Island Travel Guide: Exploring Guadalupe
Guadalupe Island, located off the coast of Mexico, is a world-renowned destination for great white shark cage diving. Here, divers have the unique opportunity to come face-to-face with these awe-inspiring predators in their natural habitat.
For the best liveaboard options, visit the Guadalupe dive page on Bluewater Travel's sister website. Specialised shark cage diving boats depart from San Diego or Ensenada, Mexico, offering 5-6 day liveaboards with 3 full days of cage diving.
Key Features of Guadalupe Liveaboards
- Departure points: San Diego International Airport (SAN) or Ensenada, Mexico.
- Duration: 5-6 day liveaboards with 3 full diving days.
- Diving season: July through November, with different shark demographics appearing throughout the season.
- Equipment: Traditional and SPOC (Self Propelled Ocean Cage) cages.
- Difficulty: Suitable for all experience levels, including non-divers.
- Activities: Exclusively shark cage diving and related marine encounters.
Diving at Guadalupe Island
Visibility at Guadalupe Island is not specified, but divers typically do 3-4 45-minute dives per day in both surface and submersible cages. The surface cages are tied to boats and have a max depth of 5-10ft, while the submersible cages drop to about 40ft and are entered on the surface before submerging with the diver.
Due to remaining still in a cage, the water may seem colder than normal. Cold temperatures are expected, with water temperatures in the 60's. A 7mm suit or drysuit is recommended.
White shark encounters are common and adrenaline-pumping, with one to three sharks often seen at any one time, and a total of 4-8 individuals over a 3 or 4 day trip.
Underwater Photography Tips
Use a wide-angle lens for underwater photography at Guadalupe Island, and avoid macro lenses. Fisheye or rectilinear lenses work fine, and short strobe arms are necessary due to space constraints. Fast shutter speeds are recommended, at least 1/125th of a second, and use high-speed shooting mode on your camera if possible.
Other Marine Life
Sea lions and baitfish may also be occasionally seen. Further reading is available on marine life underwater photography, a great white shark trip report, best dive destinations for shark diving, and how to photograph sharks underwater.
Important Considerations
Sea-sickness meds are recommended for the boat ride. It's important to note that shark cage diving in Guadalupe was closed indefinitely in 2022, so checking current operational status is essential before booking.
The Pelagic Fleet operates luxury liveaboard trips to Guadalupe Island, which are among the most reputable options. Some operators, such as Solmar V and Nautilus Explorer, cater primarily to pelagic dives around the Socorro Islands and are not focused on great white shark cage diving at Guadalupe Island.
In summary, for great white shark diving at Guadalupe Island, choose liveaboards that specialise in shark cage diving with departure from San Diego or Ensenada, ideally with Pelagic Fleet or similarly experienced operators. Confirm that cage diving operations at Guadalupe are currently active before planning the trip.
[1] Bluewater Travel's Guadalupe dive page: https://www.bluewaterdivetravel.com/destinations/mexico/guadalupe-island/ [2] Solmar V: https://www.solmarv.com/ [3] Nautilus Explorer: https://www.nautilusexplorer.com/ [4] Pelagic Fleet: https://www.pelagicfleet.com/
- Guadalupe Island, a popular destination off the coast of Mexico, offers breathtaking encounters with great white sharks through cage diving.
- For the best liveaboard experiences, visit the Guadalupe dive page on Bluewater Travel's sister website.
- Departures are available from San Diego International Airport (SAN) or Ensenada, Mexico, offering 5-6 day liveaboards with 3 full diving days.
- The dive season at Guadalupe Island is from July to November, with each season showcasing different shark demographics.
- Both traditional and Self Propelled Ocean Cages (SPOC) are available, suitable for all experience levels, including non-divers.
- Divers can expect 3-4 45-minute dives per day in surface and submersible cages, capturing incredible moments with the aid of appropriate underwater photography equipment like wide-angle lenses and short strobe arms.
- Adventurers seeking outdoor-living experiences and a unique lifestyle might find home-and-garden pursuits less thrilling, but the adrenaline rush from facing sharks up-close in their natural habitat is unmatched.
- To ensure a seamless sports-packed trip, pack essentials like sea-sickness meds and a 7mm suit or drysuit for the cold waters, and remain updated on the current operational status of Guadalupe Island's cage diving before booking.
