We swam with sharks... in singapore.

The shirts we got after our dive. We wore them PROUDLY around Sentosa:)

Never in a million years did I think that I would be able to honestly say the phrase "I swam with sharks", but now, I can. I'm even able to say "My husband and I swam with sharks... in Singapore"! Unreal.

AJ and I touching an actual shark. He or she was very friendly!

That is a REALcrab that AJ met before our dive. HUGE!

At Underwater World Singapore, they offer a program where people like you and I can actually dive and swim with sea life. Underwater World in Singapore is almost exactly like Sea Life Minnesota at the Mall of America, and AJ and I actually got to scuba dive in the big aquarium that visitors walk underneath, in the long clear tunnel. So while we were swimming with the sharks, our friends and other Underwater World visitors got to watch our entire experience!

Geoff, Steph, Max, and Lottie Legg (our friends from the UK that we met
in Singapore) came to watch us and take photos/video of our dive. I'm not sure
if Max knows what to think of us in that aquarium!

Getting suited up. Wet-suits are not very flattering;)

With our instructor, right before we went into the aquarium.

Neither AJ or I have ever been scuba diving, and that's perfectly alright! At Underwater World Singapore,  they have certified/experienced divers to teach you all that you need to know, in order to enjoy your experience swimming with the sea life. Our session was about 90 minutes (30 minutes of actually under-water time, in the aquarium), so we had plenty of time to get trained on how to use our scuba equipment. We were actually in the water for half the training session too, so it was never "boring".

Once we were suited up in our wetsuits, oxygen tanks, masks, etc., our instructor led us into the aquarium for our training, where the sharks swam just inches from us (it makes my stomach nervous just thinking back on this experience). We learned how to breathe properly with our masks, learned hand signals, and all the "dos" and "do NOTS" once we were near all the sea life. Then, our instructor told us we were going in! Eeeeeee!

Looks like this Eagle Ray was getting a little too close for my liking.

Unreal.

Steph taking photos in the aquarium tunnel.

I don't know if AJ or I have ever been this type of anxious/excited/nervous in our lives (well, maybe on our wedding day, or the day Linna was born). This was an actual potentially-dangerous situation we were putting ourselves into (we knew we were safe the entire time - but there's always that doubt in the back of your mind). One by one, we climbed down the ladder, and into the aquarium. It's incredibly unnerving when you reach the aquarium floor, and turn to see a huge shark or fish swim right by your face!

I definitely felt a pressure change when I hit the aquarium floor, but our instructor taught us how to relieve the pressure even before we were down there. For the first 5-10 minutes of our dive, I moved about very slowly, keeping my arms close to my body. I really just observed all of the beautiful fish, eagle-rays, and sharks living in the aquarium. We were guests in their home, and I didn't want to find out what the outcome would be if I disturbed their current lifestyle;)

About half-way through our dive, I became more and more comfortable. Our instructor allowed us to touch two different sharks, which literally makes my stomach turn with nervousness just thinking back on that experience. I was so incredibly apprehensive to even touch one of the animals, but I am so happy I did it (I made AJ go first)! The sharks we touched were actually much more rough than I expected. I always imagined them to be smooth. One thing is certain, these animals were incredibly welcoming to us as we explored their home, and I am very thankful for that!

Toward the end of our dive (which seemed MUCH longer than 30 minutes), I didn't want to get out of the aquarium! I found myself becoming more and more adventurous, and actually swimming with the fishies, instead of floating there with my hand clenched to my body. I could have explored that aquarium and watched the beautiful marine life for days... or until my oxygen ran out;)

Right after our dive. We couldn't stop talking about how cool it was!

This was one of the BEST experiences I've had with my husband in Singapore (if not THE best)! We were so lucky to have AJ's sister and brother-in-law in Singapore to visit, so we could enjoy some "couple time". Throughout the entire experience, AJ and I were smiling from ear-to-ear (even behind our oxygen masks), and we're still talking about it a couple weeks later. This is an experience I would HIGHLY recommend, and it is absolutely worth the cost to do it (no doubt about it). I am so thankful that we have these video and photos to look back on and show our daughter. How lucky are we that we're able to say "I swam with sharks... in Singapore"?! Incredible.