GUADALUPE 2019
ONLY 9 SPOTS LEFT!
Trip Overview
Trip Overview
Join filmmaker Skyler Thomas and photographer Michael Bolton for a special white shark trip.
The goal: Celebrate some of the planet's most incredible animals while behaving as though we care about the planet. This ecotourism trip will demonstrate first-hand methods to pursue a more ecologically friendly lifestyle once the guests return back home. Everything from the menu to toiletries will reflect the mission of this trip - to lead by example. The setting will be onboard the amazing Southern Sport in the clear, warm waters of Guadalupe Island during the middle of white shark season, Oct. 2-7, 2020. This is late enough in the season to guarantee white sharks and early enough to avoid the ocean swells that come toward the end of the season. Although I like all the boats (and the crew) that I’ve gone to Guadalupe, the Southern Sport is probably my favorite for many reasons. |
Watch Skyler's new video on Youtube featuring footage from the 2019 trip on board the Southern Sport - the same boat for the 2020 trip.
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Use the 6 tabs below to explore details of the trip.
Size Matters: This is the biggest boat I’ve been to Guadalupe on, allowing the guests to not feel cramped. And despite being bigger this trip will take FEWER people than the smaller boats, so no one feels panicked to try to get their turn in the cages. In fact the cages at open space most of last trip. The living room, kitchen, and dining areas are spacious and comfortable including a huge TV for movies and presentations surrounded by couches. There are multiple bathrooms on each level, which are all pretty nice, not like outhouse toilets that you might expect on a boat.
(Photo) That's the Southern Sport (our boat)in the foreground and a competitor's boat in the background. The other boat is less than half the size, yet has more passengers than our boat. |
Even JAWS looks small next to this boat
Cages and Viewing:
These are the easiest cages to get in and out of and they are quite spacious. There are two surface cages and one submersed cage that hangs about 30 feet down, allowing for a different experience with the sharks (they behave differently down below than at the surface).
These are the easiest cages to get in and out of and they are quite spacious. There are two surface cages and one submersed cage that hangs about 30 feet down, allowing for a different experience with the sharks (they behave differently down below than at the surface).
Don’t underestimate the viewing pleasure from above the surface, indeed sometimes it’s even better than being down in the cages. With three levels, the Southern Sport provides multiple high vantage points by which to look down into the water. At surface level these sharks are extremely hard to see, but a birds eye view takes advantage of the clear waters of Guadalupe, revealing the beauty of their full bodies moving through the water.
Watch this video I filmed on our last trip for a full demonstration of viewing options.
Watch this video I filmed on our last trip for a full demonstration of viewing options.
Living Room and Dining Room
When you're not in the water or on deck you can relax in your cabin, the dining room, or the living room!
Back Deck
The back deck has ample room for camera equipment and space to gear up in your wetsuits. There are multiple fresh water barrels for soaking equipment between dives. But maybe the dryer constantly churning out warm towels is the best part of the deck, ha ha. Despite the water being warmer than other white shark dive locations, you still lose your body heat after an extended period of time so it’s nice to dry off with a warm towel. But first you get to stand under the hot water showers when you get out of the water!!! Pretty spoiled for being out at sea!
The back deck has ample room for camera equipment and space to gear up in your wetsuits. There are multiple fresh water barrels for soaking equipment between dives. But maybe the dryer constantly churning out warm towels is the best part of the deck, ha ha. Despite the water being warmer than other white shark dive locations, you still lose your body heat after an extended period of time so it’s nice to dry off with a warm towel. But first you get to stand under the hot water showers when you get out of the water!!! Pretty spoiled for being out at sea!
Food and Kitchen
Although the meals are better than most people expect from living out on the ocean I’m going to take the meals to the next level this year with better food than you can imagine being available on a live-aboard trip.
Although the meals are better than most people expect from living out on the ocean I’m going to take the meals to the next level this year with better food than you can imagine being available on a live-aboard trip.
- Why this type of trip? It has bothered me for years...getting on board ecotourism boats where nature enthusiasts come to enjoy wildlife while proclaiming their love for the planet only to see that the boat is providing single use plastics and serving up meals sourced from the leading causes of biodiversity loss. I’m a firm believer that we must lead by our actions, not our words, so it is with great pleasure that I am finally leading my first white shark trip with an emphasis on improving our behavior as responsible earthlings.
