How can you have your own private "Shark Week"?

 
Next week we start our 17th season at Guadalupe Island, diving with Great White Sharks.

Kinga Phillips has been coming out with us twice so far, and she's written an excellent blog about her experience and how you can have your own private shark week.

I like how she described the Great White Shark: "The highlight of the trip is spending cage time face to face with one of nature’s most incredible examples of the perfect predatory form. So perfect evolution took one look at her design roughly 100 million years ago, dropped the mic and walked away."

She provides a lot of insight, not just about the actual experience of diving with Great White Sharks, but about conservation and eco tourism as well.

Read her entire blog here

For more information on how you can experience your own "real sharkweek", call us at 619.887.4275, email crew@sharkdiver.com or visit www.sharkdiver.com

Let's go Shark Diving!

Cheers,
Martin Graf
CEO Shark Diver
About Shark Diver. As a global leader in commercial shark diving and conservation initiatives Shark Diver has spent the past decade engaged for sharks around the world. Our blog highlights all aspects of both of these dynamic and shifting worlds. You can reach us directly at staff@sharkdiver.com.

Shark Week at Guadalupe

With "Shark Week" coming up, a lot of you are probably dreaming about what it would be like to be part of the show. How would it feel to come face to face with a great white shark? How awesome would it be to show your friends a movie of you experiencing a "real shark week"?

Well, you can make that dream a reality. We have 2 special film expeditions to Guadalupe coming up on September 4-9 and 9-14-2014. Peter Kragh, Emmy Award winner 2013 for Outstanding Cinematography on Nat Geo's "Untamed Americas", who was also part of many "shark week" specials, is leading those expeditions. He will film you with those great white sharks and show you the tricks of the trade. Just imagine how awesome it will be to experience these amazing creatures in the water, and have a movie to show to your friends. It will be an experience of a lifetime with memories you'll never forget. The next time you'll talk about "shark week", you'll be telling your friends about the time this shark swam by and looked you straight into the eyes.

Peter Kragh

In addition to filming for "Shark Week", Peter was also part of the following productions.

Journey to the South Pacific /  IMAX / MacGilivray Freeman Films 
Untamed Americas / National Geographic

Secret life of Predators / National Geographic

Under the Sea 3D / IMAX 3D

Life / BBC

Deep Sea 3D / IMAX 3D

Planet Earth / BBC

Valley of Sharks / Living Oceans Foundations

Hubble 3D / IMAX 3D

Wild Wild West / National Geographic

Reef Wranglers / Gurney Productions / Discovery

Humpback Whales / IMAX / MacGillivray Freeman Films

Black December /Gurney/Discovery

Shark City / Gurney/Discovery

Battle of Giants, Off the Fence / National Geographic

Jurassic Arctic, National Geographic

Ultimate Guide to Shark Attacks / Gurney/Discovery

Transparent Ocean, Burning Gold/National Geographic

I’m Alive, Gurney Productions/Animal Planet

Inside Natures Giants, Windfall Films

Blue Planet / BBC
 

Peter will be sharing his professional knowledge and help you create your very own "shark week special". Learn some tricks of the trade and get tips on how to shoot and edit your movie.

This is an amateur video from last season. Just imagine how much better your video will be, with Peter's professional help.

September is the best time to see the greatest numbers of sharks at Guadalupe Island. You'll see some of the big boys like "Bruce", "Jacques", "Bite Face" or "Chugey" along with many others. They love to come close to the cages and look you straight into the eyes. I'll never forget the first time a great white shark (Shredder) did that to me. It got me hooked on shark diving and after 14 years, I'm more excited than ever to go back and see who's going to be there.

The price for this experience of a lifetime is $3300 and is all inclusive. On top of Peter's professional help and advise, you'll be pampered with sumptuous meals from chef Mark and the crew will do everything they can to spoil you on your 5 day expedition to Guadalupe Island.  We even include a free GoPro rental and of course your own trip movie. The only "extras" we have are the tip for the crew and any shark diver gear you may wish to purchase.

For more information or to reserve your spot, call us at 619.887.4275 or toll free 855.987.4275 Email staff@sharkdiver.com

Let's go have a "real shark week"!

Cheers,
Martin Graf
CEO Shark Diver


About Shark Diver. As a global leader in commercial shark diving and conservation initiatives Shark Diver has spent the past decade engaged for sharks around the world. Our blog highlights all aspects of both of these dynamic and shifting worlds. You can reach us directly at staff@sharkdiver.com.

Pictures and trip report from Guadalupe

Marie Tartar has posted some great pictures and written a blog about her recent trip to Guadalupe Island with us.

