“Scary as all-get-out,” Paul said. “It took all the courage I had.”

Paul was telling me about the high dives he tried at a little lake in Kansas, many years ago. The lake was an old sandpit filled with clear, cool water. Some entrepreneurs had erected a tower next to it. For a fee, visitors could climb up to one of the platforms on the tower and dive off from ten, 20, or even 30 feet. (I should add that this was in the days when lawsuits were uncommon. The business has long since gone the way of the Dodo Bird.)

Paul explained that for a young man, it was a matter of honor to dive off of the 30 foot-high platform.

“Well, the first couple of times, I jumped off the tower. I finally got up the nerve to dive. When you dive, you have to lock your elbows and clasp your hands together. Otherwise, the force of hitting the water can bend your arms. I’ve hit myself in the noggin with my own hands.” He rubbed his head. “It hurts.”

“Oh, yeah, really deep. There was no way you’d hit bottom.” He continued, “I know it doesn’t sound that high. Competitive divers dive all the time from ten meters.” (Ten meters is 32.8-ft.)

He shuddered. “To me, it looked like I was standing on top of the Trump Tower. I guess it’s the fear of heights that made it so scary. But even little kids can do it.”

“I’m with you,” I said. “I wouldn’t have done it.” (I was not being kind to Paul, but only telling the truth. Although I am a pilot, when I am not under a reliable set of wings, I have a healthy fear of heights. Even climbing a ladder stresses me. )

For the All American High Dive Team, diving off that tower into that lake would have seemed about as frightening as spreading butter on toast. The team is made up of professional divers from around the country who’ll be demonstrating their Olympic diving ability along with side-splitting antics from June 7^th to August 17^th, 2008 when they will be featured in daily performances in Miami Seaquarium’s Splashtacular Summer celebration.

Their show is an enjoyable, amusing and amazing acrobatic and dive show that will leave you giggling and awed – and perhaps just a teensy-bit soggy.

The All American High Dive Team’s act includes a 75-foot high dive.  And get this. The show organizers figured that watching a hotshot daredevil crawl up a wobbly tower 75 feet into the sky and then leaping off of it – head first – wouldn’t be nearly exciting enough, so to add a little more zing to the performance, the diver will be landing in a clear-sided pool with just eight feet of water in it. You’ve got to see it to believe it!

There’s Other Cool Fun to be had at Miami Seaquarium, too. You can:

• Turn the kids loose in the Kid’s Water Play Area, where children can enjoy inflatable water slides and wet slip-n-slides, or saunter over to Salty’s Pirate Playground.
• Tuck up next to one of the Spray and Play misting stations.
• Experience a whale of a shower.  Sit in one of the first rows of the Killer Whale stadium when Lolita the Killer Whale makes one of her unbelievable leaps out of the pool and you’ll understand what I mean. 
• Meet dolphins. The Miami Seaquarium’s exciting Dolphin Interaction Programs at the all- new Dolphin Harbor offers participants an unforgettable experience to SEE, TOUCH and LEARN about these majestic mammals.
• Shiver at Sharks. At the Shark Presentation, animal care specialists feed fearsome 200-pound sharks while explaining the diverse species of shark that live worldwide.
• Visit your favorite shows and exhibits. You’ll have lots of choices, including ones that highlight manatees, sea lions, tropical birds, dolphins, and many more.

Miami Seaquarium is South Florida's most popular tourist attraction for a good reason. This family-oriented marine-life park is open to the public 365 days a year.  The 38-acre tropical paradise with spectacular skyline views offers visitors a better understanding and appreciation for marine life through shows, presentations and marine-life displays.  Click here for more information on Miami Seaquarium, or call 305-361-5705.