Diving with Sharks at the Denver Aquarium: Our Experience

Diving with sharks in the heart of Denver Colorado is something I didn’t realize was possible, until we visited the Downtown Aquarium last year for Jim’s Christmas work party. As we were walking through the exhibits, we noticed a small sign inside the Sunken Shipwreck tank–”Dive with the Sharks.” Jim and I were both intrigued. 

The Denver Aquarium Shark Dive lets certified divers enter the 400,000-gallon saltwater tank and spend about 40 minutes underwater with 10 foot sand tiger sharks, 12 foot sawfish, sandbar sharks and more. 

Diving with the sharks at the aquarium ended up being our Christmas presents to each other, and it was just as thrilling as I had hoped. Here’s a complete guide to what it’s like, plus everything you need to know before booking.

What You Need to Know Before Your Shark Dive at the Downtown Aquarium

• Bring: Proof of certification, swimwear, towel(s), flip-flops or water shoes (bare feet aren’t allowed on the dive deck), and a padlock for your locker if you want extra security for your belongings.
  
• Waivers: If you’re over 18, you can sign the liability waiver on-site. If not, make sure to have a parent/guardian sign it ahead of time and bring this with you.
  
• Meet Location: Nautilus Ballroom Entrance (the farthest set of doors to the right of the box office as you are looking towards the building). Look for the “Shark Dives Meet Here” sign next to the staircase.
  
• Gear-Up: Change into your swimsuit in the private locker rooms, then your guide will take your group on an elevator up to the dive entry level. There you’ll be fitted with a snorkel mask (unless you bring your own), fins, wetsuit, hood, gloves, BCD, and weights.
  
• Entry & Skills Check: Divers enter the water in small groups (four or fewer), do a quick buoyancy test and skills check (mask clear, regulator recovery, locate yellow secondary regulator), then descend one at a time.
  
• Comfort: Water is ~72°F. You’ll primarily stay kneeling at the bottom of the tank, so a 5mm wetsuit is provided. If you’re prone to getting cold like me, you may feel a bit chilly, especially towards the end of the dive.
  

Aquarium Admission

Your dive includes an aquarium admission for the day, which is a nice bonus–I love exploring the Downtown Aquarium! To collect your wristband you’ll need to stop by the box office and show your shark dive invoice. This can be done before or after the shark dive.

Checking In

We met our dive guide just outside the Nautilus Ballroom (if you’re facing the aquarium, enter through the set of doors to the right of the box office). Once you enter those doors, there’s a large sign (to the right of the large staircase) that says “Dive with the Sharks Meet Here,” so it’s hard to miss.

After checking certification cards and waivers, we were led through a back hallway not open to the public, passing large rooms where the aquarium filters its water. At the end of the hallway were the locker rooms, which is where we made our first stop. 

Lockers & Getting Ready

The locker rooms at the end of the hallway were where we were able to change into our swimsuits. I wore my swimsuit underneath my clothes so it was a fairly quick change for me.

There are plenty of lockers to store your clothes and any other belongings. Bring a padlock for your locker if you’d like, but if you didn’t bring one one (hey–I didn’t know there would be lockers!), there’s not much to worry about since the locker room itself is locked while you are in the shark tank.  

You’ll need to wear flip-flops or some type of water shoe at all times — bare feet aren’t allowed on the dive deck, so don’t leave those in the locker room.

Gearing Up

Once changed, we took an elevator up to the level where we would enter the shark tank. Upstairs, near the stingray exhibit tank, we were fitted with:

• Wetsuit (5mm)
• Fins
• Hood
• Gloves (touchscreen-friendly, thankfully since I was planning to use my touchscreen compatible underwater iphone case to capture photos)
• Snorkel mask (unless you bring your own, which is what we did)

There are a few benches in the area to sit on as you gear up.

The Shark Dive Briefing

The dive takes place in the Sunken Shipwreck Exhibit, a massive saltwater tank filled with sharks and large pelagic fish. Our guide brought us to a spot on the deck where we were able to look into the tank below as he briefed us. During the briefing, we learned what species we’d see and how the dive would work.