Cage diving, swimming with sharks, shark diving, at Isla Guadalupe. experience a real shark week
On her FB page she writes. "Just when you thought it was safe to go back on Facebook...more sharks! Great white sharks, in residence for the season at Guadalupe Island, Mexico. See more pics on my blog:" http://aperturephotoarts.com/white-sharks-guadalupe-island-mexico/

Marie also posted this video.

Thanks for sharing your experience along with your great pictures Marie! It was nice having you come out with us. I enjoyed introducing you to "my" sharks at Isla Guadalupe.

Cheers,
Martin Graf
CEO Shark Diver

About Shark Diver. As a global leader in commercial shark diving and conservation initiatives Shark Diver has spent the past decade engaged for sharks around the world. Our blog highlights all aspects of both of these dynamic and shifting worlds. You can reach us directly at staff@sharkdiver.com.

The boys are back at Isla Guadalupe.

We just finished our second trip and the action continued, where it left off on the last trip. A lot of familiar faces are back at Guadalupe. Our boys, Don Julian, Horizon, Kenric, Geoff Nuttall Mike, Drogin Thor and Micks are all back and Lamini, a little female from last season was also around. We counted a total of 15 named sharks, along with 4 new ones and a few we haven’t identified yet.

There seems to be a lot of fighting going on at Guadalupe right now. Many sharks are sporting brand new bite marks. I saw Horizon take a big chunk out of a bigger sharks head, which is very unusual, since the hierarchy is usually established based on size. (we haven’t identified the bigger shark yet) Chuggy, who we talked about last season, having recovered from a nasty bite to his head, came by with some very fresh bite marks on his face. The big gash from 2 seasons ago, is now just visible as a black scar.

With all that fighting going on, I hope that those idiots who dive outside the cages, thinking the sharks are accepting them as one of their own, are wrong. I have seen, what those sharks do to smaller sharks and those guys would indeed be very, very small sharks.

Oh, did I mention that the sharks got close?

We are just about to board another group of divers. I will update you on our season, when we get back in 5 days.

Cheers,
Martin Graf
CEO Shark Diver

About Shark Diver. As a global leader in commercial shark diving and conservation initiatives Shark Diver has spent the past decade engaged for sharks around the world. Our blog highlights all aspects of both of these dynamic and shifting worlds. You can reach us directly at sharkcrew@gmail.com.

What is happening at Guadalupe Island?

We just came back from our first expedition to Guadalupe Island. It was, what can I say, phenomenal!. We saw over 20 different sharks, with both familiar and new faces. I’m happy to say that Jacques, Bite Face, Johnny, Thor, Squire, Gunther and #148 are all back, safe and sound.

Jacques and Criss Cross

Criss Cross, who we haven’t seen in a few years also showed up, missing a big chunk of flesh, in the right pelvic area, but the injury seems fully healed. These sharks seem to have a rough live, but their healing ability is absolutely remarkable.

Criss Cross with new mutilation.

After a flat calm crossing to the Island, the action was non stop on day one. Bite Face and Gunther competing for who can his picture taken more often. One diver ended up taking 7000 pictures in one day!!!

Gunther also showed a new and unusual behavior for a white shark. He came up to the cage, very slowly and proceeded to bite the cage in various places. He was going in slow motion and though it didn’t seem to be a predatory kind of biting, it is just another reminder, that it is definitely a good thing to stay inside the cages, despite what any “expert” says to the contrary.

Think being outside is a good idea?

On day two the action didn’t slow down. It actually got even better. We lost count at 13 different sharks, at least four of them being new individuals, that have not been added to our photo id database.

On our last day, the sharks gave us an unbelievable send off. At least 10 individuals came by to say goodbye to our divers.

We only have a couple of hours, before we leave again on our second "real shark week". I can’t wait to be back down there and introducing a new group of divers to these magnificent creatures.

Cheers,
Martin Graf
CEO
Shark Diver


About Shark Diver. As a global leader in commercial shark diving and conservation initiatives Shark Diver has spent the past decade engaged for sharks around the world. Our blog highlights all aspects of both of these dynamic and shifting worlds. You can reach us directly at staff@sharkdiver.com.

Cage free shark diving at Guadalupe?

A couple of days ago, I wrote about this video, that was taken aboard "our" vessel "Horizon" last November.


REMUS SharkCam: The hunter and the hunted from Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst. on Vimeo.

This video is part of the Discovery Channels "Shark week" episode "Jaws strikes back" and is scheduled to run August 11th at 9 pm. Watch how the scientists used "shark cam" to track the hunting behavior of the enormous Great White Sharks at Guadalupe Island.

