When visiting an aquarium, one can expect to get up close and personal with marine life, but Toronto's Ripley's aquarium is taking this one step further through offering interactive and educational scuba diving lessons, that put guests face-to-face with the ocean's top predators.
The facility's Dangerous Lagoon is home to dozens of different creatures, including some that measure 13-feet in length. After partaking in a tour and a safety debriefing, visitors are invited to swim behind the glass, as trained divers guide the individuals through this daring experience. Each underwater tour is about two hours, which provides more than enough time for guests to understand the inner-workings of both the sharks and the people who care for them.
Ripley's donates 10% of the proceeds from the Discovery Dive program to the Shark Research Institute.
Educational Aquarium Diving Programs
Toronto's Ripley's Aquarium Offers an Immersive Scuba Tour
Trend Themes
1. Interactive Aquarium Tours - As technology advances, there will be more opportunities to incorporate educational and interactive experiences for aquarium visitors beyond just observing marine life.
2. Adventure Tourism - The popularity of adventure tourism is on the rise, with activities like scuba diving and other daring experiences becoming more appealing to tourists seeking unique and memorable vacations.
3. Sustainable Tourism - As consumers become more environmentally conscious, there is a growing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable tourism options, including those that support ocean conservation efforts.
Industry Implications
1. Tourism - The tourism industry has an opportunity to incorporate more immersive and interactive experiences like scuba diving to attract adventurous travelers seeking unique and educational experiences.
2. Aquariums - Aquariums can innovate and enhance their visitor experiences by offering more hands-on and educational programs like diving tours that expose guests to marine life and ocean conservation efforts.
3. Conservation Organizations - Conservation organizations, like the Shark Research Institute, can partner with tourism industry businesses to create educational opportunities that not only expose visitors to marine life but raise awareness and funds for ocean conservation efforts.