Great White SharkS of iSla Guadalupe, Mexico

BigAnimals Expeditions | GrEAt WhItE ShArkS Nov 17 - 24, 2016
Great White SharkS
of iSla Guadalupe, Mexico
If you want to boost your adrenaline to its limits, and if your diving experience and perfect
buoyancy control meet our stringent qualifications, it may be possible to experience an
ultimate out-of-the-cage, blue water encounter with these incredible sharks.
BigAnimals.com | info@biganimals.com | 189 Evans Ave #A, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 | Phone 831.241.6657 | © AmOS NAChOum PhOtOGrAPhy
BigAnimals Expeditions | GrEAt WhItE ShArkS - Nov 17 - 24, 2016
“
Nature at its Best. listen to Your heart pound.
”
Shortly after sunrise, our adrenaline spikes and excitement and anticipation peaks
as the Southern Sport crew lowers two cages into the water off the
Northern shoreline of Isla Guadalupe.
Diving with these perfect predators
is an eye-opening and absolutely unforgettable experience. I would challenge
anyone to find a more exhilarating way
to spend seven days. Guadalupe’s impressive water visibility sets the perfect
backdrop for these great white encounters. the first time you see the silhouette
of one of these huge sharks begin to
emerge out of the blue, your heart will
skip a beat. the images and memories
you create during this week in the waters around Guadalupe Island will stay
with you always and will forever change
the way to see and understand this king
of sharks.
As we eagerly wait, we’ll admire a brilliant
sun rising over Guadalupe Island. this 98square mile (22 mile long) starkly beautiful
landscape is a geological wonder. Environmentally isolated and surrounded by deep
water, there are dramatic views along the
north end of the island which peak to 4,200
feet. Some areas of colorful red volcanic layers are visually comparable to areas in the
Grand Canyon.
Guadalupe’s volcanic beach is home to a
fur seal colony along the edge of the island’s
deep drop off, the primary attraction for the
great whites. We have selected the three best
weeks for our expedition: the period following
fur seal birth when the females see their pups
first venture into the water to become “shark
bait.” Because of this readily available food
source, this is peak migration season for the
great whites in this area and it’s the best time
of year to see the largest females, some exceeding lengths of 18 feet (6 meters). Big Animals expeditions always provide the perfect
combination of timing, experience, and epic
animal behavior, and our great white encounter is no exception.
Quickly we realize that this majestic
shark is more fearsome in our imaginations
than in reality. the iconic great white is
one sleek, weaving swimming machine.
they have long been billed as the most ferocious killer world wide, and although
the majority of shark attacks are attributed
to these sharks, even the author Peter
Benchley felt that he did the great white a
terrible disservice by writing his book
“Jaws.” research has found that recorded
bites typically related to a naturally curious
shark searching for a tasty mortal. humans
are not on the great white's menu when
they are "sample biting." While this is not a
comforting distinction, it indicates that
great whites would rather release their victims than prey on humans.
Diving with these perfect predators is an
eye-opening and absolutely unforgettable
experience. I would challenge anyone to
find a more exhilarating way to spend
seven days. Guadalupe’s impressive water
visibility sets the perfect backdrop for
these great white encounters. the first
time you see the silhouette of one of these
huge sharks begin to emerge out of the
blue, your heart will skip a beat. Part of
this reaction undoubtedly has to do with
our perception of these amazing animals
as the ultimate killing machine, but it is
also partly because of their undeniable
presence and obvious dominance over
their underwater realm. these perfectly
evolved predators rule their world, and
being only a few feet away from such a
magnificent and powerful creature will at
once humble and amaze you. the images
and memories you create during this week
in the waters around Guadalupe Island
will stay with you always and will forever
change the way to see and understand
this king of sharks.
BigAnimals.com | info@biganimals.com | 189 Evans Ave #A, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 | Phone 831.241.6657 | © AmOS NAChOum PhOtOGrAPhy
BigAnimals Expeditions | GrEAt WhItE ShArkS Nov 17 - 24, 2016
the experience
Big Animal Expeditions offers this trip to a maximum of ten divers.
With two cages and only ten guests, it is possible to literally stay in the water
from morning to night; the only limiting factor is your ability to stay warm.
