Great White SharkS of isla Guadalupe, Mexico

Transcription

1 Great White SharkS of isla Guadalupe, Mexico With two cages and only ten guests, it is possible to literally stay in the water from morning to night; the only limiting factor is your ability to stay warm.

2 the experience BigAnimal Expeditions offers this trip to a maximum of ten divers. if you choose to remain in the cage lowered to just below the water s surface and breathe through air provided from a hookah line, no scuba certification is required. Divers must be certified to venture through open water to the cage lowered to thirty feet. maximum time spent in the cage is an hour, more than most wetsuit encumbered body temperatures usually desire. With two cages and only ten guests, it is possible to literally stay in the water from morning to night; the only limiting factor is your ability to stay warm. in order to make sure everyone gets time in both the surface cages and the depth cage, we devise a schedule that divides our divers into two groups that take turns in the 30-foot cage. the depth cage is lowered four times every day, and each group gets to use it twice daily. For example, on the first day of diving, Group 1 will enter the 30-foot cage at 8am and 12pm, and Group 2 will use the cage at 10am and 2:30pm. the following day we will alternate times to ensure all our guests have the same opportunities to dive with these mesmerizing predators. in between deep cage divers, an almost unlimited amount of hours can be spent in the surface cages, and most people only take breaks to warm up in the sun before returning to the beautiful blue waters of isla Guadalupe. Chumming We catch our own fish to make a fresh, highly scented, bloody mixture to drift in the current behind the boat. While we may cast a skip jack or mackerel to an oncoming shark for a photo opportunity, this is not done when the lower cage is in the water. We do not want to create a feeding frenzy. isla Guadalupe island Departing our gateway city of Ensenada, mexico, a 90-minute van drive south of San Diego, California, isla Guadalupe is an overnight 150 miles boat journey. the island s pine and cypress trees condense cloud moisture into fresh water springs, supporting a community of plants along the top ridge of the island. Sealers introduced goats to the island, and when their enterprises failed, the island was wiped clean of most vegetation. Every shoreline bend has a unique sheer lava rock formation. Fur seals perch on large boulders, elephant seals, also with pups are inclined to slumber on rocky beaches. Our Vessel mexican-owned Seaescape is a 110 dive liveaboard with five double ensuite cabins on its upper deck, a master bed-room on the main deck, and two cabins with a shared bath on the lower deck. there is a large living room housing a full entertainment system and computer. the boat is fully air conditioned, has a water purification system, plus a Nitrox blending system. the vessel can accommodate 20 passengers, but we only take 10 guests to make sure everyone gets a unique, personalized experience with as much time in the water as they can handle. Sea Escape has the capacity to carry two shark cages allowing our minimum number of guests to enjoy all the time they want to be in the cage without having to wait or take turns. An automatic hoist raises and lowers the cages, two at water level with one at a depth of thirty feet. the all-mexican crew is expirienced knowledgeable and they are extremely proud of their sharks. Adding a cultural taste of mexican cuisine to our experience, we can also accommodate other food preferences. An added bonus is Amos availability to share his expertise on the various aspects of photographing great whites in this environment. A two-time winner of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the year award, he pays special attention helping each diver to obtain the finest quality of photography using both strobes and ambient-light.

