Talking about Sharks, Feeds the Frenzy

A Growing Attraction

Some might say diving with sharks is the last thing they would ever want to do...until they do it! For many, it has become an addiction and more and more repeat divers are getting their yearly thrill with Shark Diver, based out of San Diego. For 14 years, Shark Diver has been introducing the public (those who are dive certified and not certified) to the underwater world of great white sharks. They don't plan to stop. Why? Because people keep coming to get their 'fix.' The shark phenomenon has continued to rise for the last few years, due to local and national television news and social media coverage, cable television programming, and of course, silly movies. The 'News' has put us in touch with shark sightings off the coasts of Australia, South Africa, the Eastern and Western United States, and Guadalupe Island in Mexico; all right at our fingertips. The more we talk about sharks, the more popular they become.

Photo: Cindy Michaels

Every year, starting the first week of August, Shark Diver takes more than 200 divers to Guadalupe Island to see these misunderstood creatures, up close. During a 5-day adventure, divers fulfill their bucket list items, unique wedding anniversary or honeymoon celebrations, birthday milestones, or childhood dreams. In 2014, Shark Diver's sold out season saw a record number of divers wanting to see great whites, but it was also one of the biggest years for shark encounters at the cages. Things were only going to grow after that. Already, since the company's first dive this year on August 9th, there have been more than 120 great white shark sightings and it is expected that the same amount, if not more, will be seen by the time the 2015 season ends in November.

Get to Know Your Sharks

Shark Diver has worked with the Discovery Channel for some of its Shark Week episodes as well as countless other operations that partner for filming. But the company's greatest passion is to bring those who have never seen a shark...to the sharks, themselves. For the past 2 seasons, a researcher from the Marine Conservation Science Institute (MCSI) in San Diego has joined Shark Diver in educating divers about specific markings, migratory habits, and all the fun stuff you don't learn in school or on television. On the hosted adventures, divers have the opportunity to name any new shark that is spotted, while in the cages. That named shark is then registered in MCSI's photo database, which features more than 150 already identified sharks, such as Bite Face, Shredder, and Bruce. By naming and identifying the new great white, the divers are helping out with MCSI's research; dedicated to conserving and protecting marine resources. Shouldn't naming a shark be on your bucket list?

Photo: Cindy Michaels

What to Expect without Expecting

Like other highly feared fish, great whites are unpredictable. There may be curious juveniles that try to bite delicately on the cages, or a large adult that just wants to stroll by slowly to check you out. There is no expecting one behavior or another from these boys and girls. Divers prepare themselves for a scary time, but walk away awe-inspired by what they just witnessed. Every trip reveals something different. 

When you decide that life is too short to only watch sharks on television, venture out on a dive with Shark Diver. You will see a great white shark while on your trip or the crew will take you back to Guadalupe Island at no extra charge. It is the company's guarantee. Whether or not Shark Diver sees you year after year, there is a good chance you will never view great white sharks the same way, again.


~Cindy Michaels 
   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.

Are the sharks going to be safe at Guadalupe Island?

Sharknado 3 airs tonight on the SCIFY channel. At the rate those Sharknado's remove the sharks from the water, this might well be the last chance to see them live at Guadalupe Island.

When Brian Kilmeade, from FOX and friends was surprised that the water at a South African surf contest wasn't clear of sharks, he must have had thought that after Sharknado 2, all the sharks were gone already. Luckily, that was not the case. We saw them in record numbers at Guadalupe Island last season.

Just to make sure you visit the great white sharks at Guadalupe Island, before they all get sucked out of the water. Call us at 619.887.4275 or email staff@sharkdiver.com for more information, or to reserve your spot.

Stay safe tonight and 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.

"Sharknado" is real!

