Hammerheads

[pndldy 0]

we would like to do hammerheads in 2015 and wondered if you could suggest who to go with and where . its for 4 people that. thanks so much

[MitHere 3]

I've seen hammerheads in one place and that was the Galapagos - not out at Wolf and Darwin but at Gordon's Rocks.

 

As far as I know, if you want hammerheads - Galapagos liveaboards and Cocos liveaboards are the best options but Mapelo sounds pretty epic.

 

You'd probably have a bit of luck in Isla de Coiba, too.. Or Komodo

[johnspierce 25]

Plenty of Hammers in Galapagos. When we went in May, there were hundreds of them schooling at Darwin. Another good place is the Bahamas where every January/February they gather in the shallows. John Bantin wrote a post about it:

 

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=49592&p=326535

[matt215 3]

You can't go wrong with Cocos or Galapagos. You'll see schooling scalloped hammerheads. Keep in mind that both of these destinations are liveaboard trips and are usually about 2 weeks. The dive ing conditions can be difficult at these locations. Most dives are deep (100feet or more) and there's current which can be strong. Also, watch the El Niño forecasts. If El Niño conditions are present, you won't see as many sharks.

The bahamas, in particular Bimini, are good for great hammerheads in January - March.

If you go to Cocos, I recommend any of the boats in the Undersea Hunter group. They are top notch and the diving is done from steel pangas. These are much more stable than inflatable zodiacs that other boats use. I can't imagine riding out to Alcyone at Cocos in an inflatable over all those waves. And getting out of the water... no thanks

[divengolf 17]

Just got back from Cocos on Sea Hunter and I can affirm what matt215 said above. It was el nino conditions and the water was warm. Around 82F. The guides said that the hammer action was down due to el nino. We saw a good number of scalloped hammers, white tips, black tips, a couple silver tips, 5-10 tigers and a whale shark at Dos Amigos (Small). Diving from the rigid pangas makes a big difference for an old guy like me. Definitely easier that a zodiac. The water was kind of murky and good photos were tough unless they came right to you, which did happen. Diving is deep, generally starting at 100-110 feet, definitely on nitrox 32. Three dives a day. Watch your nitrogen loading. We had a couple folks end up on oxygen due to symptoms of skin bends. They were diving within the NDL limits of their computers, but got mild hits anyway. No long term effects.

 

It's 36 hours each way from the mainland. Fortunately we had mild conditions both ways. Not always the case.

 

Crew is excellent and boat is very comfortable. They are running the Sea Hunter and Argo to Cocos. I don't believe that they are using the Undersea Hunter for that itinerary any longer. Combination of older vessel and lower demand for the trip.

 

If you're planning on 2015, you need to get moving. These trips book up early. At least the Undersea Group does.

[Interceptor121 843]

For hammerheads you need thermoclines. I was in Galapagos this May and there were 0 (zero) hammers in Darwin but there were in Wolf

The water was too warm however now there are thermoclines around 18-20 meters so you see them around

Before booking Galapagos I did my research and the most reliable places are Galapagos, Cocos and Malpelo

Based on recent trip feedback Malpelo is probably the best and Galapagos comes second. Cocos has been warm since February and keeps being not so good

In Galapagos thermoclines are around the 60-70 feet mark which makes it attractive, in Malpelpo when the water is cold the hammers are shallow, in Cocos from what I have read they are deeper

 

however after the last major El Ninjo years ago Cocos was extremely busy with hammers getting cleaned in fact that is where its reputation comes from

Edited July 31, 2014 by Interceptor121

[kerrywalter 0]

I couldn't agree more with what what everybody said about Galapagos. The place is just great for divers who want to see hammer sharks, it's just so magnificent.

[Steve Williams 0]

 

however after the last major El Ninjo years ago Cocos was extremely busy with hammers getting cleaned in fact that is where its reputation comes from

 

I'm curious about this statement partner. Are you assuming there are no Hammers in Cocos? Have you been there recently? When I was last there is was not a El Nino year and we did OK.

 

Pura Vida at Alcyone by Jaws Dad, on Flickr

 

I'd hate for us to give folks the wrong impression that there are no Hammerheads at Isla de Coco

 

Cheers,

Steve

[Interceptor121 843]

There have been two or three trip reports this year from February to July that the water is very warm and no schooling shakes had been seen. Obviously the sharks are there but likely in deeper water that doesn't correspond to the usual dive profiles of the boat. As I said those are trip reports haven't been there myself. I read instead a trip report from malpelo same period and there were plenty of hammers (can see the pictures) galapagos seems to be now improving according to another guy I was in touch with. With the advance notice you need for the booking there is just as much you can check

[kkfok 24]

 

I'm curious about this statement partner. Are you assuming there are no Hammers in Cocos? Have you been there recently? When I was last there is was not a El Nino year and we did OK.

 

Pura Vida at Alcyone by Jaws Dad, on Flickr

 

I'd hate for us to give folks the wrong impression that there are no Hammerheads at Isla de Coco

 

Cheers,

Steve

Only a couple of hammerheads were seen in my entire 7 days of diving in Isla del Coco in early March of this year, water temperature was 26-28 degree Celsius. I think the sharks were still there but they were staying deep.

[Steve Williams 0]

Only a couple of hammerheads were seen in my entire 7 days of diving in Isla del Coco in early March of this year, water temperature was 26-28 degree Celsius. I think the sharks were still there but they were staying deep.

 

Thanks! Hope you had a good trip anyway. The latest trip reports from Cocos have varied results depending on the week. I'm not sure if it's related to El Nino or some other factor. Undersea Hunter Reports

 

Cheers,

Steve

[pndldy 0]

everyone has been so helpful, many places to pick from. Ill start looking into the best times to go for the different areas you have suggested, weather and seasonal influences. so excited to go.

[bfdc 6]

do your research to best increase your odds, but the best thing you can realize about all these extremely beautiful places is that none of them are zoos and enjoy the experience.

 

very hard for us photographers to do when hunting the iconic trophy shot and mother nature is not cooperating! ;-)

[johnspierce 25]

When we did Galapagos in May of 2010, the water was unusually warm. At Darwin, we saw hundreds of hammerheads and they definitely stayed down in the thermocline which seemed to start at about 40 feet, but the water at the surface was about 79 degrees (26 C) and down at 50 feet was still close to 75 degrees (24 C), so not that cool at all. Everyone told us to bring 7mm wetsuits and I was baking like a potato the entire time -- Could have done it in a 3mm easily

 

I think trying to predict exactly how your dives will go is kind of like predicting the weather a month out -- can't be done.

[joki 0]

My Opinion after 10 Years Diving in the Pacific with Multiple Trips at Malpelo, Galapagos, Cocos and Socorro the best Spot for encounter Hammerheads is Malpelo. The Reason why is that there you see them on almost any Divesite and at anytime during the Day. In Galapagos for example you can see them on many Divesites but the prime is Wolf and Darwin where you stay just a couple Days out.
The Question at what spot you have the best Conditions to get close up Pictures is more difficault to answear.

Watertemperature is a Factor, but myself i cant answear it, because I saw dozens of Hammerheads in 22 Celsius Water and also in 28 Celsius Water. But its true mostly they swim close to Thermoclines.

I agree with some Topics above that nothing is a Zoo and everything can happen bust nothing must happen in each of those Destinations.

Good Luck with it.

 

Excuse may bad European English

Edited August 22, 2014 by joki

[bear35 11]

Bimini, Great Hammers...... Shallow clear water, up close and personal interactions, what more can you want??