3 Nature at its Best. listen to Your heart pound. Shortly after sunrise, our adrenaline spikes and excitement and anticipation peaks as the Southern Sport crew lowers three cages into the water off the Northern shoreline of isla Guadalupe. For many divers, it has been a longtime dream to have a close up encounter with the great white. Donning five or seven-millimeter wetsuits, hoods and gloves, and adding additional weight to help us remain negatively buoyant in the cage, we will shortly have that long awaited face-to-face encounter with the ocean s apex and world s largest predatory fish, the magnificent great white shark. Pristine, clear waters with visibility ranging from 60 to 100 feet, and degree water temperatures are the conditions for our in-cage (and perhaps, out of cage) experience. As we eagerly wait, we ll admire a brilliant sun rising over Guadalupe island. this 98-square mile (22 mile long) starkly beautiful landscape is a geological wonder. Environmentally isolated and surrounded by deep water, there are dramatic views along the north end of the island which peak to 4,200 feet. Some areas of colorful red volcanic layers are visually comparable to areas in the Grand Canyon. Guadalupe s volcanic beach is home to a fur seal colony along the edge of the island s deep drop off, the primary attraction for the great whites. We have selected the three best weeks for our expedition: the period following fur seal birth when the females see their pups first venture into the water to become shark bait. Because of this readily available food source, this is peak migration season for the great whites in this area and it s the best time of year to see the largest females, some exceeding lengths of 18 feet (6 meters). Big Animals expeditions always provide the perfect combination of timing, experience, and epic animal behavior, and our great white encounter is no exception. Quickly we realize that this majestic shark is more fearsome in our imaginations than in reality. the iconic great white is one sleek, weaving swimming machine. they have long been billed as the most ferocious killer world wide, and although the majority of shark attacks are attributed to these sharks, even the author Peter Benchley felt that he did the great white a terrible disservice by writing his book Jaws. research has found that recorded bites typically related to a naturally curious shark searching for a tasty mortal. humans are not on the great white's menu when they are "sample biting." While this is not a comforting distinction, it indicates that great whites would rather release their victims than prey on humans. Diving with these perfect predators is an eye-opening and absolutely unforgettable experience. i would challenge anyone to find a more exhilarating way to spend seven days. Guadalupe s impressive water visibility sets the perfect backdrop for these great white encounters. the first time you see the silhouette of one of these huge sharks begin to emerge out of the blue, your heart will skip a beat. Part of this reaction undoubtedly has to do with our perception of these amazing animals as the ultimate killing machine, but it is also partly because of their undeniable presence and obvious dominance over their underwater realm. these perfectly evolved predators rule their world, and being only a few feet away from such a magnificent and powerful creature will at once humble and amaze you. the images and memories you create during this week in the waters around Guadalupe island will stay with you always and will forever change the way to see and understand this king of sharks. the Great White Shark Growing to an average length of 15 ft (4.6 m), and weighing as much as 5,000 lbs (2,268 kilos), the great white s slate-gray upper bodies blend with the Pacific s rocky coastal sea floor. they are named for their white underbellies. Streamlined, torpedo-shaped swimmers, their powerful tails can propel them to speeds up to15 miles (24 km) per hour. highly adapted predators, their mouths are lined with more than 300 serrated, triangular teeth arranged in several rows. to detect prey they have an exceptional sense of smell. their organs can sense tiny electromagnetic fields generated by prey. Found in cool, coastal waters throughout the world, there is no reliable data on the great white's global population. their numbers are decreasing precipitously due to overfishing and accidental gill net entanglements. Great whites are listed as an endangered species.

4 Great Whites isla Guadalupe Nov 17-24, 2016 GrEAt WhitE ExPEriENCE: 30 years WhErE: Great White Sharks of isla Guadalupe AmOS NAChOum Expedition leader Amos has 30 years experience diving with Great White Sharks off long island New york, Australia, South Africa, and off the Farallon islands, San Francisco. Amos is also a very accomplished professional photographer who was the BBC wildlife photographer of the year in 2007 and throughout your trip Amos will be available to provide you with expert coaching on various aspects of photographing the sharks and their environment, with special attention paid to how to get the best performance from your equipment using both strobes and ambient-light photography. Amos uses his leadership and photography skills to artfully capture the lives of Ocean Giants whose existence is under threat, but whose hope of survival is linked to us communicating the truth. BigAnimals Expeditions are designed to add value to your life experience, to generate attention for endangered species, to aid in their preservation and to provoke public awareness and opinion. Enhance your photographic skills with Amos. the Experience is Priceless! BigAnimals unique Services raising the bar of services in every adventure we operate around the world is our policy. We lead by example with immaculate safety record. Each wildlife expedition is carefully scouted before offered to the public and we schedule departures only during peak animal presence and behavior displays, led by Amos Nachoum s and based on his 35 years of diving and photographing Ocean Giants. Our Great White Shark Expedition is strictly limited to only 10 privileged guests. this is with consideration of the shark s welfare and behavior, your safety and provides you with room to move freely, ample space in which to photograph and film, with personalized attention and advice. DAtES: Nov 17-24, 2016 AVAilABility: 4 spaces DurAtiON: 8 days max NO. OF GuEStS: 10 PriCiNG: $5,900 per person based on double occupancy registration: Deposit of $2,100 VESSEl: 110 Sea Escape ACtiVitiES: Cage diving temperature: Water 68-72F (20-22C) Air 60-80F (16-27C) trip PriCE includes: 6 days great white shark diving (according to your departure) on board the Southern Sport All diving equipment (tanks, weights, and belts) leadership by experienced expedition staff All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea land travel arrangements; transfers to and from the vessel Comprehensive trip preparation bulletin will be sent after deposit is made. trip PriCE ExCluDES: Airfare to and from San Diego hotel charges on arrival and departure days Personal charges such as Nitrox, laundry, meals ashore, bar, and telecommunication charges insurance it is mandatory you buy your own travel, health, and diving insurance Park and Visa fee about $100 Gratuities