If you want to boost your adrenaline to
its limits, and if your diving experience
and perfect buoyancy control meet our
stringent qualifications, it may be possible
to experience an ultimate out-of-thecage, blue water encounter with these incredible sharks. Only eight spots out of
the ten can potentially accommodate
guests interested in this cage-less option,
and that is only if they meet our strict diving requirements. the deep cage is only
meant to hold four divers at a time, which
means that we can only allow eight people total to participate in the cage-less
diving. there are often spouses or other
divers who are not interested in blue
water shark diving, and we must ensure
that at least two spaces remain exclusively
to satisfy the needs of those guests. All
guests interested in participating in cageless diving must notify us of their intentions when booking the expedition and
must have a minimum of 100 dives. Since
perfect buoyancy is absolutely necessary
for this activity and for the safely of all involved, blue water diver candidates will
have to easily pass our in-water buoyancy
control test; no exceptions will be made.
If you satisfy all our safety requirements, only then will you be granted the
permission to dive with the great whites
outside the protection of the cage. Following strict safety protocol when ocean
conditions and surrounding shark behavior dictate, Amos will lead one diver at a
time outside the 30-foot cage to come
closer to a great white than you could
have imagined even in your wildest
dreams.
In order to make sure everyone gets
the same amount of time in the depth
cage, we devise a schedule that divides
our divers into two groups that take turns
in the 30-foot cage. the depth cage is lowered four times every day, and each group
gets to use it twice daily. For example, on
the first day of diving, Group 1 will enter
the 30-foot cage at 8am and 12pm, and
Group 2 will use the cage at 10am and
2:30pm. the following day we will alternate times to ensure all our guests have
the same opportunities to dive with these
mesmerizing predators. In between deep
cage dives, an almost unlimited amount
of hours can be spent in the surface cages,
and most people only take breaks to
warm up in the sun before returning to
the beautiful blue waters of Isla
Guadalupe.
this out-of-body experience includes
Amos and his safety diver who, since 1995
and 200 hours of experience, has never
had to use his safety stick. We have never
observed any shark behavior changes,
much less aggression, with divers in open
water. Amos has been leading this completely unique cage-less great white shark
diving for the last seven years, and has introduced over 180 divers to one of the
most unbelievable encounters a human
can have on planet Earth. With immaculate
safety record.
BigAnimals.com | info@biganimals.com | 189 Evans Ave #A, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 | Phone 831.241.6657 | © AmOS NAChOum PhOtOGrAPhy
BigAnimals Expeditions | GrEAt WhItE ShArkS - Nov 17 - 24, 2016
here’s a taste of what
you have to look
forward to.
Amos and four other divers accompanied
by a safety diver will descend together in
the 30-foot cage on scuba. For safety
purposes, this cage is attached by sturdy
lines to both the crane and the boat.
Waiting in the cage in 30 feet of clear
water for a great white interaction, your
heart will be pounding in anticipation.
the cage swing gently from side to
side in the ocean current. While you are
trying to get foot hold for balance or crab
the cage post, you hear your tanks bang
against the cage or against your tanks of
you body on your left or right. then, there
it is. Out of the cool, blue waters of Isla
Guadalupe, the unmistakable outline of
a great white will appear. Amos will then
invite the first diver into open water with
him and they will hover near the cage as
the shark approaches. As it gets closer,
that familiar, toothy grin will come into
focus and you may have to blink a few
times to truly realize what you’re seeing.
While Amos is by your side, shoulder to
shoulder watching for the shark movement and intention, ready to intervine
and safety diver just behind you watching
if more than one shark arrive to our arena.
you are now face-to-face in the most
literal sense possible, with the most
notorious animal that swims our world’s
oceans. you will probably feel a combination
of excitement, fear, and awe, but no matter
what emotions arise, you will feel both
humbled and privileged knowing you
have experienced something that few
people in our vast world will ever be lucky
enough to see. Locking eyes with a great
white will forever change your perception
of sharks and will give you a new appreciation for the ultimate power and purpose
of this animal of unsurpassed grace and
strength. Each open water encounter will
last 10-15 minutes, at which point the first
diver will re-enter the cage and the next
diver will emerge and join Amos with the
great white. this process will continue for
about an hour until each diver has had
the chance to swim with these majestic
sharks outside the protection of a cage.
Our Vessel
At no point do we ever follow the sharks
into the blue; we allow them to approach
us so that the interaction is always peaceful and controlled.
this exclusive option is available for a
surcharge and only by special request. If
you’ve dreamed of being in the water
with this apex predator, joining us in Isla
Guadalupe is the place you want to be.
Chumming
We catch our own fish to make a fresh,
highly scented, bloody mixture to drift in
the current behind the boat. While we may
cast a skip jack or mackerel to an oncoming
shark for a photo opportunity, this is not
done when the lower cage is in the water.
