to see during the cage dive.

  Guests are not required to be dive certified to participate in this program and do not need prior experience. However, we do suggest participants are comfortable in the water and be open to new experiences. Members of our dive team will be in the cage at all times ensure everyone’s safety and comfort. All participants are provided with wet suits, towels, and the appropriate gear inside the shark cage. Guests will also receive a souvenir photo after the experience.

  Book your spot now be one of the first to experience this new program, beginning January 1, 2021. This program has a very limited schedule and capacity for reservations. To purchase your tickets or to learn more about our cage dive and other experiences, please contact Mich Franklin at mfranklin@georgiaaquarium.org. 

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