Swim with the fish at Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach - Travel - LATimes.com

Swim with the fish at Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach - Travel - LATimes.com

Scuba divers who prefer diving in 80-degree water rather than our local 65- to 75-degree waters, can pay for an afternoon dive in the Tropical Reef Habitat at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.  No plane ticket to the Caribbean or Micronesia needed — just your swimsuit and dive card.
The aquarium launched its “Dive Immersion program” on June 1.  It costs $299 ($279 for aquarium members) for a 2 1/2-hour session offered daily, 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The program includes:

• A personal behind-the-scenes tour of the dive program;
• All equipment except your swimsuit (mask, fins, wetsuit, BCD, air tank, weights, etc.);
• A dive lasting approximately 45 minutes in the 350,000-gallon Tropical Reef Habitat, which contains more than 1,000 animals, including sea turtles, zebra and blacktip reef sharks, porcupine puffers, groupers, clownfish (like Nemo), sea horses and sea dragons.

• An underwater digital camera to use during your dive — you leave with the memory card containing the pictures you shoot using the aquarium’s camera.
• A certificate of completion;
• A souvenir towel.

The maximum number of divers is four, so neither the divers nor the fish feel crowded.  The Tropical Reef Habitat mimics the waters off Palau in Micronesia and features 16 exhibits.
Divers need their swimsuit, a photo identification card and proof that they have been certified for open-water diving by a nationally recognized scuba-certifying agency such as PADI, NAUI or SSI.   Many divers bring their own mask and booties but let the aquarium supply the rest of the gear.  Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance.  The experience may cost a bit more than a local boat dive, but the fees help support the nonprofit aquarium.
The Aquarium of the Pacific also welcomes scuba-diving volunteers.  Divers must be available for one four-hour shift per week, have rescue diver certification and have logged at least 50 open-water dives.
More information is available at: Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA  90802; (562) 590-3100.
– Terry Gardner, Special to the Los Angeles Times