Frequently Asked Questions About the
Great White Shark Trips

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 eight 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. 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. 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 cruising down the side of the boat, or you can relax. Keep you eyes open-occasionlly these White Shark "breech" launching themselves up in the air!
Hey you're on vacation, enjoy it!

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 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.

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.