Diver Ed's Dive-In Theater
College of the Atlantic pier area
Bar Harbor, ME
A diver walks the seafloor of Frenchman Bay with a live video camera while you watch on deck, then hauls the catch up to touch, one of Acadia's most joyful family outings.
Diver Ed's Dive-In Theater is one of the most original tours on the Maine coast. You board a boat in Bar Harbor and motor out into Frenchman Bay, and then a professional diver goes over the side carrying a live video camera and microphone. As he walks the seafloor, everything he sees appears on a screen on deck in real time, and he narrates the whole descent, turning the hidden world below the boat into a live nature show.
The finale is the best part. The diver collects a bucket of living creatures from the bottom, crabs, sea stars, urchins, snails, and often a huge lobster, and brings them up on deck so passengers, especially kids, can meet them up close before they are gently returned to the sea. It is science, comedy, and wonder rolled into a single afternoon.
What Guests Love
- Watching a live feed of the seafloor as a diver explores Frenchman Bay
- Meeting the sea creatures the diver brings up, from crabs to sea stars to a giant lobster
- The playful, kid-focused hosting that makes marine biology fun
- A boat ride through beautiful Frenchman Bay as a bonus
Worth Knowing
- It is a seasonal boat tour; reserve ahead, as trips fill in summer
- The experience is aimed at families and is especially delightful for children
- Dress in layers; the water and open deck are cool even on warm days
- Sea conditions can affect trips, so build a little flexibility into your plans
Details
Bar Harbor, ME
Learn about Diver Ed's Dive-In Theater
How the dive-in theater works
The concept, developed by a former Acadia park diver known as Diver Ed, connects a diver's helmet camera and microphone to a monitor on the boat. Passengers stay warm and dry on deck while the diver does the exploring.
As he moves across the seafloor of Frenchman Bay, he points the camera at whatever he finds and keeps up a running commentary, explaining the animals, the habitat, and the odd behaviors of the creatures that live in the cold, rich waters of the Gulf of Maine.
A costumed sidekick and plenty of humor keep the tone light, so young children stay engaged while learning a surprising amount about marine life.
Meeting the creatures
Near the end of the dive, the diver fills a collecting bucket with living animals from the bottom and sends them up to the boat. On deck, passengers get to hold and examine them in touch tanks.
The cast changes with each trip but often includes rock crabs, sea stars, sea urchins, moon snails, sculpins, and the occasional very large lobster, all creatures of the cold Gulf of Maine.
After everyone has had a look, the animals are returned to the water unharmed, making the whole experience a catch-and-release lesson in the ecology of the bay.
A different way to see Acadia's waters
Most Acadia visitors see the park from the land, its mountains, forests, and rocky shore. This tour flips the view, taking you onto and beneath the surrounding sea to understand the ecosystem that shapes the coast.
Frenchman Bay itself is beautiful, ringed by Acadia's peaks and dotted with the Porcupine Islands, so the boat ride out and back is scenic in its own right.
For families looking for something beyond hiking, the dive-in theater is a standout, an outing children talk about long after the trip is over.
Season by season
The tour runs in the warmer months, with summer being the peak season when Bar Harbor is full and trips book up quickly.
Early fall can be a lovely time to go, with clearer air, fewer crowds, and the surrounding hills beginning to turn.
The boat does not operate in the cold months, so this is strictly a warm-season experience; check the schedule and reserve before you arrive.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor
In town
The main town on Mount Desert Island, with restaurants, shops, the shore path, and access to Acadia National Park.
Cadillac Mountain and Jordan Pond
About 6 miles, a 15 minute drive
The heart of Acadia, with the first sunrise in the country and the popovers at Jordan Pond House.
Frenchman Bay boat tours
From the Bar Harbor waterfront
A range of cruises to see puffins, whales, seals, and lighthouses in the waters around the island.