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Epcot's Divequest Part Deux
By Roee
Ever since the first time I laid eyes on Disney’s Word Resort website and read the information on Divequest, I knew that the place would hold a special meaning to me.
Little did I know then that Divequest would really hold a special significance for me just a few years later.
I had participated, no that is not it… I had experienced Divequest twice before making arrangements for a third visit with my fiancé at the end of 2009 that would change both of our lives.
Back in mid 2009, I knew I wanted to propose to my fiancé and was looking for a creative way in doing so. Many scenarios manifested themselves, including sky writing, the usual cheesy restaurant proposals and etc but none really quite spoke to me. Then one evening, while I was looking at my old scuba website going through old dive pictures, I stumbled upon the pictures of my visit a few years back. From that moment on, I knew where I was going to propose.
Being a person with great affinity with anything marine related, my fiancé is the self proclaimed “water baby” in our relationship. Having worked and interned in several marine related institutions such as the Aquarium of the Pacific, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and other locations, I knew the prospect of experiencing Divequest would be something too tantalizing for my fiancé to pass on and I was right.
After properly obtaining the approval of her parents in asking her hand in marriage, I proceeded to plan my ultimate proposal. I had to logistically account for her parents as well as mine, as I wanted them all to be there at the proposal. A few days vacation to Florida as a Christmas getaway should raise little suspicion from my bride to be.
After expertly arranging for accommodations, air travel and transportation, I began my attempt to contact Disney for possible arrangements. This was by far the hardest part of the whole endeavor. After contacting many people within Disney’s organization, I was still unable to contact the person in charged of the Divequest program itself. A few weeks passed by and my frustration grew. I had contacted what seemed to be like the entire customer service team at the Disney Resort and had not been able to make any arrangements. Then one day, one very nice customer service representative gave me a number which ended up being for the department directly responsible for the Divequest program. I was able to leave a message and was subsequently contacted by a staff member that was able to provide me with some information as well as the possibility to make some type of arrangement for my big day. I was to make my tour reservation and they noted in the reservation that I needed “special arrangement” during that day. I was told also to arrive ahead of time and speak to the divemaster in charge on that day.
With that arrangement in hand, I went on to the next set of priorities, such as planning for the actual proposal. My plan was to have both our parents witness my proposal and help in my efforts by reserving a table at the Coral Reef Restaurant that overlooks the Living Seas exhibit in which we would be diving during our Divequest experience.
Several more weeks then passed and by then I had a pretty good idea on how the whole day would unfold.
I had invited my fiancé for the Divequest tour as her Christmas present for that year. I had also openly invited my parents and her parents to join us for the small vacation. Of course, knowing my plans, both our parents readily accepted the invitation.
A few weeks prior to our trip, I re-confirmed with Disney regarding our trip and made the sign that was to be used for my proposal. By then the engagement ring that I had carefully selected was also ready.
On the day of our trip everything went well. I was able to expertly conceal the proposal sign, the engagement ring and the giddiness that both our parents would incessantly display throughout the day. I was very worried that their apparent good mood would give the whole plan away to my fiancé. Luckily she did not notice a thing.
Fast forward to the actual proposal.
We arrived at Epcot for our visit. We were able to visit a few attractions but by then my nerves were starting to get to me. Because all of this went on during the high vacationing season, the Coral Reef Restaurant was booked to its capacity and the only time I was able to reserve a table next to the window to the exhibit, even though months ahead, was at 4pm.
At the designated time, we walked over to the Coral Reef restaurant and was able to get the table I had wanted with an un-impeded view into the Living Seas exhibit right next to the table. We were all able to grab lunch and enjoy the exhibit while trying to contain my fiancé’s excitement about actually being in the exhibit just a few moments away.
At the appropriate them, both of us left the comfort of our seats at the Coral Reef restaurant en route to the meeting place for our tour but not before I got the thumbs up from both of our parents.
On our way to the meeting place, I could feel my heart pound a little faster as we got closer.
Once we arrived, we met the other participants for the day. We were able to chat a bit before the divemaster came out to greet us. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of experiencing this amazing program, the staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. You get a tour behind the scenes of the entire setup including their filtration system, tanks and labs. You also get a safety briefing as well as the chance to sign your life away prior to being guided to your locker in the changing room.
The people responsible for Divequest really had the guests in mind when they developed this program. Guests are given a locker to put their personal items as well as complete showering facilities with shampoo, soap and hot water. Don’t under estimate the power of that hot shower after your dive. It is simply magical. You are also provided with a neoprene suit, dive booties and dive masks or you may bring your own dive mask for the experience.
After I had changed into the proper dive gear, I went to talk to the divemaster in charge about my “arrangements”. I was then told in a hush hush manner that the camera man already knows that there will be a proposal and I was given a special entirely black wetsuit in order to be easily identifiable throughout the dive. All the other participants’ wetsuits had yellow accents.
Off we went to the tank. Diving at the Living Seas is simply marvelous. You get to step in the exhibit, have very attentive staff members don gear on you. Then leisurely step off the ledge and in a few quick kicks get to the middle of the tank and descent to the bottom of the exhibit. You are then lead through a tour around the exhibit. A little bit has changed since my last visit. They did away with the dive bell as well as the small “wreckage” site comprised of pieces of old wrecks.
After we finished our guided tour around the exhibit, we were set free to explore on our own. The camera man gave 
me the “OK” signal and motioned that he was going to start filming. I took the opportunity to take my fiancé’s hand and led her to where our parents were sitting in the Coral Reef restaurant. I then proceeded to get on one knee and pointed at the sign that our parents had just unveiled in the other side of the glass.
“Dieuwertje, will you marry me?” is what it said in the giant sign. The ring that I had so carefully chosen was also waved on the other side of the glass under a full display 
of applause and cheers in the restaurant. I was told afterwards that the entire restaurant was applauding and bursting of cheers when that happened by the other patrons present but I am sure none more so than from both of our parents.
The rest of the dive went just as planned. We were able to swim around the inhabitants of the exhibit which followed us throughout the dive almost as though they had understood what had just transpired in their domain and wanted to wish us good luck. We were also able to interact with the visitors in the Living Seas exhibit which is one of the best part of the entire 
Divequest experience. It was a thrilling experience even though I had already done it two other times.
When the dive was completed and we popped up on the surface, I was able to properly propose to my fiancé to which she responded yes. We were then congratulated by all the staff members and other participants and I was able to also convey my thanks to them for helping me with the entire process.
The shower after the dive was especially gratifying. Having just accomplished what I had set out to do without a single problem and having that huge weight lifted from my shoulders was satisfying.
After properly cleaned and changed, we were led back to the briefing room, while still being congratulated by the 
other participants; we viewed the video that was made. We were all able to laugh and smile watching the entire process in the video.
After a few handshakes and good byes, we were led loose back in the exhibit. We hurried back to the restaurant as our parents had been waiting there for 4 hours.
It is pretty safe to say that both of us had an amazing day. The entire staff of the Disney World Resort, especially the members of the Divequest program have my eternal gratitude. They have quite literally made Disney World the best place on Earth.
As you can see, I am quite bias when reviewing Divequest. To those that have never experienced it before, I urge you to try it. It is a wonderful experience. To those that have had the chance to experience it, I hope to see you there in my next visit to Epcot.