Frequently
Asked Questions About the
Great
White Shark Trips
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Q. What water and air temperatures can I expect at Guadalupe Island?
A. Generally water temps vary between 62-72 F depending upon the month.
Air temperatures can be low seventies in the evening to mid 80s during the day.
It is usually cooler when there is cloud cover. Do use sunscreen liberally during
the trip. The sun can be intense down at the island.
Q. What is the visibility like on these trips?
A. Usually excellent! Many experienced and well traveled underwater photographers
and videographers consider Guadalupe Island to be Nirvana for filming
these animals. Over the last three seasons the visibility has averaged
80 ft, occasionally getting better than 120 ft. On a bad day or when a
"mung" layer swings out from the shore vis might drop to 20
ft. for a short period until the wind and current swing the boat away
into better visibility.
Q. Will we be going to several dive sites?
A. If the weather cooperates we usually will set up in our favorite white
shark site and stay there for the duration of the trip. We have found
that the white sharks will often stay in the area around the boat. We
chum through out the night to keep the scent in the water. Occasionally
the white sharks will appear before we can get the cages into the water.
There is an ole fishermen's saying, "Don't leave fish to find fish!"
Q. How much dive time can I expect during the trip?
A. That's up to you. Most divers have averaged 10-15 hours in the water
with the Great White Sharks. The rotations into the cage last one hour
each. "Shark Watch" is also an opportunity for more water time.
Believe me, you'll get plenty of water time, but there are lots of other
things to do when you are not in the water. You can take surface shots
of the white sharks attacking the hang baits or cruising down the side
of the boat, or you can relax. Hey you're on vacation, enjoy it!
Q. What is "Shark Watch"?
A. "Shark Watch" is open to anyone who wants to be in the cages
functioning as our eyes in the water. Often the white sharks will approach
the boat at depth and can't be seen from the deck. The shark watchers
are our early warning system. When they sight a white shark, they pop
up to the top of the cage to let the deck crew know that a Great White
Shark has appeared. From that point on we begin the rotations. The reward
for the shark watchers is that their time in the cage doesn't begin until
a white shark is sighted. We will then fill any empty slots in the cages
and begin the one-hour rotations.
Q. What is the average size of the Great White Sharks at Guadalupe Island?
A. The White Sharks we've seen over the last several of seasons have ranged
from a small 10 ft male to a hefty 16 ft female. I did see an honest 18
footer during the exploratory trip in 2000. Some of the guys on the boat
thought it might have been 20 ft!! The thing to remember about these white
sharks is that they get REAL BIG in girth as they grow.
Q. Can we get outside the cage to dive with the white sharks?
A. NO!! Once you see how many white sharks and how aggressive they are
at
Guadalupe Island; you'll know why. We are using bait to keep the white
sharks near the boat; you don't want to be mistaken for a tuna!
Q. Can we go exploring on the island?
A. No. This trip is not geared for exploring the island. Guadalupe is
a bio preserve; in order to go onto the island a special permit is required
from the Mexican government.
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