We do not want to create a feeding frenzy.
Isla Guadalupe Island
Departing our gateway city of Ensenada,
mexico, a 90-minute van drive south of
San Diego, California, Isla Guadalupe is
an overnight 150 miles boat journey. the
Island’s pine and cypress trees condense
cloud moisture into fresh water springs,
supporting a community of plants along
the top ridge of the island. Sealers introduced goats to the island, and when their
enterprises failed, the island was wiped
clean of most vegetation.
Every shoreline bend has a unique
sheer lava rock formation. Fur seals perch
on large boulders, elephant seals, also
with pups are inclined to slumber on
rocky beaches.
mexican-owned Sea Escape is a 110’ dive
liveaboard with five double ensuite cabins
on its upper deck, a master bed-room on
the main deck, and two cabins with a
shared bath on the lower deck. there is a
large living room housing a full
entertainment system and computer. the
boat is fully air conditioned, has a water
purification system, plus a Nitrox blending
system. the vessel can accommodate 20
passengers, but we only take 10 guests to
make sure everyone gets a unique, personalized experience with as much time in the
water as they can handle.
Sea Escape has the capacity to carry two
shark cages allowing our minimum number
of guests to enjoy all the time they want to
be in the cage without having to wait or
take turns. An automatic hoist raises and
lowers the cages, two at water level with
one at a depth of thirty feet.
the all-mexican crew is extremely
knowledgeable and they are extremely
proud of their sharks. Adding a cultural taste
of mexican cuisine to our experience, we can
also accommodate other food preferences.
An added bonus is Amos’ availability to
share his expertise on the various aspects
of photographing great whites in this
environment. A two-time winner of the
BBC Wildlife Photographer of the year award,
he pays special attention helping each
diver to obtain the finest quality of photography using both strobes and ambient-light.
BigAnimals.com | info@biganimals.com | 189 Evans Ave #A, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 | Phone 831.241.6657 | © AmOS NAChOum PhOtOGrAPhy
BigAnimals Expeditions | GrEAt WhItE ShArkS Nov 17 -24, 2016
Great Whites
Isla Guadalupe
Nov 17-24 , 2016
GrEAt WhItE ExPErIENCE: 30 years
WhErE: Isla Guadalupe, mexico
DAtES: Nov 17 - 24, 2016
AVAILABILIty: 6 spaces
DurAtION: 8 days
mAx NO. OF GuEStS: 10
Only 8 cageless and 2 in cage
AmOS NAChOum
Expedition Leader
PrICING: $5,900 per person based
on double occupancy, in cage
Cageless: Plus $5,700
Amos has 30 years experience diving
with Great White Sharks off Long Island
New york, Australia, South Africa, and off
the Farallon Islands, San Francisco.
Amos is also a very accomplished
professional photographer who was the
BBC wildlife photographer of the year in
2007 and 2008.
throughout your trip Amos will be
available to provide you with expert
coaching on various aspects of photographing the sharks and their environment,
with special attention paid to how to get
the best performance from your equipment
using both strobes and ambient-light
photography.
Amos uses his leadership and photography skills to artfully capture the lives
of Ocean Giants whose existence is
under threat, but whose hope of survival
is linked to us communicating the truth.
BigAnimals Expeditions are designed
to add value to your life experience, to
generate attention for endangered
species, to aid in their preservation and
to provoke public awareness and opinion.
rEGIStrAtION: Deposit of $2,000
+ $1,900 (Cageless)
Enhance your
photographic skills
with Amos.
the Experience is
Priceless!
BigAnimals’ unique Services –
raising the bar of services in every
adventure we operate around the
world is our policy.
We lead by example with immaculate
safety record. Each wildlife expedition
is carefully scouted before offered to
the public and we schedule departures
only during peak animal presence and
behavior displays, led by Amos Nachoum’s
and based on his 35 years of diving and
photographing Ocean Giants.
Our Great White Shark Expedition is
strictly limited to only 10 privileged
guests. this is with consideration of the
shark’s welfare and behavior, your safety
and provides you with room to move
freely, ample space in which to photograph and film, with personalized attention and advice.