If you want to experience your own "Real shark week", we have just added another expedition to our sold out season. From November 5-10, which is exactly the time this was filmed last year, we'll take another lucky group or divers, to visit these magnificent sharks. Call us at 619.887.4275 or toll free 855.987.4275 to reserve your space. You can also email us at staff@sharkdiver.com or visit www.sharkdiver.com for more information.

All our divers on our Guadalupe Great White Shark expeditions are in cages. If after watching his video you still think it's a good idea to dive outside of a cage, think again. This video shows, what I've been telling our divers all along. "It's not the shark you see, that will get you, it's the one you don't see". Anyone going outside a cage to ride or hug a shark, to show you that they love us, is either a fool or just interested in self promotion. If you claim to love the Great White Shark, you have to respect them for what they are. Awesome predators that are neither out to get us, nor are they harmless pets. Any promoter or operator telling you that you can safely dive outside of cages at Guadalupe either doesn't know what he's talking about, or just wants your money.

We at Shark Diver do not offer out of cage "experiences" at Guadalupe. It not only illegal, but foolish to do so.

Cheers,
Martin Graf
CEO Shark Diver

About Shark Diver As a global leader in commercial shark diving and conservation initiatives Shark Diver has spent the past decade engaged for sharks around the world. Our blog highlights all aspects of both of these dynamic and shifting worlds. You can reach us directly at staff@sharkdiver.com.

What's the difference between a Great White and a Tiger Shark?

Not only does shark week sensationalize sharks. Now in their effort to "educate" people, they ask this.

I knew that the stripes can fade, but looking like a White Shark? Lets see, is this a tiger shark or a white shark below?

What am I? Tiger or White Shark?

How about this one?

I'm having an identity crisis. What am I? Tiger or White Shark?

Good job Discovery channel! I'm discovering more and more, that you are misinforming, instead of educating.

For anyone that is not familiar with the different shark species and doesn't know the difference between a Tiger- and a White-Shark, here are a couple of full body shots of both.

First the White Sharks. Note the shape of the nose, the eyes, the gills, the shape of the dorsal fin and the tail.

Now the Tiger Sharks, look at the same areas.

Instead of putting out a trivia question with a misleading answer, wouldn't it have be nice, if they actually showed what differentiates these two species?

Cheers,
Martin Graf
CEO Shark Diver

About Shark Diver. As a global leader in commercial shark diving and conservation initiatives Shark Diver has spent the past decade engaged for sharks around the world. Our blog highlights all aspects of both of these dynamic and shifting worlds. You can reach us directly at staff@sharkdiver.com.

Who is going to be at Guadalupe?

Our Great White Shark season is starting in a couple of weeks. This is going to be my 14th year, visiting Guadalupe Island and believe it or not, I'm getting more excited to go back each year. I just can't wait to see who's back.

Is "Shredder" going to show up again, after missing the last 2 years?

"Shredder" my favorite shark.

How about "Horizon"? As you can see from the picture below, he's not the most careful shark in the world. I wonder, if he's related to "Shredder", they seem to have some very similar personalities. His dorsal is missing a nice chunk and parts of his tail have been bitten off by other sharks on a couple of different occasions.

"Horizon"

Bruce, Bite Face and Jaques have been faithful visitors, showing up every year, since MCSI started keeping track of them in 2001. When we first encountered them, they measured a "measly" 11-12 ft and are now they are all 16+ ft. Are we going to see them again this year?

"Jacques"

 

 

 

 

The discover channel is starting their "shark week", just about the same time our first divers are going to experience a "Real Shark Week". Coming face to face with these awesome sharks is nothing like what you see on TV. You will never forget the moment, when they look straight into your eyes, for the first time. It is truly an experience of a lifetime!

To all our divers that are coming out with us this season. I'll see you soon and I can't wait to introduce you to my toothy friends. In the meantime, we'll keep you updated with pictures and stories from our expeditions, as the season progresses.

Cheers,
Martin Graf
CEO
Shark Diver

If you also want to experience a "Real Shark Week", diving with Great White Sharks at Isla Guadalupe, swimming with Tiger Sharks in the Bahamas, or having 70 Bull Sharks swim around your head in Fiji, give us a call at 855.987.4275, 619.887.4275 or email us at staff@sharkdiver.com We do have a couple of space open in October for this season and are actively booking for next year.




About Shark Diver. As a global leader in commercial shark diving and conservation initiatives Shark Diver has spent the past decade engaged for sharks around the world. Our blog highlights all aspects of both of these dynamic and shifting worlds. You can reach us directly at staff@sharkdiver.com