Guadalupe - Liveaboard advice

[Oceanshutter 121]

Hello,

 

I am looking at booking a trip to Guadalupe in 2017.

 

What boats do people recommend? Pros and Cons of each? Any outside the cage experiences?

 

Look forward to your replies.

Thanks,

Dustin

[JamesR 26]

I will be able to give you some feedback in a few months... We're headed out there on Nautilus Belle Amie. We had a great trip to Socorro on Nautilus Explorer, so I expect it'll be epic.

[Oceanshutter 121]

I will be able to give you some feedback in a few months... We're headed out there on Nautilus Belle Amie. We had a great trip to Socorro on Nautilus Explorer, so I expect it'll be epic.

A little worried about how many people that boat takes...

[JamesR 26]

Explorer holds that many, and it wasn't even an issue...however, with shark cages, the line will be a bit longer, so yeah I get where you're coming from. We'll see how it goes...I know people that were on Belle Amie a few months ago at Guadalupe and loved it. They travel more than anyone I know, and have pretty high standards...that helps.

[anenomefish2001 0]

Lens recommendations for an EM5?

I had heard 7-14 was a good choice.

[Tinman 27]

I attempted to book a September 2016 Guadalupe trip on the Nautilus Explorer (sister boat to Nautilus Belle Amie) a while back, but the trip I wanted was already full. This particular boat does advertise allowing divers to climb on top of suspended cages when conditions permit.

 

Since the trip I wanted was already full, I booked with the M/V Islander out of San Diego. The Islander has a good resume of clients. We'll see how the trip goes in September 2016.

 

If there's a particular target week for when you want to go, book early. It sounds like the trips consistently fill. I thought I was attempting my booking with the Nautilus Explorer early enough; it wasn't!

 

-AZTinman

[BengalBoy 2]

I was on the "Islander" back in 2011. My dive master was Jimi Partington who has been featured in many "Shark Week" shows as well as marine biologist Doc Anes. Excellent experience! The people on The Islander love Great Whites and are very concientious about safety and protecting the sharks. There is no "loud music" or pulling the bait directly into the cages. All dives are done in two 4 man cages alternating every hour with 8 other divers. Dives begin at 8 in the morning and conclude at 5. There is a submersible cage that is a single diver with Jimi as your dive master that goes to 40 feet. Divers all get a turn that are certified, and, after that its just pretty much who wants to go down and use it. If you have the camera equipment, *I didn't*, its a very cool experience being at depth with Great Whites. Maurico the Mexican marine biologist in charge of Guadalupe will visit the boat one night and give a lecture on the ecology and behavior of Great Whites. Check Jimi out on Facebook for information. The boat is by no means "plush",,, you share two large community bathrooms with the other guests, but, the experience and passion of the crew for the Great Whites is contagious. Highly recommend these guys!! (The Islander has done out of the cage dives for experts and National Geographic style productions, they did one the week after I was there, however, I would hesitate to do that unless you have a great deal of experience with these Sharks.) It is guestimated about 300 or more are there and the stealthy nature of these animals is very disarming at times. I recommend you book your trip as late into October first of November if possible. That is when the very large females arrive and you might get to see Deep Blue or Lucy. Deep Blue was there during my dives, but, arrived on the day before I left. Lucy got there a couple days earlier and was Gi'Normous in her own right! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206811024977577&l=a39a61ee1f

 

@aneomefish: I now shoot with a E-M1 and think your lens choice would be great selection with a dome. I prefer my 12-40 Pro for quality, but, wider is better. If your brave,, hanging off the back of the transom where the cages mount might make for a great over/under shot of a Great White passing by with Guadalupe in the background. (just don't fall in) Its a very primal place. Also recommend a 40-150mm Pro with converter for BIF and Sea Lions on the shore. A camera drone would be cool as well if you are into them. No one is allowed on the Island, but, a camera drone would give you some great footage and landscape photos if you know how to use one.

Edited April 21, 2016 by BengalBoy

[BengalBoy 2]

This is a photo I took hanging out of the cage of a young Great White hitting the bait and diving back at me... *Thrilling!!!*

[anenomefish2001 0]

I am set to go on the Slomar in October.

 

Thanks for confirming on the lenes choice. I already have the 12-40 Pro and plan to bring both.

 

Yes a drone would be cool, but the budget is already maxed out.

[BengalBoy 2]

I would go with the Pro as the sharpest lens of the two. Most of your photos will be taken at about 8-10 feet below the surface. The water is very clear & clean and the sun is bright. Its difficult to get very creative and most shots would be the image of the Great Whites taking passes by the cage, around the cage, under the cage,,, coming up to the cage. The 12-40 will also give you more reach when the sharks are out in the bait area as the boat will most likely not throw it in front of the cages and pull it in. If the Solomar has a submersible cage then the 7-14 would be a cool choice to shoot up at the bottom of the boat and all the fishes gathered around... silhouetteing a Great White above you and between the surface. If you can do a over/under with a shark in the water and Guadalupe behind it... also a good choice. Here is an image of me hanging out of the cage as a young Great White comes in to check me out. You can see the depth of the cage from the surface to the average shooting angle. Most coveted shot in this situation is a Great White attacking the cage with its jaws distended.. it does happen,, and it will definitely get your attention!! Be Ready and Don't forget to pull the trigger when it does!!