Discovery Cove SeaVenture

[LoveToTravel2001]

Can anyone tell me how involved the SeaVenture tour is? It says no back issues. My daughter will be two months out of spinal fusion. She will be walking, using stairs... She can't do roller coaster or rides like that but it says it's a walking tour.
How is it wearing the helmet? Does it feel claustrophobic?
Do you have to wear a one piece set or can you wear the vest?
Can you use an under water camera - Go Pro?
Last, is it worth it?
TIA

 

[chiamarie]

Can anyone tell me how involved the SeaVenture tour is? It says no back issues. My daughter will be two months out of spinal fusion. She will be walking, using stairs... She can't do roller coaster or rides like that but it says it's a walking tour.
How is it wearing the helmet? Does it feel claustrophobic?
Do you have to wear a one piece set or can you wear the vest?
Can you use an under water camera - Go Pro?
Last, is it worth it?
TIA

1. How involved is the tour, no back issues? The helmet you wear is approximately 50 pounds, and you have to climb up and down a ladder to get in and out of the water. So your back must be strong enough to support that 50 pounds on your shoulders and still climb up and down the ladder. The walking takes place under water. I would be really iffy about being okay if it were my daughter; it would depend on what you think she's comfortable with, or what her doctor thinks is okay.

2. How is it wearing the helmet? Does it feel claustrophobic? I have not done the tour so I cannot fully speak on what it feels like to wear it. Sorry. (I was snorkeling in the reef while my family did the program).

3.Do you have to wear a one piece set or can you wear the vest?
According to the Discovery Cove website and description you must wear at least a "shortie" wetsuit. My guess, is that people potentially get cold if they just had the vest on. Your body looses heat faster in water, and the water is about 65 degrees F. Wetsuits are designed to help keep you warm in the water; a vest is not. (But i could be completly wrong in this theory, it's just that) It might also help prevent animal bites/stings? I know my stepmom got bit on the finger by one of the fish during the big fish feed. So, it's an added layer of protection too.

4.Can you use an under water camera - Go Pro? I gave my family my underwater camera, and they took photos during the tour with it.

 

[mshanson3121]

Following, as my husband and I are looking at doing this as well.

As for the suits - you have to wear a one-piece wet suit, and yes, we were told it's due to water temperature. You have the choice of a full body wetsuit, or a shorter set.

 

[LoveToTravel2001]

1. How involved is the tour, no back issues? The helmet you wear is approximately 50 pounds, and you have to climb up and down a ladder to get in and out of the water. So your back must be strong enough to support that 50 pounds on your shoulders and still climb up and down the ladder. The walking takes place under water. I would be really iffy about being okay if it were my daughter; it would depend on what you think she's comfortable with, or what her doctor thinks is okay.

2. How is it wearing the helmet? Does it feel claustrophobic? I have not done the tour so I cannot fully speak on what it feels like to wear it. Sorry. (I was snorkeling in the reef while my family did the program).

3.Do you have to wear a one piece set or can you wear the vest?
According to the Discovery Cove website and description you must wear at least a "shortie" wetsuit. My guess, is that people potentially get cold if they just had the vest on. Your body looses heat faster in water, and the water is about 65 degrees F. Wetsuits are designed to help keep you warm in the water; a vest is not. (But i could be completly wrong in this theory, it's just that) It might also help prevent animal bites/stings? I know my stepmom got bit on the finger by one of the fish during the big fish feed. So, it's an added layer of protection too.

4.Can you use an under water camera - Go Pro? I gave my family my underwater camera, and they took photos during the tour with it.

Thank you for the info.
The fifty pound helmet concerns me and I'll check with her surgeon. She will be fine on the ladder as she will come home doing stairs and almost ready to start conditioning.
We actually found it to be warmer in the vest than in the wet suit the year we did the dolphin swim. I'm just trying to figure out if she will be able to get into the wetsuit. I remember it not being easy.

 

[Sehsun]

The helmets are indeed heavy (75 lbs). Hence the reason for not putting them on you until your shoulders hit the water, as you're descending the ladder. Under water, they feel a lot less heavier.

I don't have any problems with claustrophobia, so the helmet felt fine to me.

You do have to wear at least the shortie wetsuit.

You can definitely bring along an underwater camera, such as a GoPro.

It is worth it! DBF and I have done it twice.

 

[LoveToTravel2001]

The helmets are indeed heavy (75 lbs). Hence the reason for not putting them on you until your shoulders hit the water, as you're descending the ladder. Under water, they feel a lot less heavier.

I don't have any problems with claustrophobia, so the helmet felt fine to me.

You do have to wear at least the shortie wetsuit.

You can definitely bring along an underwater camera, such as a GoPro.

It is worth it! DBF and I have done it twice.

Thanks for the info about the helmet and getting into the water. I wasn't sure I could do it and go down a ladder, nevermind my small 13 year old after spine surgery.
Glad to know it's worth it. If the surgeon says no for this trip, we will plan it for next.