After spending the last 3 months shark diving in South africa with False bays’ magnificent White sharks, SDX where looking forward to our Guadalupe season with both great excitement and intrigue............we are glad to report that our first trip of the season did not disappoint!
After an evening boarding followed by a quick stop through Mexican immigration before embarking on a 23 hours boat ride 220 miles off San diego, there cant be a shark dive with such a long build up before even getting in the water! By the time we arrive at the Island our guests are frothing to see our finned friends!
As ever, the conditions at the island where fantastic and once the cages got in the water, our guests where soon enjoying 100ft visibility. Now all we needed was some sharks and boy did we get an entrance!..................after a short while our guests where treated to a natural breach just meters off our port side from a 14ft male Great White! - welcome to Guadalupe!
Viewing of sharks slowly got better and better as the day went on, totaling 9 different animals. Most off these animals where males (which is typical of this time of the season) and many of them where tagged individuals by the islands resident shark researcher Mauricio Hoyas. Mauricio spends most of the year chasing sharks around the island after setting up underwater receivers to find out a further insight into why such huge numbers of sharks find these waters some appealing. Before our first day was out, those guests lucky enough to be looking in the right direction, and at the right time, witnessed two more natural breaches putting to bed the question “Great whites don't breach at Guadalupe do they?”
Day two and our guests had no idea what an incredible day it was going to turn out to be! after a quick change in anchor spot, there where sharks under the boat before the divers got in the cages and it didn't slow down. Guest where enjoying a show of 4 different animals at the same time and wouldn't you have just guessed it........another spectacular natural breach, this time right off the stern with everyone looking at the right time to see a 12ft female completely clear the water showing us here white belly! - incredible!
When lunchtime came round, the action was red hot and we started deploying our submersible cage. Andy, our first guest to go down in it had the most amazing show - 6 different sharks in view at the same time and personally, one of the greatest drop down cages dives SDX have ever done. People say sometimes diving can be like diving an aquarium full of fish, this dive was like being in an aquarium full of Great White sharks!!!
At this point after such an incredible second day everything else for our guests was simply a bonus. The consistency of sharks didn't slow down and during the last day at the island we started to see a few “player” sharks who where very active on the baits and put on a fantastic show, keeping out bait handlers on their toes and coming close enough for those in the cages to see the dark blue pupils in the animals eyes.
With the new crew members joining the islander boat this year and a phenomenal new cook it looks on this first showing like it is going to be one of the best seasons yet! One thing is for sure, it is certainly going to be hard to top the standard that has been set after this trip!
However.................we still have many of out favorite sharks to see yet and as ever, when working with White sharks, nothing surprises you! Long may the season continue.........we will keep you posted along the way.
SDX
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