Great White Shark Diving: Ask These Questions...

Join us for the adventure of a lifetime… White Shark cage diving at Isla Guadalupe.

Choosing the White Shark diving operation that best suits your needs is perhaps the most critical decision you need to make as you prepare for your shark diving adventure. With the tremendous amount of information available this can be challenging to say the least.

To aid you in this task Islander Charters offers a list of important considerations to take into account as you do your research.

Does your operation have the necessary experience to lead a safe and productive expedition?

You will not find a more qualified or well rounded operator at Guadalupe Island. We have over 25 years of experience diving Southern California and Baja. 2011 will be our seventh season of shark diving at Isla Guadalupe and in that time we've had a 100% success rating with absolutely zero cage incidents. Our entire crew, from the captains to the chef, are experienced, federally licensed mariners. Our time at sea represents decades of knowledge that can only be obtained on the water. As not only divers, but fishermen, we've built our careers and reputations on understanding the ocean environment and how that pertains to finding fish and, most importantly, sharks.

Is the operation lead by experienced, professional mariners?

Ours is and safety is our number one priority. Travelling in the open ocean and shark diving Isla Guadalupe is a safe experience because our expert crew works hard to ensure it. From the time we leave the dock, we take proactive steps to minimize risk ensuring the safety of our passengers and crew. As prudent, experienced mariners, we make it a point to bring our cages on board each night along with all dive equipment. While typically calm, Guadalupe Island's remote location can result in severe weather changes in a short amount of time often in the middle of the night. Pulling the anchor in high winds with shark cages dragging in the water is not only poor seamanship but dangerous as well.

Can the operation truthfully guarantee a 100% perfect safety record free of shark cage incidents?

If not, then you need to ask why and understand the circumstances leading to the accident(s). Our perfect safety record speaks volumes about the expertise and discipline of our veteran crew. As common sense would tell you, there is absolutely no room for error when dealing with 3000lb apex predators. We know this and take your safety very seriously. Islander Charters employs the same crew year after year; and, we all are 100% committed to the safe practice of shark handling. Incidents involving White Sharks and cages are bad for the sharks, the diver, the industry and we have never had one.

Success rates…

Although we have a 100% success rate for finding Great White sharks, there far is more to it than that. It’s easy to find a White Shark at Guadalupe Island but it is all about percentages; the percentage of the time you are in good shark action throughout the entire trip is what counts. Because of our experience as career fishing captains along with our local knowledge of Guadalupe Island, we consistently find more sharks more of the time than any other operator at Guadalupe.

Does the operation's advertised price include everything?

Our White Shark dives are ALL-inclusive and we mean it.
Once you board the boat you won't be hit with any hidden charges like Guadalupe Island access fees, Tourist Visas, Wetsuit Rental Costs, Fuel Surcharges or charges for Beer and Wine.

Is the company locally owned and operated?

Guadalupe Island is in our backyard! Local knowledge is vital to the success of your trip.
We are a locally owned and operated company with unmatched experience at Guadalupe Island. Our San Diego fleet was the first to discover the presence of white sharks at the Island long before the first shark cage went into the water. In addition, local knowledge is critical when it comes to finding Great White sharks and providing you with the most consistent shark action even in the most challenging conditions. We understand Guadalupe's complex currents and how they affect shark activity. We have a keen eye for cues given by other marine life and relate that to predicting when and where the sharks will appear. It’s what we do for a living.

You can also take comfort in our local knowledge of back-up White Shark locations. Our up-to-the-minute communications network with our home fleet of San Diego based boats Tuna fishing at Guadalupe Island is invaluable. They often tip us off to other Great White Shark activity happening in alternate locations around Guadalupe which in turn helps keeps you in the sharks a higher percentage of the time. That’s just one more reason why nobody encounters more White Sharks than Islander Charters at Guadalupe Island!

Plus, being local enhances your safety by the fact that our shark cages aren’t collapsible and travel to San Diego by truck only to be bolted together upon arrival; we are already here!

Are you booking with a middleman? Do they lead every White Shark trip personally?

When you book with Islander Charters you are booking directly with the boat owners and captains each and every time. We don't charter a boat for our trips - we own it. We don't use someone else's cages - we built ours. We don't rely on third party expedition leaders - we lead each trip personally.
As boat owners and expedition leaders, we are personally involved and committed to every aspect of your trip. That is why nobody can beat our price or product!

Is the boat and crew certified by any reputable agency?

We comply with all safety requirements and maintain our vessel to strict federal standards. Our captains (at least three on every trip) all maintain proper licenses and our entire crew is STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers) certified and part of a USCG mandated random drug testing consortium.

In an emergency situation these assets are only one call away making Islander Charters one of the safest operations at Guadalupe Island.

Does the operation design and fabricate it's own shark cages and can they speak knowledgably about them? Has their equipment ever failed?

Our cage design remains unchanged after four years of use for one simple reason - we got it right the first time! You need look no further than You Tube to see what happens when shark cages fail due to improper design at Guadalupe Island. Collapsible cages held together by nuts and bolts are inferior. Each of our three cages was fabricated under our direct supervision by experienced marine welders from Scripps Institute of Oceanography’s Marine Science Development department here in San Diego. We've employed superior materials and weld techniques to produce the finest shark cages at Guadalupe Island. Furthermore, our cages were designed with the diver in mind so the viewing windows are in appropriate places. That means you will not spend your trip viewing Great White sharks from your knees or standing on milk crates to see through the viewing window. Do your research when booking your trip or you just might!

Do they have a proper air system and is it reliable?

A lifetime of diving has provided us with a clear vision and understanding of the ideal air system. Twin Bauer dive compressors fill our massive air banks on a nightly basis and supply properly filtered air throughout the dive day. A correctly maintained air system designed for diving is a necessity when spending countless hours underwater for multiple days. Proper breathing systems cost tens of thousands of dollars. We designed and built ours from the ground up. Be wary of anyone who is cutting costs by using air compressors from hardware stores as air compressors designed for air tools or workshops have no place in a marine environment providing breathing air. Again, do your research!

Does the operation offer a submersible cage in a safe and responsible manner?

We do. We are one of several boats at Guadalupe who offer a submersible cage. This option is offered only to certified divers and each dive is lead by a certified dive master.
While submersible diving offers an amazing glimpse into the world of the Great White Shark, it must be done in a safe manner. We do not allow divers out of the submersible cage for obvious reasons. Your safety is our chief concern. We are constantly monitoring conditions and shark behavior and will never put you in a situation that we feel is unsafe.

Does the operation make a real commitment to White Shark conservation and research? Do they give back to the resource?

For the past four years, we, along with Shark diver, have been leaders in scientific study and conservation efforts at Guadalupe Island. Many scientific findings originating from Guadalupe Island are a direct result of our on-site logistical and financial support. We work closely with graduate students from CICIMAR (in La Paz, Mexico) and CICESE (in Ensenada, Mexico) and will continue our support into the future.

Can I fish during the White Shark expedition?

Unfortunately, no. CONANP (the Mexican agency governing Isla Guadalupe) strictly prohibits fishing while shark diving. Fishing gear has no place in the water while diving with sharks. It creates an unsafe climate for both Great Whites and divers. Beware of websites employing sales tactics that advertise fishing and shark diving at Guadalupe Island. It’s simply not allowed and they know it.