5 BigAnimals Expeditions GrEAt WhitE ShArkS Oct 26 - Nov 1, 2016 Great WhiteS itinerary > oct 26 - Nov 1, 2016 day 1 November 17 ArriVE: San Diego and stay overnight at a hotel of your choice near the airport. Wyndham Bayside (1355 North harbor Drive San Diego) day 2 Nov. 18 By 7:30 Am you meet at hotel lobby the van that takes us to mexico we head for Ensenada. this is usually a 90-minute ride, depending on border crossing, visa formalities and traffic. As soon as we reach the port in Ensenada, we board our vessel. We leave at midday for our hours crossing to isla Guadalupe. day 3-7 Nov ArriVE Guadalupe around 10Am and as soon as the three cages are in the water, great white shark diving begins. During our FIVE days on site, the dive deck is open for action and excitement from 8Am to 5Pm. DEPArt: Guadalupe by 2Pm on the last day of diving and start the 18 to 20- hour cruise back to Ensenada. day 8 NOV 24 ArriVE Ensenada at midday and return across the border to your hotel in San Diego or to the airport if you have a connecting flight on that day. PAymENt POliCy AND DEPOSit: When we receive your deposit, we will send you a comprehensive and detailed trip Preparation Bulletin about the experience and the destination. All trip costs are subject to change without prior notice until your reservation is confirmed. A deposit of 33% of the total trip price is required to secure space on the trip. Full payment is due no later than 90 days before departure. We reserve the right to sell any space that is not paid in full by 60 days before departure. CANCEllAtiON POliCy -must be made in writing. -more than 90 days before trip: Deposit will be refunded in full. -90 days or less before trip: Deposit will be refunded if space is sold, less unrecoverable costs of sales, and administration costs. -No refund is made for unused part of the itinerary. the following are subject to change: -Cost of services which are not included in the expedition price -Flight time and schedule -Weather, water temperature, and animal behavior Dates and prices are subject to change without prior notice

6 PErSONAl information ApplicAtion Form Expedition Great Whites Sharks Expeditions Date: Nov 17-24, 2016 first Name last Name Date of Birth Gender: female male Address City State Zip Work Phone home Phone Citizen of Passport # Place issued & Date trip price $6,400 per person, double occupancy. Deposit of 1/3 of trip price is required to secure space = $2,100 Non-refundable final payment due 90 days before departure. Please make your check payment to BigAnimals Expeditions, 189 Evans Ave #A, Pacific Grove, CA Overseas payment can be done via bank wire, instructions will be sent to you upon receipt of this application. Promotional code travel insurance: yes NO Provider Policy # travel insurance is prerequisite and mandatory on BigAnimals adventures. We need to have your policy number. Do you carry diving insurance? yes NO Provider Policy # Diving Experience/years in Diving Where & When last 3 Dive Experiences? how do you rate your Diving Skills? Beginner inter Advanced Expert how do you rate your Photography and/or Video skills? No interest Beginner inter Advanced Expert