Scuba Diving Guadalupe Island
Guadalupe Island, Mexico is now considered the world’s best location for cage diving, white shark research, white shark photography and videos of great white sharks – bar none. Since 2000 America’s Shark Boat has been calling Guadalupe Island and the sharks that live there home.
About Guadalupe Island
In 2000 America’s Shark Boat first dropped anchor and cages at Guadalupe Island in the hopes of seeing a single white shark, at the end of the that first day they had encountered over 10 different animals and the shark diving world changed forever. Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe) is a mysterious volcanic island located 150 statute miles off the west coast of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula and about 250 miles southwest of Ensenada. The island is 35 km long and 9.5 km wide. The climate is warm and dry and gets most its precipitation during the winter months.
The rough, rugged landscape of Guadalupe Island was formed from two ancient volcanoes and a volcanic ridge that rises to over 4,000 feet above sea level. The island is inhabited by a handful of fishermen from a fishing cooperative who live in a small camp on the south end of the island. There is also said to be an abandoned fishing community on the east side of the island. They mainly fish for abalone, lobster and sea cucumbers. There is a small airport located in the center of the island that is seldom used.
Great White Sharks at Guadalupe Island
Great whites are the world’s largest predatory fish. They grow to be about 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6.1 meters) or more and can weigh more than 5,000 lbs. (2,268 kilograms). Though massive, the great white is not the biggest shark. This classification goes to the whale shark, which is not considered a predatory fish and which is rarely found at Guadalupe Island. We did see one in 2016, making the first time anyone has encountered this unique shark species at this location.
Great White Shark Habitat at Guadalupe Island
Great whites are found mostly along the coasts of Australia, Mexico, South Africa, California and the northeastern United States. They are also found in fewer numbers around the Azores, Brazil, the Caribbean, northwestern Africa, eastern Africa, the Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, northern Australia, New Caledonia, the Philippines and Hawaii. They prefer warm, salty, temperate coastal seas. The great white can swim not only on the surface, but also more than 1000 feet (500 m) deep, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s
Liveaboard dive trips to Guadalupe Island are made to see great white sharks. The diving is done in and sometimes around cages to protect the divers from the sharks. Air is surface supplied, so no tanks or BCs are used. However, the water is quite chilly, and thermal protection is typical. Great white shark expeditions are offered to shark divers and non divers and usually carrying 10 to 25 passengers on 5 day trips. On America’s Shark boat the departure point is San Diego, USA (no bussing into Mexico).
Guadalupe Island Shark Diving Locations
Guadalupe Island is located in Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. After 18 years of shark cage diving operations it has outperformed South Africa and Australia with shark consistency and ocean conditions. Only Guadalupe Island can boast shark cage diving in beautiful clear blue water with 125 – 150 foot visibility. America’s Shark Boat has documented over 230 great white sharks at the island since 2000.
Cage Diving Information at Guadalupe Island
Cage Diving Shark Seasons: June to November each year’
Guadalupe Island Weather: The island of the great white sharks enjoys different climate zones. For cage divers at sea level temperatures range from 64 and 72 F (18 and 22 C) on an average day with plenty of warm sunshine.
Water Visibility: Visibility during the cage diving season at Guadalupe season averages 125-150 feet (38-45m)
Non-Certified Shark Cage Diving: Diving with white sharks is done from cages with surface supplied regulators. A dive certification is not required.
Who to Dive With at Guadalupe Island
America’s Shark Boat runs shark cage diving tours from August to November. Divers board the boat in San Diego, Ca and overnight to Guadalupe Island. They offer a 100% price match guarantee and the lowest all inclusive pricing in the industry.
You could pay more to cage dive with white sharks but why would you? $2,999 per person
