We have reached half way through our Guadalupe season and on reflection so far, it has been an epic start with some fantastic guests plus some classic shark encounters! If we continue the way that we are going it is sure to be our most successful season ever! Also, with the number of guests, for whom this was the first time seeing a White shark we as ever, have been reminded just how important these trips are for the education and overall protection of the shark not just here in Mexico but also, worldwide.
We arrived at the island to find a brisk wind, so after assessing the best place to anchor we where soon doing what we do best. Again (like usual on the first morning), we where made to wait a few hours for the first shark but around 11am a cry came from the cages that a shark had been spotted down deep. Throughout the first day the sharks seemed to be teasing our guests by just coming in and out of view and as we came to the end of the day just as the sun disappeared behind the island and we where about to call time on diving for the day, our buddy “Chuggy” turned up and put on a great late show for our guests! after a gradual build up to a rocking end to the day it is fair to say our guests’ beer and wine at the end of the day tasted that much sweeter.
Day 2 and our guest where very eager to continue and pick up the diving from the end of the first day. Chuggy (who has now been seen for 8 years at Guadalupe) was back and is now starting to make a real name for himself plus we where visited 4-5 different average sized sharks including “CoriB” and as we came to the end of this day Mauricio Hoyas once again jumped on the boat for an evening of questions and answers session allowing our guests to ask as much as they want to know about these beautiful but mysterious creatures and their habits.
Mauricio has been studying the sharks here at the island for the last 9 years and after having a passion for sharks since he was a young boy he is now concentrating all his efforts to find out the unanswered questions surrounding these sharks in order to help gain a further understanding of their behavior and ultimately, help get them the protection they desperately need. He firmly believes in scientific data through tagging and tracking sharks as well as sample taking to help this be achieved, however, he also points out just how important it is that guests come out to see the animals and help stand up for what has in the past been a very misunderstood animal. After talking “sharks” for a few hours we planned our final days diving rotations and prepared for what was to become a massive climax to our adventure..................
Day 3 was easily our best of the trip with sharks making an appearance very early on. Chuggy was back (again!) plus 3-4 new sharks and during this time our submersible cage was working on overdrive taking people up and down from the depths and giving excited shark divers a unique and special perspective from the deep! During one of the rotations we spotted some very large Tuna which is found in great numbers here also. Then, from what seemed out of nowhere, a very boisterous and large 14ft male turned up to finish the trip with a bang! I have to say when you come across one of these larger sharks you realize what a privilege and honor it is to be seeing and spending time in its presence is.
As we departed the island once more we reflected on both how these trips are exciting adventures for our guests but also how they are becoming just as important to the sharks themselves. A portion of the ticket price goes directly to the research undertaken here and whereas in the past these sharks where worth money by being caught and killed, they are now becoming worth greater amounts through tourism as people are prepared to fly halfway around the world for their “Great White encounter”. Over the course of the season we will have shown and let over 160 people come out here, make their own minds up about the sharks plus leaving with the memories and stories of a lifetime. This is eco tourism at its best and long may it continue this season as well as years to come...........
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