There’s nothing like scuba diving or snorkeling in the open ocean. But if you’re far away from the deep blue, the following US aquariums offer diving and snorkeling experiences that closely mimic the real thing. Some of these aquariums will even let you dive or snorkel with different sea creatures, making the trip worthwhile.
8 US Aquariums that Allow Indoor Scuba Diving & Snorkeling
- Caribbean Coral Reef at Walt Disney World
- National Aquarium
- Georgia Aquarium
- Downtown Aquarium
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Adventure Aquarium
- Shark Reef Aquarium at the Mandalay Bay Hotel
- Aquarium of the Pacific
Caribbean Coral Reef at Walt Disney World (Orlando, Florida)
Kicking off our list of aquariums with indoor scuba diving and snorkeling experiences is Walt Disney World’s Caribbean Coral Reef. You can explore this family-friendly attraction through the theme park’s Epcot DiveQuest tour. With over 6,000 sea creatures to see in 5.7 million gallons of saltwater, this aquarium is a veritable underwater paradise. It boasts clear waters with no current, which gives visitors stunning views of sea turtles, angelfish, and more.
To enjoy this Disney scuba diving experience, guests must be over ten years of age and should have a diving certification. Disney World also requires DiveQuest participants to present C-cards or verification from a certifying dive agency before the tour. Diving this aquarium takes around 40 minutes.
National Aquarium (Baltimore, Maryland)
If you’re over 18 and open water certified, Baltimore’s National Aquarium will let you dive in a replica of an Atlantic coral reef. This 335,000-gallon replica of a regional coral reef houses nearly a thousand marine animals. After an hour of orientation, experienced staff from the Atlantic Edge Diving Center will lead you on a guided tour. Don’t forget to bring your wetsuit, mask, snorkel, and booties or diving fins for a great underwater experience.
If you can’t get enough of the denizens in this Baltimore aquarium dive, you can apply for the National Aquarium’s volunteer diver program. As a volunteer diver, you’ll help the staff maintain the aquarium’s award-winning exhibits, as well as look after its critters.
Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta, Georgia)
For people who want to dive with whale sharks but can’t get to their natural habitat, we’ve got some good news for you. The Georgia Aquarium’s Journey with Gentle Giants program gives you a rare chance to dive with whale sharks and many more sea creatures.
During this 2.5-hour Georgia Aquarium diving experience, certified divers aged 12 and older get to don scuba gear and descend into the 6.3-million-gallon tank. But if you’re looking for a unique diving experience with whale sharks, the Georgia Aquarium offers a rebreather program that lets you use a rebreather during your dive. You’ll spend 60 minutes inside the aquarium’s Ocean Voyager exhibit as part of this activity.
Downtown Aquarium (Denver, Colorado)
An amazing snorkeling experience with sharks and rays awaits visitors age 12 and up (an adult must accompany guests under 18) at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey. During this 1 hour, 45-minute tour, you’ll enjoy diving with, and feeding, sharks and rays. But before you can take the plunge, aquarium staff will brief you on these critters and how you should interact with them. Plus, everyone gets a souvenir mask, snorkel, and T-shirt to commemorate the tour.
The Shark Reef Aquarium at the Mandalay Bay Hotel (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Yearning for more adventure than the tables can give you in Vegas? How about trying a shark dive at Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef Aquarium? Certified instructors lead intrepid certified open water divers age 18 and up through the 1.3-million-gallon Shipwreck exhibit, which houses seven species of sharks (including sand tiger, white-tip reef, and sandbar sharks).
While the aquarium provides everything that divers need (including a chainmail suit), you’ll need your swimsuit, toiletries, and mask to go with their equipment. As part of the Shark Reef package, you’ll get a professional video of your dive.
Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach, California)
While visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must for water lovers making their way to California, the state has another great aquarium worth checking out. Enter Long Beach’s Aquarium of the Pacific, an aquarium that hosts the 350,000-gallon Tropical Reef Habitat exhibit. This attraction takes you up close and personal with over 600 tropical fish species and gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the aquarium’s dive program, all within 2.5 hours.
The Tropical Reef Habitat is open to guests age 15 and up, but keep in mind that underage divers (15-17 years old) will need a supervising adult to sign up for the dive tour. Guests must also present their Open Water certifications and picture ID cards on their actual tour dates. And if you’re wondering whether you should bring your dive equipment or not, aquarium staff will provide the necessary gear for you.
