Tampabay: Short on funds, shark swim stalls at aquarium

The aquarium, which has had a decline in ticket sales and donations since last year's terrorist attacks, needs a $20,000 sponsorship, said Sue Ellen Richardson, director of marketing and public relations at the aquarium.

That money would be used for equipment, start-up costs and minor construction.

Despite the delay, aquarium officials insist that they don't feel scooped by SeaWorld's "Sharks Deep Dive," which will allow two visitors in a cage in a shark tank for 30 minutes.

"We are all partners in shark education," Richardson said.

Both programs hope to cleanse sharks of their monstrous image, created in part by the movie Jaws. Both programs also allow monitored closeness to more tame varieties of sharks.

The main difference in the two programs: the cage.

"Our divers," Richardson said, "will be coming out of the cage."

Only certified divers will be allowed in the tank, she said.

Aquarium officials had hoped the program would be up and running this month.

"We might have been optimistic with that date," Richardson said.

Now, they are shooting for later this year.

Meanwhile, the aquarium is doing market research and working with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors.

"We have local interest," said Richardson. "Now we are looking at national interest from divers."

Some of the sample questions asked of divers in this nationwide survey include:

Would you come out to Florida for the program?

What would you be willing to spend for the experience?

And would you be interested in buying a photo of yourself in the tank?