Instant Reader Report
on Great White Adventures / [same] in
Mexico (Western) Pacific / Guadaloupe Island on
2003/09
by
David Nixon , ma, USA
Report Number 030923151345424

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 Western Pacific, Eastern Pacific, Caribbean, Northern Atlantic 

Dive Conditions

Stay in the cage. Wear gloves.  

Ambient light is perfect. Use digital imaging - action much too fast for
film. DVT cameras are available for rent. Equipment table with limited
electricty.   

Overall Rating

Its about a 22 hour crossing to Guadaloupe Island, 215 miles WSW of San
Diego and 155 miles W of Baja..  There was one sea sick casualty on the
outbound leg that recovered on the second day at anchor. The crew did
every thing they could to make him comfortable and didn't just ignore him
in his discomfort.  In fact, the crew did whatever the guests needed.  The
food was top rate - primariliy American with some Mexican overtones. We
even had a vegetarian whose needs were met without question.  California
wines were offered with dinner, softdrinks, water and beer (premium and
domestic) were available at no charge - the only stipulation was typical
dive etiquette - first alcoholic drink means you're not going to dive
again that day.  Coffee and munchies available all day.

We were also happy to have Scott as our diver master, who just so happens
to be an aquatic biologist specializing in Great White sharks.
Nice to have an unassumming expert on board capable of answering any
stupid question.

The boat, Searcher, is a 95' sportfishing boat. The double occupancy
cabins are cramped but functional.  The AC worked so well that we
(unanimously) asked that it be turned down.  It was and we no longer froze
at night, but it did make the galley a little warm for dinner.  The galley
seats 20, but with a maximum guest load of 16, its not uncomfortable. 
There are 4 heads - 2 with showers and a fresh water shower on deck.

The 2 cages are attached by 4 movable pivot points to the stern, so that
the cages move independent of the boat and each other.  This makes for
some fairly rough moments with the swells, but I can't imagine what the
competition's boat with solid attachments is like.  The top of the cages
sit at the surface of the water and you slide/climb into them from above. 
You're weighted at the ankles and waist with 35-50 lbs of lead.  The waist
belts have shoulder straps so they are a little more comfortable than you
would think.  And the crew is more than happy to relieve you of the
weights as soon as you get out of the cage onto the swim platform rather
than waiting until you're back on the deck.  Once under the water the
weight keeps you planted on the deck of the cages but your natural and
neoprene bouyancy still allows you to move comfortably and nimbly.  Each
cage fits 4 divers, but 2 was the best - 2 sets of eyes and room to move
all around.  Most divers were in 3mm jump suits, some with hoods, gloves
are a requirement and hard soled booties are a strong recommendation.  Oh
yeah, bring towels.  None are provided.  But not really needed either. 
Just for showers.

Air is supplied through regulators attached to an air compressor on deck. 
The water temps were in the 70's and visibility ranged from 20-100 feet. 
By the end of the first day, the established hourly diver rotation system
dissolved into 2 groups  - the hard core who usually stayed in well past 2
hours and the casuals who rotated in and out in an hour or under. The cages
were occupied from the first sighting in the morning (7-10am)to about 30
minutes past sunset. (6pm)

Shark activity ranged from none to a maximum of 5 with one fearless sea
lion finning in and about the sharks.  He even went so far as to nip a
couple of tails/fins as he swam around and he even swam in the cage with
my wife, Ann.  The water was constantly chummed with a mixture of water
and fish blood and there were 2 dead jacks on lines off each corner of the
stern as "hang bait".  At the end of each rope was a "shark
wrangler" (guest or crew) who's job it was to tease the shark into
biting the bait as many times as possible by pulling it just out of their
reach, putting on a show for the divers in the cages.  But more often than
not the shark won on the first bite.  The sharks are in no way intimidated
by anything.  They never attacked the cages directly but several times the
cage got in the way of them getting and eating a fish and their jaws ended
up part way into the cage or they simply body slammed the cage.  At a
couple of thousand pounds, a body slam was no gentle tap.  Most sharks
were in the 10-15 foot range.  There were a couple smaller and a couple
larger.  Its their girth that is the dramatic measurement.  These animals
are small trucks and are simply impressive.  On deck the activity and
excitement didn't end, there was shark wrangling on the stern and
Laurence, company's CEO and founder, has developed another form of shark
torture, appropriately named "shark in the air".  A full yellow
fin tuna is attached to the line of an electric winch and dangled just in
the water at the side of the boat.  As the shark bites the tuna, the hoist
is slowly raised and the shark just follows the tuna up into the air -
creating a thrashing scene of bloody carnage.

As there are no depth considerations and other scuba concerns or skills,
it is open to uncertified divers - in fact the sea sick casualty had never
been on the water before.  Don't go if you are expecting a plush liveaboard
or want a variety of sights and experiences.  But if you want to see some
of the prime predators of the world 'doing their thing'; Go.  You won't
regret it.



 

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