- There is an unfortunate perception that being environmentally responsible means you are going to suffer in some way or another when in reality it just means you have to get over the initial inconvenience of change. Everything you needed before will still be there, only better, while also being better for you and the planet. This trip is meant to inspire while demonstrating through action how we can make a difference with our daily lives.
- Many of the trips to Guadalupe only allow 2 and a half days of being at the island with the sharks . Although these are still great trips I usually find myself with that nagging feeling that the trip is almost over shortly after arriving. This trip by contrast is nearly four full days at the island at a comparable price to the shorter trips on smaller boats! Trust me, the days go crazy fast so you’re going to be thankful for the extra time.
- Fewer people on a bigger boat! Yes, boats half the size of this one often have several more passengers! This is in thanks to my partner, Michael Bolton, believing in keeping the trips at the topmost quality while avoiding any sense of overcrowding.
- Presentations. I will be premiering the final cut of my new film on shark culling, ‘Monsters, on this trip. I’ll also be giving my interactive presentation, ‘Purpose’, which combines my best footage from the last 20 years with science to look at shark/human coexistence. Servando Rueda, our official biologist provided by the Mexican government will be providing a presentation on the island itself and its wildlife.
About your hosts.
Mike Bolton (Silent Hunter) is an American who has lived most of his life in Panama. He travels the globe filming sharks year round offering unique charters to help people appreciate these animals.
Skyler is an independent filmmaker and animal advocate trying to make the disconnection between humans and the planet we live on a little smaller.
Mike Bolton (Silent Hunter) is an American who has lived most of his life in Panama. He travels the globe filming sharks year round offering unique charters to help people appreciate these animals.
Skyler is an independent filmmaker and animal advocate trying to make the disconnection between humans and the planet we live on a little smaller.
Pretrip
Our meeting point is San Diego, California. You can stay where you wish and arrive to San Diego anytime prior to departure, but you must be at our meeting point on time for our group border crossing.
Day 1 (Oct. 2nd)
Your transportation to Ensenada from San Diego will be provided for you. Departing the designating meeting spot in the morning of day one will get us to Ensenada harbor around 11 AM. On the boat there will be a briefing and snacks before the ship leaves harbor.
Our meeting point is San Diego, California. You can stay where you wish and arrive to San Diego anytime prior to departure, but you must be at our meeting point on time for our group border crossing.
Day 1 (Oct. 2nd)
Your transportation to Ensenada from San Diego will be provided for you. Departing the designating meeting spot in the morning of day one will get us to Ensenada harbor around 11 AM. On the boat there will be a briefing and snacks before the ship leaves harbor.
The crossing.
Once onboard you’ll receive your cabin assignments, unpack, settle in, relax, eat, watch a movie, etc. The journey to the island is an overnight crossing so you will sleep through the bulk of the trip. Pictured left, two guests relax on the top deck under the canopy as the boat begins the journey to Guadalupe. |
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These crossings are usually smooth, but many people choose to take sea sickness pills just in case. Everyone is different so whether or not to take pills or wear a patch is completely up to the individual. Please bring a brand that you have researched and trust for your own sensitivity level. The great news is that if you happen to be very sensitive to sea sickness you can take a sleeping pill and just wake up in Guadalupe.
I shot the video to the left last year (2019) on our way out to Guadalupe Island just before everyone settled in for the night. This provides a good indication of the ocean conditions. |
Day 2 (October 3rd) Arrival and All Day Diving
The island is coming into sight with the early morning sun on day two. Breakfast starts being served at 6:30 AM for those who are early risers and coffee is brewing much earlier than that. Once at the island the conditions are typically remarkably calm. As soon as the cages are in diving begins so if you have been chomping at the bit to get in first thing in the morning it will serve you well to do all your camera and other equipment preparations before going to bed the night before.
(Video) Shortly after arriving in Guadalupe on day one of the 2019 trip I walked the first level deck of the Southern Sport. Sheltered by the giant island we are protected from wind and waves. |
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Day 3 and 4 (Oct 4th and 5th)
Full diving days
Full diving days
Day 5 (Oct 6th)
This is almost a full diving day, but the boat will begin the journey home mid-afternoon on this day.
