GREAT WHITE SHARK CAGE DIVING
WHEN: July 27 - August, 1, 2023
WHERE: Guadalupe Island, Baja California, Mexico
COST: $2895 - 3195 per person (depending on stateroom selection)
GROUP SIZE: 16 - 18 people (Waitlist available, but other departure dates without Chase aboard are available)
Join me onboard the Nautilus Under Sea as we embark to Guadalupe Island, Mexico to cage dive with great white sharks! On this epic voyage, we will depart out of Ensenada on a luxury liveaboard vessel as we make our way towards the famed great white shark cage diving grounds. Once we arrive, we will have 3 full days of unlimited cage diving where we expect to see anywhere from 25-50 different individual great white sharks during our stay. With crystal clear waters, warm surface temperatures, and more wildlife encounters than you can imagine, this is truly the trip of a lifetime.
WHY TOUR WITH ME?
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16+ years of experience out in the wild with a wide-variety of wildlife.
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Small group size to make sure you get a lot of one-on-one instruction and information and loads of time with the wildlife.
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Degrees in both Organismal Biology and Zoology to give up to date information about the wildlife we encounter.
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Years of experience with great white sharks, their behaviors, and tips for photographing them.
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Advanced knowledge of cameras and how to further your photography skills in the field.
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With a deep background in the travel and wildlife adventure industry, I am here solely to make sure you have an unforgettable experience.
HIGHLIGHTS
What you can expect on this trip:
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Unlimited cage diving! From sunrise to sunset (~6:30AM-6:30PM) you will be able to jump in the cages as much as you'd like!
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Multiple encounters with great white sharks ranging in size from 10-20 feet.
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Feeling the adrenaline pump through your body as a shark swims right by you!
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Excellent and luxurious accommodations aboard one of the world's nicest liveaboard vessels, the Nautilus Undersea
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Private photo instruction to ensure you capture the best images imaginable with daily photo reviews and image editing sessions.
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Onboard chefs to make you wonderful meals, anytime of day. Plenty of drinks as well!
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Having the chance to jump in a submersible cage to drop 30 feet below the surface for a different perspective (must be scuba certified).
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Being able to relax in the hot-tub on the top deck while watching great white sharks swim below.
COSTS
INCLUDED
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5 nights, 6 days with 3 full days of cage diving (2 nights for coming and going to the island)
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Accommodation aboard the Nautilus Undersea
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All on-board meals and non-alcoholic drinks
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Post-processing lessons using Adobe Photoshop and RAW
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Transportation to and from Ensenada from San Diego (if you choose this option)
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Park Fees and permits
DOES NOT INCLUDE
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Flights to and from San Diego, USA/Ensenada, BC, Mexico
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Tipping (liveaboard vessel crew)
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Alcoholic beverages
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Diving rentals and WiFI (can be reserved in advance, more info below)
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Hotel accommodation in San Diego or Ensenada the night before the trip (can be arranged)
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Trip/Dive Insurance (required by liveaboard)
SUGGESTED DIVE/CAMERA GEAR
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Dive mask
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1-3mm wetsuit (can be reserved in advance if you do not have one)
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Dive boots/gloves (can also be reserved in advance)
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DSLR camera body
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Wide angle lens (e.g. 16-35,mm 24-70mm, etc. Best for underwater)
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Mid range lens (70-200mm, best for above surface action)
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Underwater housing
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GoPro or action camera
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Flash/Strobes (not necessarily needed, but useful for submersible cages)
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Polarizing filter
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UV filter
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Camera bag capable of carrying gear and daily necessities
WHERE IS GUADALUPE ISLAND?
Guadalupe Island sits approximately 160 miles west of Baja California, out in the Pacific Ocean. We will be embarking out of Ensenada, which will take us 215 miles to reach the sheltered northeast corner of the island where we will spend the next few days with the sharks.
LODGING
For this trip we will be departing out of Ensenada, but there is the option to meet in San Diego and take a chartered bus over the border to the liveaboard. We recommend the San Diego option (that's what Chase will be doing), but if you choose to go straight to Ensenada before, that is fine! Here are our recommendations for hotels in San Diego and Ensenada:
Four Points Sheraton (San Diego): This hotel sits right next to the San Diego airport, making it an easy option to spend the night before we leave for Mexico the next day. The chartered bus will be picking us up from this hotel to take us across the border for our liveaboard trip.
Hotel Coral (Ensenada): If you choose to head to Ensenada before the trip, this is an excellent option. Once we are dropped off from San Diego, we will have time to relax at this hotel before boarding the liveaboard.
TRANSPORTATION
We recommend flying into San Diego the day before we depart. San Diego airport has nonstop service to many destinations across the US. Alternatively you can fly into LAX, 2 hours to the north and drive down to San Diego. For assistance with flights, please contact us.
Once in San Diego, we will have a chartered bus to pick us up and take us across the border in Mexico. No cars are required for this trip, but if you choose to rent your own car and drive yourself, please let us know in advance.
DINING
Meals will be provided on the liveaboard by an onboard chef. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served while aboard with other snacks throughout the day being offered. If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know in advance so the chef and crew can plan accordingly.
While in Ensenada the afternoon before boarding, we highly recommend eating at either Hotel Coral or a local restaurant. The liveaboard will not depart until 9:30PM, so dinner will not be served the first night aboard the vessel.
