2024 Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta) Trip Report

By Tyler (The Dive Otter) | October, 2024

The Basics

Book a reservation at least a few months in advance
Make sure your details are correct like height, weight, sizes because your rental gear will be based on it
This is a full "VIP" experience, more on this later
You'll need to also buy a ticket for the aquarium itself
You can bring your own mask and computer, nothing else...but do not have too..they will give you a mask if you need
Must be OW certified
Fill out the online waiver to speed up checkin

Show up on the 2nd floor checkin desk at least 30min before your reserved time
A divemaster (red shirt) will show up and confirm your physical particulars (height, weight, sizes) and your certification
If they have enough volunteers that day, any non-diver friends/family can get a behind the scene tour for free
You will be guided to a "back stage" door and given a quick briefing on wet flooring and then in you go to the small training room / office
If you didn't bring a buddy you will pair up with someone so they can create a two-by-two dive conga line you are about to do

You'll be diving a Jacket BCD (Seac) and a traditional hose configuration
You will be provided a wetsuit and boots to put on in the locker room
The water temperature is ~75F
Weights are pre-installed into the BCD based on the measurements you gave when you signed up (it was spot on for me!)
Once suited, walk out...pickup your disinfected and defogged mask (and computer) and walk to the dock and find the BCD with your name next to it and sit down with legs off the side of the dock in the water.
Put on your fins and wait until someone comes to help you into your pre-configured gear...which is strange to be honest...this is "VIP" diving and I don't like it.
Wait until you are pointed at and forward roll into the water
Give the OK sign and the divemaster will descend with you and then have you kneel in a line while everyone else descends and joins you.

You will have (1) divemaster/leader, (1) safety diver and (1) videographer
My SPG had 2100 PSI when I started as did my "buddy" and I ended with ~1000 PSI on a ~35min dive...so it wasn't a mistake
This is a HIGHLY orchestrated dive. The divemaster will head off and the safety diver will point at each pair and tell you to follow about 6ft apart.
You must stay in the bottom third of the water column because of the whale shark and manta rays
At least three times during the dive (beginning, middle and end) you will be asked to kneel on the sand, check PSI and signal OK to the divemaster
The dive plan involves at least 3 photo opportunities that do not involve the "for pay" videographer.
After descent, you will move from the shallow end of the aquarium to the deep side by crossing over the underwater tunnel.
You will then do two circuits in front of the large gallery window
When you head back for ascent, you will cross over the underwater tunnel again

You will exit via a ladder, a divemaster will ask about your dive and how you feel and then another divemaster will remove your BCD for you.
You head to the locker room to shower and remove your wetsuit and change back into your street clothes
Once everyone is ready, you head back to the classroom
"Free" stickers and Tshirts are handed out and you get to watch the video that was taken of your dive. Yes..of your dive...not a stock video.
You will be pitched to purchase the video and any other swag you want like more Tshirts, hats, etc
The entire experience lasts about 3 hours with ~35min in water