Way beyond cool, and a SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) diver’s delight.  Since we are certified divers – we arranged to dive in the Georgia Aquarium.  It’s 6.3 million gallons of crystal clear water, at a perfect temperature, max depth of 30 feet, with a hit parade of sights:  GIANT whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, sand sharks, black tipped reef sharks, guitar fish, HUGE manta rays, grouper, about 60 species in all.  There are about 50,000 fish in this tank.  Fun fact:  If you used a garden hose to fill up this tank, it would take 24 hours a day for 15 months.  We got a behind the scenes tour to see the food prep for the fish, the marine veternarian clinic, and the massive water pumping system. 
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the sea, measuring up to 40 ft. long.  We’d be near the bottom of the pool and see a huge shadow overhead…the shark passing by.  They are filter feeders – not interested in eating us at all, but they still commanded some R-E-S-P-E-C-T!! The sharks and manta rays  loved playing in the bubbles coming from our regulators.
Mike and I are waving through the 2 foot thick acrylic window to the crowd at the aquarium.  It was really amazing to put my hands on one side and have a completely dry little girl put her hands against mine on the other side.Posted by Picasa