THE VESSEL
The Nautilus Undersea is the perfect vessel for a cage diving trip. Recently upgraded and refurbished, this 105-foot liveaboard comes equipped with a new super structure, extended sun deck, new stabilizers, and an overall sleek and easy-to-navigate design.
The Nautilus Undersea is fitted with 6 standard staterooms, 1 triple stateroom, 1 ADA approved stateroom, and 1 premium suite. Each stateroom comes with some storage space and a private ensuite bathroom with a flush toilet, sink, and shower.
While onboard, you can relax in the privacy of your stateroom, or relax outside on the sun deck soaking in the fresh air while having a drink. On the main dive deck, we will have an entire section dedicated to our dive and camera gear. Adjacent to this space inside, there is a lounge and some dining tables for when you want to work on some images and videos while enjoying some food. Don't forget about the hot tub on the top deck! What better way to warm up after hours of diving with a warm soak!
Shuffle through the photos below to get better acquainted with the vessel for this shark trip!
DAILY ITINERARY
Tuesday, July 26th: Arrive into San Diego and check-in to your hotel. Alternatively, head directly to Ensenada on your own.
Wednesday, July 27th: Wake up and enjoy breakfast before getting picked up from San Diego in our chartered bus. Drive across the border into Mexico and spend the afternoon relaxing in Ensenada before boarding the liveaboard in the evening. Get comfortable in your stateroom and relax with others onboard as we set sail for Guadalupe Island around 9:30PM.
Thursday, July 28th: Spend the majority of the day cruising across the Pacific en route to Guadalupe Island. The voyage takes roughly 18-21 hours depending on the weather, but we should expect to arrive in Guadalupe around 5:00-7:00PM this evening. During the day, we will discuss the next few days of shark diving, go over some photo tips, get our cameras and dive gear prepared, and enjoy some food! We will also keep a sharp eye open for wildlife along the way such as whales, dolphins, rays, sharks, birds, and more.
Friday, July 29th-July 31st: As the sun rises, the cages will be dropped in the water, and the fun begins! Sometimes it may only take a few minutes for the sharks to come around, others it may take a couple hours. Because we are there during the high season, we expect the sharks to show up rather quickly as there will be so many around. Spend the entire day getting in and out of the cages as much as you'd like while enjoying some down time to rest, eat, sit in the hot-tub, and look over a few photos and videos. As the sun goes down the cages are pulled up the night, enjoy a freshly prepared dinner inside reminiscing about all the incredible great white shark encounters you just had.
On the night of the 30th, we will pack up the cages around 5:30PM and begin our voyage back to the mainland.
Saturday, August 1st: We will arrive back in Ensenada around 2:00PM where we will be taken back to our chartered bus and driven back across the border to San Diego. Depending on flight availability, either fly back home this evening, or spend the night in San Diego and fly out the next day (or whenever you'd like!)
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How do I use Zoom or Skype? Where do I get it?Both Zoom and Skype are free to download and run on a variety of OS versions (both Windows and Mac). It is very easy to install the client. Do this before our meeting. A short time before our session, I will email a meeting link to you. Click on the link and you’ll join right in.
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Should I do an in-person or online photography lesson?I always like to talk with whomever wants a lesson in advance to make sure I understand everything possible about what it is you are looking to learn. During our emails or phone calls before the lesson, we will decide what is best for you!
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Can I get in person coaching?Yes, certainly, provided you (and I!) are in the Monterey Bay, California area. This is a good option if you want advice on using your camera, reading a location and choosing a composition. I recommend at least a 2-hour block of time for an in person lesson. Lessons can be given in other locations, but additional fees apply for travel. Please inquire for more details!
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What can we photograph in-person around Monterey Bay?Monterey Bay has a plethora of wildlife and shooting locations as its one of North America's top wildlife and nature photography destinations (one reason I live here!). We can photograph wildlife from otters, sea lions, birds, whales, bobcats, and more or focus on landscape photography around Big Sur or the rocky shoreline of the peninsula. If you choose you would like a lesson in nearby Yosemite, Point Reyes, or somewhere further, we can set that up too! Longer trips are usually done over 1-3 nights.
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Do I need to use my entire lesson time in a single sitting?It depends on what you are looking to learn! Some subjects can be taught rather easily within 1-2 hours, but many students prefer to have ongoing lessons. Maybe you want to schedule 1 lesson every week or every month or maybe you want to start with an in-person lesson and then follow-up with an online lesson where to post process some of the photos we have taken. We can decide all of this as we go along as flexibility is key!
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My schedule changed last minute. What do I do?Hey, life happens. Contact me and we'll work out a new schedule. If the worst happens and we can't reschedule, you'll get a full refund.
When I receive your registration information, I will respond within 24 hours with a registration packet and more information. Once the deposit is paid for, you will be asked to fill out a guest registration form for Baja Expeditions. The remaining amount for the tour must be paid in full 60 days prior to your departure. Tour fees can be paid through Zelle (recommended), check by mail, credit/debit card, or PayPal. Those who use PayPal or credit/debit card and will be charged a 2.95% processing fee.
If you wish to speak to me directly, feel free to call: (425) 301-1757, or email: chasedekker@ymail.com