Swim with the Fishes

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DigDug626

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 14, 2005
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Boulder, CO
So a friend of mine owns a fish shop that only sells fresh water fish, mostly South American. The shop is awesome it’s the only one I like it that I have ever seen or heard of, he has more rare fish than I have ever seen at any online shop even.

I’m a scuba instructor and we have been planning on expanding his shop to include scuba as well.

We have an idea to combine the two and have a pool stocked with large catfish and other large fish that people would be able to dive in. That way people could experience the fish that they keep in their environment. You wouldn’t even have to be scuba certified since I’m qualified to take non-divers scuba diving. Normally for a non-diver to experience scuba diving in a pool it cost 10-20 dollars. Because of the costs involved we where thinking about charging $30. You would get to dive for about an hour, hand feed Red Tails, get pictures taken the works and get to try scuba diving.

If this was available in your area do you think you would try it?
What would you be willing to pay?

If you’re interested the pool will be at least 8,000gals probably closer to 15,000. Roughly 8ft x 8ft x 16ft.

I know there would be problems with chemicals, heating, cleaning, we have those issues solved. I have been diving for 10yrs, my brother has been installing pools for 5yrs and the fish shop owner has been keeping large fish for 20yrs.

Any comments are welcome.
 
Sounds like a great idea. I think you should run the numbers first and see what you'd have to lay out for equipment, livestock, etc., and calculate typical operating cost and then come up with the admission pricing. Also, do some research on what typical scuba excursions cost.
 
We have run all the numbers, so we do know what the costs would be. We figure just having the fish will be a huge draw, even if no one wants to dive in the tank.

At the public saltwater aqurium they charge about $100 dollars for 30min.

I don't know of anywhere else you can do this, so there is no typical. Just to scuba dive in a normal pool costs about 10-20 dollars though.
 
http://www.sharky.tv/swim.html Scroll down to the bottom section.

Make sure you're insured beyond all reason. But it's a HUGE seller. People love it. I took a CBS reporter in the water today for about two hours for some footage. It always amazes me how excited people get.
 
I think it would sell pretty well, I know I've been itching to try to get into a similar situation at the dallas world aquarium in their amazon exhibit for some time... ~Trent
 
I would love to do that, I'm in Florida and would love to scuba dive in the areas where we do our freshwater fishing and collecting. Too bad I'm a bit afraid of the reptilian residents.

If you can work the umbers and keep it clean and safe for the fish (and people i guess), go for it.
 
I think the idea is awesome! I would happily pay for something like that. Although, I think if you go ahead with this idea, I would have waivers signed just to cover your own azz. I would also have a age limit on it too, like no one under 18, unless a parent is present or something along those lines. Good luck!
 
sounds super cool indeed. i would deffo pay to do that once. i would be concerned about people polluting the pool though. what are you gonna do to prevent those kind of things?
 
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