Wonders of Wildlife Opens Sea of Possibilities with Adaptive Shark Dive 

Published July 17, 2026

Lola is an adrenaline seeker. At just 17 years old, she loves the thrill of rollercoasters and surfing. For Lola, though, access to these activities isn’t as simple as showing up to participate like so many others are able to. Lola has cerebral palsy, but she refuses to let it define what’s possible. 

At first glance, you might not guess Lola is a Shakespeare loving scholar, math whiz, and chaser of epic moments all wrapped into one. Lola has quadriplegic cerebral palsy which affects her ability to move her arms and legs, but it does not affect how she thinks. 

“Cerebral palsy affects me all day every day, but it doesn’t impact my personality or what I like to do,” Lola says. Her mom Melissa smiles on and says with a laugh, “No, it doesn’t.” 

To cross another incredible experience off her bucket list, Lola and her mom visited Wonders of Wildlife to participate in the all-new Adaptive Out to Sea Shark Dive. 

“I feel the most myself when I do extreme sports. When I heard about a cage dive and saw a picture, I wanted to go immediately,” Lola says. “I also knew my mom would probably freak out, so I wanted to go even more.” 

The original Out to Sea Shark Dive takes guests beneath the surface to get up close with some of the ocean’s most magnificent creatures – including sand tiger sharks, sandbar sharks, and Atlantic goliath groupers. Guests wear a state-of-the-art SeaTREK air helmet that allows them to comfortably submerge underwater without diver certification. 

The adapted version of this experience allows guests with more than 26 different physical and cognitive disabilities to do the same. Guests are surrounded by a supportive and trained dive team through the entire experience to ensure safety and provide a stellar experience while underwater. 

“I was absolutely just blown away by how prepared they were,” Melissa says of the experience. “They clearly were so capable and skilled that it took so much of my fear away. I still did not want to get in a cage with sharks, but I knew she was going to be fine in there with the team that was with her.” 

For Lola, the experience was more than swimming with some of the ocean’s most misunderstood animals. It also showed others what can happen when you dare to dream big, believe in yourself, and surround yourself with people who help turn possibilities into reality. 

“I felt free under the water,” Lola says. “This experience means everything to me. I got to do something most people are too scared to do. I got to be different in a good way, and it had nothing to do with my disability.” 

Her message is simple but powerful: Be brave. Try new things. Don’t let obstacles define you. The path forward may not always be easy, but incredible things can happen when you’re willing to make the first move. And if Lola’s story teaches us anything, it’s that life’s greatest adventures often begin where comfort zones end. 

“I want people to know there is always a way. There are people who will help – you just have to find them,” Lola says. 

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