VESSEL: 110’ Sea Escape
ACtIVItIES: Cage and Cageless diving
tEmPErAturE: Water 68-72F (20-22C)
Air 60-80F (16-27C)
trIP PrICE INCLuDES:
• 6 days great white shark diving
(according to your departure) on
board the Southern Sport
• All diving equipment (tanks, weights,
and belts)
• Leadership by experienced
expedition staff
• All meals throughout the voyage
aboard the ship including snacks,
coffee and tea
• Land travel arrangements; transfers
to and from the vessel
• Comprehensive trip preparation
bulletin will be sent after deposit
is made.
trIP PrICE ExCLuDES:
• Airfare to and from San Diego
• hotel charges on arrival and
departure days
• Personal charges such as Nitrox,
laundry, meals ashore, bar, and
telecommunication charges
• Insurance – it is mandatory you buy
your own travel, health, and diving
insurance
• Park and Visa fee – about $100
• Gratuities
BigAnimals.com | info@biganimals.com | 189 Evans Ave #A, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 | Phone 831.241.6657 | © AmOS NAChOum PhOtOGrAPhy
BigAnimals Expeditions | GrEAt WhItE ShArkS Nov 17 - 24, 2016
Great WhiteS itiNerarY > Nov 17 - 24, 2016
daY 1
Nov.17
– ArrIVE: San Diego and stay overnight
at a hotel of your choice near the airport.
Wyndham Bayside (1355 North harbor
Drive San Diego)
daY 2
Nov. 18
– By 7:30 Am you meet at hotel lobby the
van that takes us to mexico we head for
Ensenada. this is usually a 90-minute ride,
depending on border crossing, visa formalities and traffic. As soon as we reach
the port in Ensenada, we board our vessel. We leave at midday for our 18-20
hours crossing to Isla Guadalupe.
daY 3-7
Nov. 19 - 23
– ArrIVE Guadalupe around 10Am and
as soon as the three cages are in the
water, great white shark diving begins.
During our four days on site, the dive
deck is open for action and excitement
from 8Am to 5Pm.
DEPArt: Guadalupe by 2Pm on the last
day of diving and start the 18 to 20- hour
cruise back to Ensenada.
daY 8
NOV 24
– ArrIVE Ensenada at midday and return
across the border to your hotel in San Diego
or to the airport if you have a connecting
flight on that day.
PAymENt POLICy AND DEPOSIt:
When we receive your deposit, we will
send you a comprehensive and detailed
trip Preparation Bulletin about the
experience and the destination.
All trip costs are subject to change
without prior notice until your reservation
is confirmed.
A deposit of 33% of the total trip price
is required to secure space on the trip.
Full payment is due no later than 90
days before departure.
We reserve the right to sell any space
that is not paid in full by 60 days before
departure.
CANCELLAtION POLICy
-must be made in writing.
-more than 90 days before trip:
Deposit will be refunded in full.
-90 days or less before trip:
Deposit will be refunded if space is
sold, less unrecoverable costs of sales,
and administration costs.
-No refund is made for unused part
of the itinerary.
the following are subject to change:
-Cost of services which are not
included in the expedition price
-Flight time and schedule
-Weather, water temperature, and
animal behavior
Dates and prices are subject to change
without prior notice.
BigAnimals.com | info@biganimals.com | 189 Evans Ave #A, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 | Phone 831.241.6657 | © AmOS NAChOum PhOtOGrAPhy
BigAnimals Expeditions | GrEAt WhitE ShArkS Nov 17 - 24, 2016
ApplicAtion Form
Expedition Great Whites Sharks | Expeditions Date: Nov 17 - 24, 2016
PErSONAl iNfOrmAtiON
first Name
last Name
Date of Birth
Gender:
female
male
Address
City
State
Work Phone
Zip
home Phone
Email
Citizen of
Passport #
Place issued & Date
trip price $5,900 per person, in cage, plus $5,700 for cageless, double occupancy. Deposit of 1/3 of trip price is
required to secure space = $2,000 + $1,900 (Cageless). Non-refundable
final payment due 90 days before departure.
Please make your check payment to BigAnimals Expeditions, 189 Evans Ave #A, Pacific Grove, CA 93950.
Overseas payment can be done via bank wire, instructions will be sent to you upon receipt of this application.
Promotional code
travel insurance:
yES
NO Provider
Policy #
travel insurance is prerequisite and mandatory on BigAnimals adventures. We need to have your policy number.
Do you carry diving insurance?
yES
NO Provider
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Diving Experience/years in Diving
Where & When last 3 Dive Experiences? 1
how do you rate your Diving Skills?
2
Beginner
inter
3
Advanced
Expert
how do you rate your Photography and/or Video skills?
No interest
Beginner
inter
Advanced
Expert
BigAnimals.com | info@biganimals.com | 189 Evans Ave #A, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 | Phone 831.241.6657 | © AmOS NAChOum PhOtOGrAPhy