The Dive


Included with your Guest Dive Experience:
  • Oregon Coast Aquarium Happy VisitorOne dive in 26 ft deep Halibut Flats Exhibit surrounded by rockfish, halibut, and sturgeon
  • One dive in our Open Sea exhibit with sharks, including our 

Broadnose Sevengill sharks up to 10 feet in length!

  • Aquarium Admission Entry Pass which you may use for yourself or give away
  • Behind the Scenes Tour of Passages of the Deep
  • Fish ID training session
  • Cylinder and weights



Basic Itinerary:
9:00am arrival/unload gear –dive guides will escort you to the check-in.

9:00am - 10:00am
check-in (proof of certification, completion of waivers) / Tunnel: fish ID experience

10:30am target splash time

12:00 - 12:15pm
clean up and debrief


Program Cost:

$249 Deluxe Program ($239 Aquarium Members) 
Details, Details, Details (Please Read Carefully!)

To dive you MUST:

  • Present a valid SCUBA Certification card from a recognized agency at check-in
  • Be 12 years of age and older. Guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a participating adult (and waivers must be signed by parent/guardian)
  • Have NO medical contraindications to SCUBA diving
  • Be of sound body and mind and able to able to handle the inherent risks involved in SCUBA
  • Complete a Liability Release Agreement/Waiver
  • One dive in 26 ft deep Halibut Flats Exhibit surrounded by rockfish, halibut, skates and sturgeon
  • One dive in our Open Sea exhibit, swimming with hundreds of sharks, including our Broadnose Sevengill sharks up to 10 feet in length!
  • Aquarium Admission Entry Pass which you may use for yourself or give away
  • Behind the Scenes Tour of Passages of the Deep
  • Fish ID training session
  • Cylinder and weights
  • Camera usage is permitted
  • Hand feeding the sturgeon in the Halibut Flats Exhibit
  • Free swimming with sharks in the Open Sea Exhibit


Checklist of Personal Items to Bring:

  • Certification Card (Required)
  • Bathing Suit and towel
  • Closed toe solid footwear (preferably water resistant)
  • All dive gear except cylinder and weights (for equipment rental, contact your local dive store!)
  • Mask and Fins (snorkel not required)
  • Buoyancy Compensator
  • Regulator with Submersible Pressure Gauge (minimally) or dive computer
    Note: if using DIN, you must either convert your regulator to a yoke fitting, or call us to reserve a cylinder as we have limited availability of DIN cylinders.
  • Adequate thermal protection (drysuit, semi-dry or cold-water wetsuit)
  • DAN (Divers Alert Network) membership (strongly recommended)

NOTE: this is a “shore diving” type location with no access to private changing facilities or locker rooms. You will need to dress and change accordingly (e.g. wear a bathing suit). There is a warm fresh water shower on the dive deck, and we can provide access to a toilet as required.

What You CANNOT bring:
  • Exposed jewelry (The Aquarium, staff, and volunteers are not responsible for any lost or stolen items)
  • Extra people that are not participating (The Aquarium, staff, and volunteers are not responsible the safety of extra guests)
  • Other guests behind the scenes
  • Cylinders (we provide steel cylinders in a variety of sizes – if you have special needs, please ask)
  • Non-standard scuba gear is not permitted during the GDP, including, but not limited to: Full Face Masks, Dual Tank Mounts, Side-Mount configurations, Long octopus hoses, and Cave diving configurations.(Please contact us in advance if you have any questions – if you have special needs, please ask)
  • Full wetsuit or drysuit. The water temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and a warm 7mm suit or drysuit is required, as well as 5mm or warmer full boots, hood, and gloves.
Cancellations:
We realize that plans can sometimes change, and will provide a date change with no penalty if made more than 14 days in advance. Program no-shows or cancellations made with less than 14 days notification cannot be refunded but may be rescheduled at our discretion. To change your reservation, contact us at Diana.hollingshead@aquarium.org or call
Eugene Skin Divers Supply
at 541 342-2351.


Parking & Arrival Instructions:
Do Not go to the main admissions area!

When you arrive at the Oregon Coast Aquarium:

  1. Park in the staff parking lot adjacent to the corner of Ferry Slip Road and 29th Street in South Beach. 
  2. Look for the Guest Diver sign, and wait for your dive guides to escort you and your gear to check-in. 
  3. Driving Directions:
    Go South through Newport on Hwy 101 over Yaquina Bay Bridge, left at traffic light, go to end of street, left on Ferry Slip Rd.

    Destination on your right.