This is almost a full diving day, but the boat will begin the journey home mid-afternoon on this day.
Day 6 (Oct 7th)
Arrive back to Ensenada Harbor around 10 or 11 AM. Provided transportation will return people back to the original meeting spot in San Diego or directly to the airport for those catching a flight the same day. The border crossing conditions vary but you should be back in San Diego around 3 PM. If you have the time and the means I recommend staying in San Diego one more day just to increase your ability to relax, but if you need to get home it is entirely possible to fly home that same evening (I've done it several times).
Arrive back to Ensenada Harbor around 10 or 11 AM. Provided transportation will return people back to the original meeting spot in San Diego or directly to the airport for those catching a flight the same day. The border crossing conditions vary but you should be back in San Diego around 3 PM. If you have the time and the means I recommend staying in San Diego one more day just to increase your ability to relax, but if you need to get home it is entirely possible to fly home that same evening (I've done it several times).
Reserve your spot or ask a question!
Transportation, food, living quarters, drinks, and all day access to diving are all included. This particular charter falls in the middle price range while delivering the advantages of the more expensive trips.
What’s included and what’s not.
- $3,990.00 is the price for this six day all inclusive trip. Food, lodging, drinks, transportation, sharks, etc. in the best location in the world to see white sharks. There are several more expensive trips offered and there are a few cheaper ones. The cheaper ones offer 2.5 days of diving on crowded, smaller boats compared to our 4 full days on a larger, less crowded boat. I like all the boats and operators I've gone out with, but if you're going to make a trip of a lifetime why not stay at the island with the sharks a little longer?
- I've been to every location on the planet that currently offers white shark cage diving (South Australia, South Africa (3 spots), the Farallon Islands, and Guadalupe). Guadalupe is by far the best.
What’s included and what’s not.
- Included
- Transportation across the border from San Diego to Ensenada (and back)
- Food, beer, and wine (you are welcome to bring your own spirits).
- Travel to Guadalupe Island from Ensenada Harbor and back.
- Towels and toiletries
- Hookah supplied air and three diving cages.
- Full crew running the cages around the clock, assisting divers, and kitchen staff cooking round the clock.
- Reusable, keepsake water bottle from the trip.
- Permits and Visas
- Not included
- Transportation to and from San Diego
- Accommodations in San Diego
WATER
Clean drinking water is provided on the boat. A reusable water bottle custom designed for the trip will be provided for you to refill at your pleasure. Clean water is served in glasses at each meal and pot of hot water is available all day for making tea, cocoa, etc.
A reusable water bottle custom designed for the trip will be provided. Clean drinking water is provided on the boat. Of course, our water bottle will only be helpful once you arrive so if you already travel with one, that’s great, we encourage you to continue your great habits.
SCUBA
You do not need to be SCUBA certified for the surface cages since they use hoses fed with surface air. However, you do need to be certified to go in the deep cage. As you can see from the video under "The Boat" section, it isn't even necessary to get in the water to see the sharks.
GEAR
Please bring your own mask and wetsuit. The wetsuits on the boat are meant as emergency backups. Even though the water is warmer than most places that you can view white sharks, the fact that you can stay in longer also means your body temperature will drop, so we recommend a fairly warm wetsuit. Everyone's tolerance is different, but 7mm seems to be popular for Guadalupe trips.
TOILETRIES
As part of providing an environmentally friendly trip we will provide some great products for you on the boat. For this reason you may opt not to bring shampoo or soap
TOWELS
Deck towels and shower towels are both provided
BATHROOMS
There are several bathrooms on board and they are rather nice. There's never been an issue of someone not being able to find a bathroom available when they "really need to go". There's even one on the back deck so you can use it without going back inside. There are even hot showers to rinse off under on the back deck.
Like most boat bathrooms, only the stuff that passes through your body is flushed, the rest goes in the bin.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
If you are a U.S. citizen you are required to bring a valid U.S. issued passport. If you are traveling from other countries please check the specific requirements for entering both the United States and Mexico for your country.
FOOD ALLERGIES
We absolutely need to know in advance if you have food allergies.
ALCOHOL
Beer and wine are provided, but you can only drink when you have finished getting in and out of cages for the day. You are allowed to bring your own spirits as well.