When the syfy channel aired "sharknado" last year, we all assumed that unlike  the Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives! "documentary" on the Discovery channel, it was meant to be a spoof. Well, we have been wrong.

source

Just before the release of "Sharknado 2", Tara Reid, in an interview with GQ magazine said:  

"I mean, the chances of it happening are very rare, but it can happen actually. Which is crazy. Not that it – the chances of it are, like, you know, it's like probably 'pigs could fly'. Like, I don't think pigs could fly, but actually sharks could be stuck in tornados. There could be a sharknado." 

Ahhhh,...... well,....... wow!

Tara, I mean the chances of it happening are very rare, but it can happen actually, which is crazy, not that it, the chances of it are rare, like, you know, it's like you actually have a coherent thought, like I don't think you could have a coherent thought, but actually you could be waking up one day, with a coherent thought. You could actually make sense one day!

In a related story, Discovery Channel has announced that Tara Reid will be joining them as a "shark expert" on  shark after dark.  We applaud their decision to add Tara to their lineup of shark experts. It will greatly improve the quality of those experts.

If you want to see those sharks in their natural environment, before they're all sucked up in a tornado, join us on one of our our expeditions.

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.

Great Whites: From the Eyes of our Divers!

More Great Videos from this Season's Divers!

There is nothing more exhilarating than experiencing seeing a massive creature in its natural habitat. Our divers who come out with Shark Diver to swim with the great whites of Isla Guadalupe are so often 'blown away' by what they witness, that when speaking with them after their trip, they are at a loss for words.  ...except for these....

Smiles, the Great White

"Seeing these creatures up close and taking this trip with you guys, exceeded my every expectation!" is a common response when we ask them... "how was it?"  We have been receiving so many videos and awesome pictures from the divers on this season's trips!  We love it!  Every shark is different and so is each individual diver's encounter.

Chugey, the Great White

They have asked us to share their adventures which have been captured in video and stills so that more people can see for themselves how incredibly mind-blowing swimming with these amazing animals can be.  We thank them so much!
We have linked you up with videos from two very excited divers, who just couldn't get enough.



Video: Brian Arnone, Shark Diver Diver

Video: Mike Laspina, Shark Diver Diver

Click on their names to see what they saw.

If you have taken a dive with Shark Diver, we encourage you to send us your videos or pictures so that we may share with those who tell us and you, "you're crazy!"  If they saw what you have seen, we doubt they'd say that anymore.

~Cindy Michaels, Dir. of Communications, 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 sharkoperations@gmail.com.

Shark Encounters on the Horizon!

2013 Guadalupe Island.

What a day! To say that the shark action Friday was 'good,' would be a huge understatement. We saw over 10 sharks that have been previously identified, along with at least 3 others that we didn’t know.

The action started when our first divers entered the water at 7am and it didn’t stop, even when we stopped diving after running out of daylight. Just before everyone got out of the cages at the end of the day, we had a complete breach right by the stern of our vessel. The sharky cast of characters included some of our favorite sharks that we have known since 2001. Chugey, Thor, Bite Face, Jaques, Squire, Gunther and Johnny along with some newer friends like #89, #130 and #146.

After another excellent dinner (Rib eye steak with mashed potatoes and string beans) we were treated to a presentation on the great white sharks, by resident shark expert Dr. Mauricio Hoyos.  What can I say, I love my job.       (pictured: left, Chugey; right, Johnny)

Cheers,

Martin Graf, Managing Director, 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 sharkoperations@gmail.com.

Our Divers See the Whites of the Great Whites!

Another Happy Diver, Another Great Video!

We have been hearing so many awesome stories of experiences from recent divers! Keep 'em coming! When divers take the time to make videos, that means it was definitely an adventure of a lifetime.
Lucy Challenger, who had an amazing time swimming with the great whites of Isla Guadalupe recently, put together this fantastic video of what she saw... in and out of the cages!  The video is set to the music of Collide... the song is Razor Sharp. Thanks Lucy! We love it!
Check it out. http://youtu.be/D8SKpS0MUjs
...more to come from the amazing adventures of a Shark Diver!

~Cindy Michaels, Dir. of Communications, 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 sharkoperations@gmail.com.