Florida Shark Diving — Attraction in Jupiter

I saw all these stellar reviews raving about seeing multiple sharks and multiple different species and stuff and had high expectations. When me and my girlfriend went, we saw one sandbar shark and that was it. That said, the shark we did see was super cool and the experience seeing it was worth the price in my opinion. I completely understand that these are wild animals, and you're never guranteed anything, but I couldn't help feel a little disappointed. They mentioned that the tour group in the morning didn't see a single shark. I sincerely hope they were refunded.

The captain did mention that on nicer days when more fishing boats are out, you see less sharks, which makes sense, but the website literally has zero information on when the best time to schedule for certain species is.

We both enjoyed our time there and I intend on going again at some point, but there are a few reasons I'm giving them a three star review.

The website says 3 hour experience. We left the dock at 11:00 and were back, dressed, and in the car by 12:50. Not even two hours. The company times you and you get exactly one hour in the water, but even that they cut short when the shark left about 5 minutes before the hour was up and the captain said there was "no point in trying again." No where close to a three hour experience, which was annoying. If their model is to drive out, wait until you find a shark, and then you get an hour in the water, they should state that on the website instead of blatantly lying about the time.

They say they can't wait for people who are even a few minutes late, why not? We arrived about 10 minutes before the ship was supposed to leave (they expect you to be there half an hour early) solely due to the fact that about 5 minutes away we were stopped by a drawbridge that was raised for 15 minutes. We were driving out from Tampa, three hours away. If that bridge had been raised a bit longer, or we got stopped by a train somewhere, they couldn't have given us a few extra minutes? At about 10:45, the captain called me and said they couldn't wait for late people. Four hundred dollars and a three hour drive, and you can't push it back by to 11:05? Especially when we got back an hour early? Why? Clearly they're not on a super tight schedule where they NEED to be back at a specific time or else.

There is a sign on the boat that says "we rely on tips" and once we got back to the dock, the helper/mermaid/diver/shark expert stood at the end of the dock before anyone else got off the boat to pressure you into tipping. At $200 a ticket, plus $150 or $200 for the photo package, you're not paying your staff enough? There were 6 tourists total on my boat inlcuding me and my girlfriend, and myself and at least one other tourist paid for the photo package, so they were making AT MINIMUM $1550 for two hours. Their only costs were the boat and maintenance (which I'm sure the boat paid for itself after the first year of operation), chum, and whatever little insurance and licensing costs they have. You're telling me you made at least 1.5 thousand dollars off of 2 hours of time and you can't pay your staff properly? They literally had two staff members on the tour, they could pay each $50 an hour and still come away with $1300 to pay for whatever operating costs they had, plus profit. So either whoever runs this business is greedy and not paying their staff properly, or they are paying their staff properly and they're still going to great lengths to pressure people who pay at least $200 a ticket (double that if you want photos) to further pay them.

All of that said, we both enjoyed our experience, and both agreed we would love to go again. I plan on going again at a different point in the year, hopefully seeing some more species and hopefully seeing more than one shark.

Attached are photos from the photo package. I honestly expected to regret paying $200 for them, but these pictures are hard and I am glad I paid for them. Keep in mind it took a week for them to...

First all, I have never done anything like this. I’ve been in the water, and don’t different water activities, but never snorkeling and never with sharks. It’s not as scary as people make it out to be.

I wanted to do something special for my 32nd birthday. A gift to myself.

Booked my trip and arrived at my destination. I live in PSL, so the trip took 40 minutes. As a nite shift nurse, I am not an early bird, so it was a struggle being up that early 😂😂 I was even late, but notified Capt Johnny immediately.

These aren’t your average hobbyist tour guides. They do it as a profession and accolades to Jordan, because Capt hyped her up really well! ❤️

Anyways, got on the boat, got our instructions, introduced ourselves and set sail. We went out about 20-30 min into the ocean.

Here’s where the struggle started. The day was full of waves that were bumpy. Like choppy bumpy. Wasn’t too bad initially. I sat at the back of course. Once we settled, that’s when I got the urge of death! I immediately felt nauseated and had to throw up. I was puking my entire festivities from the nite prior and could feel it. 😮 the boat was constantly rocking, so it didn’t help. Everyone else did their thing, and I was just completely shitfaced. Capt Johnny was constantly checking on me in such a polite, caring and professional way. Like a concerned dad, but also someone wanting you to enjoy your time.