Sharks and animals we were told we would encounter included:

• Sand tiger sharks
• Sandbar sharks
• Blacktip reef sharks
• Zebra sharks
• Bamboo sharks
• Sawfish
• Barracuda
• Lots of reef fish

He explained that we would be separated into two small groups, each led by one of the guides. 

The dive follows a trench that runs about two feet below the rest of the tank floor, which is where we would primarily stay throughout the duration.

The most important rule: you must remain in contact with the bottom at all times, except when descending or ascending. 

While we were being briefed, the other dive guide was pulling BCDs, weights and tanks for each participant. By the time we were done, everything was ready to go and it was time to enter the water. 

Entering the Water & Skills Check

We entered the water in two small groups. Each person stepped down a short set of stairs, where one of the guides helped us put on our fins and BCDs. Once everyone in the small group was fully geared up, we performed a quick skills check on a small platform about three feet underwater, just beside the stairs. 

Each diver completed these three skills:

1. Partial mask flood and clear
2. Regulator removal and recovery
3. Locate the secondary regulator

After everyone in the group passed, we descended into the tank one at a time.

What the Dive Is Actually Like

Underwater, led by our guide, we headed towards the trench along the perimeter of the exhibit. 

Most of the dive was spent kneeling in two different spots along the trench. About halfway through the dive we swapped spots with the other group.  

Because you’re not moving around too much, you really get to observe the animals — and some of them get very close.

Some of the dive highlights for me:

• The sawfish were absolutely enormous and seemed to be quite curious. They often got really close, and a few times the guide had to use his shark stick to redirect them. 

• The sand tiger sharks were large and powerful — thick, hump-backed bodies with rows of intimidating teeth. They followed a fairly predictable route, usually a few feet away. 

• The little sharks (bamboo and zebra, I think) that liked to swim in the trench where we were kneeling

• There were lots of colorful reef fish. Although the main event was definitely the sharks, the fish were a nice bonus.

• The blacktip reef shark that swam right next to us on our descent to the bottom.

• The large barracuda that seemed to stay in his own little spot right next to the platform where we descended/ascended

• Though most of the large sharks followed a fairly predictable path, near the end of the dive, several of the sandbar sharks seemed to be getting a little squirrelly and surprised us. One rounded the corner right into the trench, within inches of us, which was pretty exciting.

Water Temperature & Comfort

The water temperature was around 72°F, and while the 5mm wetsuit helped, I was still a little chilly by the end — especially since you’re kneeling and not moving much. 

The Ascent

Similar to the descent, we ascended to the surface one at a time. As we waited for our turn, we hung onto the ledge by the curved window of the Sunken Shipwreck exhibit, where several kids gathered to watch and wave. 

Shark Teeth Souvenirs 

Before the dive, we were told to keep our eye out for shark teeth—any that we found we could keep! Sharks lose teeth constantly, so it wasn’t tough to spot a few in the rocky sand at the bottom. The guide told us to keep them tucked into the sleeve of our wetsuit between the two layers. Afterwards, we were given a small envelope to take them home — a unique souvenir.

Final Thoughts

This dive felt safe, controlled, and incredibly well-run. Being underwater with such large, powerful animals was definitely something I will never forget! If you’re a certified diver looking for a unique, landlocked dive experience, the Denver Aquarium shark dive is absolutely worth it.

FAQ: Denver Aquarium Shark Dive

Do I need to be a certified diver?
Yes, for the shark dive. For those not certified, there’s also a shark cage dive where you can experience the same tank from inside a protective cage.

How cold is the water?
Around 72°F. You’ll be provided with a 5mm wetsuit, but since you mostly kneel and don’t swim much, it can feel a little chilly.

Is it scary?
I didn’t think so. The sharks are fairly calm and the dive guides are experienced. Still, getting a couple of inches away from a sandbar shark is thrilling!

Can family members watch?
Yes. There are several large windows where visitors can view the exhibit and watch the dive (with a paid entry to the aquarium)

How long is the dive?
Our dive was about 45 minutes. With the briefing and gear-up, the total time for the experience was about 2.5 hours.