Though the cost was significant, it wasn't so bad considering I go by American currency, which is stronger than Australian currency. So although this tank dive (in Ocean World, and aquarium in Sydney) might have cost about a hundred bucks, it included price of admission and was more like $85.00 out of my checking account.
For years, I'd wanted to get into a shark display tank, but local places (i.e. San Francisco's Steinhart Aquarium) flat out refused because America is lawsuit crazy. But down under, all I had to do was sign a liability waiver, in case one of the 10'-0", thousand pound flesh-eaters decided to try out a new flavor. In reality, Sand-Tigers, though formidable and terrifying-looking DON'T have teeth designed for chewing and biting off chunks-- so they only eat much smaller prey.
The beginning of the dive took place behind-the-scenes (near the filters, valves, etc.), where the public never goes. It looked like a small swimming pool despite the barred hatch which lead to the large man-made ocean (complete with the typical customer tunnel beneath it).
As I stud there in the swimming pool looking out into the tank itself (standing a mere three feet from the sea-turtles & Volkswagon-sized sting rays), the aquarium blew a fuse! So all the sudden, it's pitch black as I continued to wade in the prep-pool. The only light were generator-operated "mood" lights way under water. While the technicians scrambled to find the fuse box or a flashlight, the only like came from the bottom of the "ocean" floor. Suddeny, my only light source disapeared as an ominous, large creature swam by. Along with it came the protruding dorsal fin, a mere 3'-0" from me. I came to realize that the sharks were much, much bigger than I thought (the thick aquarium glass does reverse magnification!)! For the first time, I was actually a little scared.
By the time the lights came back on, one of the divers (another American tourist) had already chickened out, and got out of the water. That's fine, that would make the aquarium less crowded. So we made sure there was no air in our BCDs (negative buoyancy is required because we would actually be walking on the bottom and not really swimming).
I've dived in the real ocean (from Monterey, to Oahu to the Great Barrier Reef, to Belize, etc.), but as much as I hate to admit it, diving in a man-made setting was more fun! No depth issues so I didn't have to worry about pressure changes, and it's a hell of a lot more compact!
Though not man-eaters, Sand Tiger Sharks are both territorial and curious. When we first submerged into the aquarium, there weren't many sharks around. But pretty soon, they all gathered around us and followed us until the end of the 30 min. (approx.) dive. One of the rules is we're not to touch the animals, as tempting as it was. Seeing these magnificent giants up close was priceless. There so graceful, swimming with minimal effort. If for some strange reason one of them got pissed off, I knew I'd be no match for any one of these gentle behemoths who seemed to welcome us to THEIR home. I dare say any one of them could have wiped out all five divers without breaking a sweat (because they don't sweat).
Once submerged, my awe changed to intimidation just once. One of these huge, scarey-eyed, tooth-factories made a bee-line toward me, swimming right toward my face from about 20'-0" away. I again remembered that this creature is twice my size (I'm 5'-10") and that if I'm in his way, I'll never know what hit me. But the Sand-Tiger stopped about 6" away. We were nose-to-nose! The Tiger casually, gently veered to the side and went around me.
It was a magical experience highly recommended to any animal lovers who plan to vacation in Australia. There are probably two or three different aquariums there which do this, and it's an experience you'll never forget. After the dive, we watch footage of divers hand-feeding the Sand-Tigers. Though the sharks obviously know the difference between dead-fish and a diver's hand, the Sand Tiger's ability to suddenly strike like a rattlesnake isn't something they should show the tourists BEFORE the dive, as it would add to the intimidation! Not only that, but these Tigers can quickly extend their jaws & teeth forward, beyond their snout-- just like the monster in ALIEN!