After I was done puking my brains out, Capt assisted me with my gear, even while I had to stop mid-way and throw up some more. I don’t remember if I apologized or not (I can’t remember). He didn’t mind at all, and kept going.

Don’t worry about your suit. They give you a long sleeved black T-shirt wetsuit for the open swim and gloves for the rope.

I was still queasy because the boat was rocking so much, but refused to be a little wimp and toughed it out. The feeling of death was upon me because I needed to explode from both ends, but wanted to have the experience to at least say I tried.

Once in the water, I still felt queasy, but not as much. I followed the rope, stuck my head in and was greeted by numerous sharks with their babies.

It’s an unexplainable experience. One to never forget.

Let me tell you, the sharks were so uninterested in us. They were more concerned with the shark bate Jordan had in a cage. The sharks were swimming all around and under us, but none of them ever came face to face to me. Instead they swam under and around. I was a little scared at first because of nerves, and usually I’m able to breathe through my nose and relax, but because of the snorkel gear, I could only mouth breath which would cause me to hyperventilate a bit. I would slightly freak out, and take in some sea water, but would also tell myself to relax, clear my mouth piece and put my face back in the water.

When i was scared or anxious, I was looking around thinking there was going to be a giant shark sneaking up behind me or something pulling me down to the bottom because they could sense my fear and sickness. (I watch wayyy too many horror movies). Jordan had already explained all that was a load of bs. And it’s true. Those sharks were interested in us. They were interested in the food that was there.

The ONLY, and only reason I got out was to throw up again. I didn’t want to throw up near everyone and the sharks of course. Got out to throw up and couldn’t stop. But the experience was well worth it. The trip back wasn’t as bad, but Capt and Jordan allowed me to sit on the deck near the life vests while I tried to regain my composure🥲🥲🥲🥲

Just a heads up to anyone considering and after reading my review. Do your hw first. Don’t party hard before, have loads of food til you can hardly stand and drink the night before. ❌❌❌❌Also take nausea meds the day before and of course after.

Would definitely do again and recommend, just prepare better...

First off, I will say I can’t speak to the excursion itself because we didn’t get to go. It may be great fun if what they’re advertising is actually delivered.

I scheduled a cage dive as a birthday gift for my husband. He is not a confident swimmer and would not want to free dive. Sounded perfect.

Communication, or rather, lack thereof, is my main issue/complaint. We drove 3 hours one way for this day trip excursion on his birthday. We were told via email that the captain would check conditions and we would get an email the night before. We received the email with parking instructions and so forth so we were off before 7am.

AFTER we get there, sign the waivers, and they make sure the balance is paid for everyone present, we are told they can’t take the cage, the current is too strong. They tell us we will be free diving with snorkel gear; don’t worry, we’ll give you life jackets. Really? How kind of you. You are going to drop us overboard 3 miles from shore with snorkel gear and a life jacket in a current too strong to use the cage, then push the sharks toward us. No thanks. Their initial email does say the cage is weather dependent however doesn’t explain that the excursion would continue and you would be free diving instead. This is important and should be relayed to participants as soon as it is known via text message as they ask for your phone number.

The choices given to us by the very rude blonde girl were to free dive or stay on the boat. We turned around and drove the 3 hours back home. Had we known the cage was not an option we would not have bothered with the drive. We would ah r still been out the cost of the excursion but not gas and an entire day wasted. We weren’t given crucial information in a timely manner. We felt duped.

Oh, and phones/cameras in the water. The reason was also not made clear and explained AFTER final payments were obtained. You are not allowed cell phones because they apparently emit a sound similar to fish in the water. You CAN take go-pro cameras on a stick and so forth. Their email states cameras can be brought on the trip but cell phones are not allowed in the water. I’m sure their packages are lovely and I was getting my wallet out for that payment when the no cage comment was casually dropped.

The email WAS clear on no refunds. A very disappointing birthday gift to be sure. I wanted everyone to be aware of what they are NOT telling you. If you are comfortable in the water free diving...