Dive Review of
Shark Diving International/Solmar V in
Mexico (Western)/Isla de Guadelupe

Caribbean, Pacific, Atlantic

Dive Conditions

This was a shark cage diving trip. No diving certification was required for
the surface cages. Only certified divers could use the submersible cage.  

  There was a large area with shelves for all camera equipment. there was
plenty of space for everyone. Freshwater rinse tanks were provided.   

Overall Rating

    The Solmar V is the nicest liveaboard boat I've ever had the pleasure
to charter. First class all the way. The CEO of Shark diving International,
Laurence Groth, was on board. His enthusiasm for Great White sharks is
contagious. He worked nonstop from sun up to sun down every day to make
sure everyone was happy. The entire crew could not have been any nicer.
Solo travelers don't always get the best treatment or accommodations. I was
given a last minute cut rate deal, a solo cabin and free underwater video
camera rental. This trip started in San Diego at 8:00am. After a four hour
chartered bus ride across the border into Mexico we arrived at Ensenada,
where we boarded the Solmar V. The 180 mile voyage to Guadelupe took about
18 hours. We had beam seas coming and going so the ride was a little rough.
Lots of patches and Dramamine. Laurence and the crew began chumming as soon
as we anchored and we had our first shark within 15 minutes. They have a
100% success rate for locating Great Whites on this trip. I'm not sure
anything can prepare you for your first Great White experience. They are a
different breed of animal. I've been around a lot of different shark
species and take it from me, these guys are in a class all by themselves.
They look you right in the eye and try to stare you down. We had as many as
seven circling the cages at a time and I'd say they were all between 10 and
15 feet. They came close enough to touch, although we were told not to. The
action was nonstop all day, everyday. There were two cages attached to the
stern with four divers in each. We rotated in one hour intervals to start.
Everybody got as much time in these cages as they wanted and after awhile
you could stay in there basically as long as you wanted. Everything was
done off hooka lines. They also had a submersible cage that was lowered to
35ft. One diver at a time was taken down with the dive master. He wore a
full face mask and had radio contact with the surface. There were two
bailout bottles in the bottom of the cage in case something happened to the
hooka lines. They are the only outfit in the world offering a submersible
cage experience. Laurence, the CEO is a former commercial diver so he knows
how to rig a boat. He also isn't afraid to dig into that chum bucket and
get his hands dirty. He has an on going identification program and they
have identified 99 different sharks frequenting this tiny island. We were
also taken on a panga ride where we saw seals, sea lions and elephant seals
on the shore. We were not allowed to go on the island itself. I found this
trip to be very interesting and educational. I think every diver dreams
about cage diving with Great Whites. You don't have to go to Australia or
South Africa to do it. This trip will be memorable and I couldn't give it a
higher recommendation.   

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