An adrenaline-fuelled feat like no other: Diving with sharks at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium
We sent a journalist to take the plunge at Sea Life Melbourne’s new Shark Dive Xtreme to swim alongside resident sharks, turtles and stingrays without a cage. Watch the video.
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“Do you want to go diving with sharks?”
When I was told I’d be thrown in the deep end working as a journalist, I didn’t think that meant literally.
On Friday, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to take the plunge at Sea Life Melbourne’s recently refurbished 2.2 million-litre Oceanarium for their relaunched Shark Dive Xtreme.
Wetsuited-up and strapped to a 30kg oxygen tank, we sank down without a cage to the bottom of the tank before coming face-to-fin with tawny nurse, leopard and grey reef sharks rushing by us.
I was brushed by a sea turtle and stunned by the size of the largetooth saw fish eerily laying below me, all while young kids gawked and waved on the other side of the glass.
Standing on the tank floor, an enormous ray named Neptune flapped its wings on its way closer, and I’ll admit, I was quick to reach for my instructor the second I spotted its stinger.
I’d never scuba-dived before and I’m not a super strong swimmer, but Sea Life diving instructors Cenzo and Kate showed me the ropes and stayed close by my side the entire dive to keep me feeling calm.
The Melbourne aquarium is one of the few places in Australia those 14 and up can swim with marine life in a safe and controlled environment. It was an adrenaline-fuelled feat I will remember forever.
Originally published as An adrenaline-fuelled feat like no other: Diving with sharks at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium
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