Isla Guadalupe
Great White Shark cage diving | Mexico

DESTINATION OVERVIEW | Guadalupe Island is famous for just one thing – it's population of Great White Sharks. Located to the east of the Baja California Peninsula, there is no scuba diving around Guadalupe for obvious reasons. Despite that, we can say this is one of the most thrilling underwater experiences we have ever had.

On the first morning of our trip, we were up with the dawn (but we always do that) and wandered to the stern of the Nautilus Explorer. Four surface cages had been hoisted into the ocean the previous evening and a submersible cage was hanging from a boom arm over the water. We stood there bleary eyed, coffee in hand when suddenly, out of the blue, a grey shadow appeared.

It was a monster grey shadow. It rose to the surface and swung past the first cage. It swung past the second cage. It's tail was still off the the port side of the boat. Our wetsuits went on in a flash. We dropped into a cage, breathing from a hookah, and there was the ocean's apex predator. Right beside us. Looking at us. A fully grown, male great white shark was in touching distance and he was a phenomenal sight.

We had not expected to be impressed. Well, impressed but not that impressed. Actually, we are really not sure what we expected, but it wasn't the 100% full-on adrenaline rush that is a face-to-face meeting with a great white shark.

Guadalaupe diving features

PROS AND CONS | There is only one real negative about this trip – it takes a long time to reach Guadalupe island and the trip is through open ocean, which can be very rough. The trip is also expensive but it is the only opportunity most scuba divers will ever have to sit within inches of a Great White shark and know they are safe. It was truly worth every penny.

SCUBA DIVING | Like almost every diver we have ever met we were cynical about both cage diving (well, it's not real diving is it?) and how much we would enjoy seeing a marine creature in this way. It's almost impossible to describe how good the experience was – for three days we had the privilege of sliding in and out of the cages whenever we felt like it to watch these magnificent animals. It was truly amazing and we were completely, thoroughly impressed.

OPINION | We were also impressed with liveaboard, Nautilus Explorer. The boat is big and perhaps a little crowded but the operation is run so smoothly that you hardly notice. And any operation that hands you hot chocolate and freshly-baked cookies as you come up from a chilly dive gets a big thumbs up from us.

ORDER | Images on this page are available as prints. Take a note of the name then go to the photo order form.

SEARCH SeaFocus | Looking for something on this site? Type in a few words and google will take you there.