TL sharks ?

[tylers5592]

Hi

i have never been to any of the water parks. but my friend said that when she was at typhoon Lagoon that when she swam with the sharks they told everybody not to go underwater. she did of course and there was a thin piece of glass seperating them and the sharks
is this true ?
if you can answer my question , thank you

 

[Buzzforprez]

I doubt it. Never saw any glass when I went there a few years back. Water was frigid cold. A shark actually swam between my legs at the staging area where the hostess tells you the rules. They said no diving due to "environmental" concerns. The sharks were all small, about 1 - 1 1/2 feet in length. They were all probably less agressive species and no need for any glass. Also, it is a long way across the pool and if you are not comfortable with swimming you may have problems. No areas to stop and adjust the mask. Maybe that is why they don't allow diving.

 

[Captain Hank]

I recall reading in a guidebook that there is a piece of plexiglass between the swimmer and the sharks. I've never done it to confirm, but I do believe it is there.

 

[Zack Attack]

There is no glass. You do swim with the sharks. The sharks are only little sharks like hammerheads.

 

[mkt]

 

[DizkneeBoi]

I did this on my last trip for the first time and let me tell you it isn't that big of a deal. There wasn't any glass because a shark actually touched my foot. Anyways it was cool and all but it was WAY TOO frickin' cold! I thought I was going into hypothermia...

 

[Fantasmic!329]

Sharks

No areas to stop and adjust the mask. QUOTE]
Correction to Buzz. There is a small 'island' of rocks in the middle where you can stop if needbe and a lifeguard will swim over to help you.
Back to the topic:
I did this Aug. '04 and there was not any plexiglass. Maybe your friend was talking about when you walk through the submarine type thing and you can see the sharks through plexiglass.
The water is freezing in there. You have to swim very quickly before you go crazy from the cold.
There are two different tanks you can swim in, but only one was opened while I was there due to Planning VHS/DVD filming. (That's what I was told.)

 

[Master Yoda]

I have done the shark reef more times than I can count. It is my favorite feature of TL. There is no glass, plexy glass or any other barrier between you and the bottom of the tank. The rules are that you are not allowed to dive below the surface of the water and disturb the fish at the bottom of the tank. There is an island at about 1/3 the length of the tank for you to adjust your mask. And to confirm pervious posts the water is cold but not unbearable definitely warmer that the average springs you can swim in around Fl. The glass that is being referred to is probably in the viewing tank.

 

[launchpad03]

I was a lifeguard at TL for a few months in '03

There was (is) no glass seperating you and the sharks.

There is a place where those who don't wish to swim, or after one swims where you can down in between the two "pools" (they alternate with ones the guests can swim in daily to give the fish a break / feed them / etc.). Here the sharks, rays and other fish are and in view the while you stay dry. There are glass windows there, so maybe that is where the mix-up is from...

The picture above did look hammerhead-like, but when I was there, we were told that the sharks were "Leopard Sharks." and there was one in particular that bit a couple lifeguards when they had to dive to retrieve lost articles and such... nothin too painful though...

 

[xfkirsten]

There is no glass. You do swim with the sharks. The sharks are only little sharks like hammerheads.

That just sounds really funny, cause hammerheads aren't that small. Juvenile hammerheads, maybe. I haven't been to TL in nearly 10 years, but my guess is they're actually bonnetheads, which look like mini hammerheads. That's what they look like from MKT's photo.

 

[xfkirsten]

The picture above did look hammerhead-like, but when I was there, we were told that the sharks were "Leopard Sharks." and there was one in particular that bit a couple lifeguards when they had to dive to retrieve lost articles and such... nothin too painful though...

That's definitely not a leopard shark, although those may be in there as well. Leopard sharks have big spots that actually look a lot like leopad spots, and their head is definitely not shaped anything like a hammerhead's.

EDIT: Just found TL photos that show there are indeed leopard sharks in there as well.

 

[Captain Hank]

Ok, I stand corrected. As I said, I was going completely on what a guidebook (I think the Unofficial Guide) said. I'll definately believe a TL lifeguard over a book.

 

[MonoRon]

I always wanted to go swim with the sharks. Theres no fee right?

 

[launchpad03]

I always wanted to go swim with the sharks. Theres no fee right?

Nope... free free free... You get goggles and a snorkel too...temporarily of course...

when I started there, we gave out wet-vests (like wetsuits, but just the vest part) but then they (Mgmt.) thought that was a hassle so we didn't give those out anymore...

only problem was people who had come before remembered getting vests and they they thought they (the vests) helped them float... like a lifejacket... so then they all wanted lifejackets...... what a hassle!!!! It's saltwater... you're already more buoyant than usual....

I believe (not sure about this though) that you can sign up for a class or something and do an actual dive there. I believe you have to be scuba certified already and I'm sure the fee is pretty hefty.
To sign up my guess would be to call the same line as signing up for Typhoon Surf lessons or even for the dive program at Epcot's TLS.

Oh and yeh, the water is cold.... brrr... especially if you have to be in it for 30 minutes on a cold drizzly day when no guests are there.... brr brr brr...

 

[BlizzardCP]

I have heard that the water is so cold because it makes the sharks groggy so it makes them stay at the bottom of the pool where it is warmer? When I type that out it makes very little sense, but I did hear something to that effect. The water is cold for a reason I guess.

 

[celestia]

I have never ever seen both sides open, every time i've gone the one on the right side (swimming direction) has always been the one open, and the other is reserved for the scuba class they had.

not sure if its still offered, but it was neat.

 

[ISTCrew20]

I have done it a few times, and yea, there is no glass. In fact, the last time I did it, there were sting rays all over the area that you step on to get out, and that was a little scary, pushing them to the side with your foot.

 

[Enderikari]

A majority of the sharks are actually Nurse Sharks I believe, which cannot and choose not to feed on anything bigger than themselves (humans)

 

[xfkirsten]

A majority of the sharks are actually Nurse Sharks I believe, which cannot and choose not to feed on anything bigger than themselves (humans)

I love nurse sharks. They're very "laid back" - very non-aggressive unless you're dumb enough to really bother them.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I have heard that the water is so cold because it makes the sharks groggy so it makes them stay at the bottom of the pool where it is warmer? When I type that out it makes very little sense, but I did hear something to that effect. The water is cold for a reason I guess.

That definitely makes sense--it would be a fish's natural tendency to swim lower in cold water, since in the winter, ice, of course, starts forming at the surface so they swim lower to avoid freezing. It would also slow them because they are somewhat cold-blooded (though not to the extent of most fish--sharks can control body temp to some degree), so activity is directly proportional to temperature.