MENU
I'm working with industry-changing leaders to provide a delicious, robust menu free from harvesting animals as food. For those of you that this is a new concept for, don't worry, I was there with you not that long ago and can personally assure you that you will love the food and feel quite satisfied. The products are in fact higher quality and healthier than you would get on other trips. You're not required to be vegan to come on the trip, you just need to be willing to experience dietary alternatives for a few days.
The entire menu will be published prior to the trip, but it is carefully being crafted at the moment. I'm excited to announce Miyoko's Kitchen as our official dairy alternative for the trip!
SIMPLIFY
I highly recommend simplifying your luggage. As often happens guests find themselves wearing the same thing most days even if they packed more. The key is having something warm and comfortable, easy to take on and off as you alternate between wetsuits and getting dry. The weather is nice enough that you can actually sun bathe if you choose so shorts and bathing suits are a good idea. An outer layer like a wind breaker is good for the mornings and evenings to go over your sweatshirts.
A to Z
I made this video in 2018 on a different boat so some of the details are different, mainly the crew and boat, but it still provides a great idea of what to expect. FYI, the boat for 2019 is much bigger than the one in this video.
Clean drinking water is provided on the boat. A reusable water bottle custom designed for the trip will be provided for you to refill at your pleasure. Clean water is served in glasses at each meal and pot of hot water is available all day for making tea, cocoa, etc.
A reusable water bottle custom designed for the trip will be provided. Clean drinking water is provided on the boat. Of course, our water bottle will only be helpful once you arrive so if you already travel with one, that’s great, we encourage you to continue your great habits.
SCUBA
You do not need to be SCUBA certified for the surface cages since they use hoses fed with surface air. However, you do need to be certified to go in the deep cage. As you can see from the video under "The Boat" section, it isn't even necessary to get in the water to see the sharks.
GEAR
Please bring your own mask and wetsuit. The wetsuits on the boat are meant as emergency backups. Even though the water is warmer than most places that you can view white sharks, the fact that you can stay in longer also means your body temperature will drop, so we recommend a fairly warm wetsuit. Everyone's tolerance is different, but 7mm seems to be popular for Guadalupe trips.
TOILETRIES
As part of providing an environmentally friendly trip we will provide some great products for you on the boat. For this reason you may opt not to bring shampoo or soap
TOWELS
Deck towels and shower towels are both provided
BATHROOMS
There are several bathrooms on board and they are rather nice. There's never been an issue of someone not being able to find a bathroom available when they "really need to go". There's even one on the back deck so you can use it without going back inside. There are even hot showers to rinse off under on the back deck.
Like most boat bathrooms, only the stuff that passes through your body is flushed, the rest goes in the bin.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
If you are a U.S. citizen you are required to bring a valid U.S. issued passport. If you are traveling from other countries please check the specific requirements for entering both the United States and Mexico for your country.
FOOD ALLERGIES
We absolutely need to know in advance if you have food allergies.
ALCOHOL
Beer and wine are provided, but you can only drink when you have finished getting in and out of cages for the day. You are allowed to bring your own spirits as well.
MENU
I'm working with industry-changing leaders to provide a delicious, robust menu free from harvesting animals as food. For those of you that this is a new concept for, don't worry, I was there with you not that long ago and can personally assure you that you will love the food and feel quite satisfied. The products are in fact higher quality and healthier than you would get on other trips. You're not required to be vegan to come on the trip, you just need to be willing to experience dietary alternatives for a few days.
The entire menu will be published prior to the trip, but it is carefully being crafted at the moment. I'm excited to announce Miyoko's Kitchen as our official dairy alternative for the trip!
SIMPLIFY
I highly recommend simplifying your luggage. As often happens guests find themselves wearing the same thing most days even if they packed more. The key is having something warm and comfortable, easy to take on and off as you alternate between wetsuits and getting dry. The weather is nice enough that you can actually sun bathe if you choose so shorts and bathing suits are a good idea. An outer layer like a wind breaker is good for the mornings and evenings to go over your sweatshirts.
A to Z
I made this video in 2018 on a different boat so some of the details are different, mainly the crew and boat, but it still provides a great idea of what to expect. FYI, the boat for 2019 is much bigger than the one in this video.
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