The sharks are amazing and beautiful. I bought an underwater camera for this trip and I’m so glad that I did. I have many great pictures of the great white sharks. I’m having a great time and I don’t want to go home. The dive crew on this boat are very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. They work very hard to keep things moving and to get the great whites to come to the cages. You can stay in the cages at the stern of the boat all you want to see all the shark action. The entire crew on board are extremely pleasant and go out of their way to take care of all your needs or wants. The food is excellent and the wine list is extensive. The cabins are comfortable and extremely clean as is the whole boat. I’m already planning my next trip back. This is a trip for the whole family to enjoy, so put it on your bucket list and do it!
–Jean Naughton, Paso Robles, California
It took me three days and… I think I finally figured out how to put a wetsuit on properly. I don’t dive often. Before even getting in the water, Isla Guadalupe loomed into view in a moment that felt a bit like Jurassic Park (You have a T-Rex?) and maybe even a little more like the Island of Dr Moreau.
You immediately sense something majestic and inspiring about this patch of land almost 22 hours from mainland Mexico. The northern peak always has clouds. Its history is riddled with stories of seal hunters and pirates. Black flecks dotting the rocky cliffs make a lot of noises in the evenings as they hunt for fish. The three major seal species are more than simple rock ornaments in this ecosystem that includes sea turtles, birds, fish and, of course, the sharks which guests and crew of the Nautilus now share accommodations with.
Don’t be fooled by the seemingly infinite empty blue of dives where sharks aren’t immediately visible. Light plays tricks with lenses of both eyes and cameras near the surface. Further down in the submersible cages, it becomes obvious why the great whites’ aquamarine stealth design has the advantage. We laughed at the seals the first day we arrived, imitating their honks and cries that sound like a distressed barnyard or petting zoo. But maybe the seals are celebrating. After all, survival is nothing to be taken for granted in the presence of this oceanic predator that is just as worthy of our fear as it is our respect.
–Joe S., Brooklyn, NY
Simply the best starting of Guadalupe season, (great white sharkies)! It makes me want to come back again and again, just to watch this incredible predator – how it moves, how its jaws work, how they interact with us. It is a wonderful and unforgettable experience, then you figure out that you are in a very special place with the biggest predator in the ocean, cage diving eye to eye – it just leaves you breathless. And then you’ll come back for more!
–DM Luis
