The Shark Diving International Team Blog

New Bahamas Shark Sanctuary GOOD NEWS!

2011-07-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

Sharks in The Bahamas can breathe more easily after the nation’s government announced today that all commercial shark fishing in the approximately 630,000 square kilometers (243,244 square miles) of the country’s waters is now prohibited.“2011 is fast becoming the year of the shark,” said Jill Hepp, manager of global shark conservation for the Pew Environment Group. “Today’s announcement

2010 Guadalupe Season Completed Home for CRUSH!

2010-10-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

What perfect timing, to return home after a tremendously successful Guadalupe Island white shark season just in time for crush at the Groth Vineyards. It was a very long night that turned into a very beautiful day. I arrived home to the San Francisco Bay Area at 6 am after a long drive from Ensenada/San Diego. We had spent the last two days demobilizing the Solmar V and getting her and her crew

LIVING THE DREAM

2010-10-12T18:29:00.000-07:00

After 150 trips to Isla Guadalupe over the last eight years, you might think that I might be getting tired of it. Well I am not. Hell NO! Deep down I still love it all and I am still thrilled each and every day that I am out there. I am indeed grateful to be “Living the dream”. However there have been days when I wondered WTF am I doing this for, and those days are pretty

8 years and 149 trips to Isla Guadalupe and still 100%

2010-10-08T11:38:00.000-07:00

I am approaching another milestone in my career as a shark diving operator. I am departing shortly for my 150th expedition to Isla Guadalupe. It has been a long and rewarding adventure for me. I have many fine people and friends to thank for supporting me. It is impossible to show the gratitude that I feel towards so many of my friends and family here in this blog but. One person in particular

Shark Diving International Hosts Mega Yacht APOGEE at Guadalupe

2010-09-23T07:49:00.000-07:00

We received a phone call last July from the Captain of a mega yacht that had been hearing cool stories about the white sharks at Guadalupe. He stated that he had asked around for the best operator with the best reputation and everyone he spoke to recommended us as the hands down best operator in North America. Thank you to all of our Shark Fans once again! So now we are Apogee's first-class

SHARKS ALL DAY EVERYDAY

2010-09-18T07:06:00.000-07:00

The 2010 White Shark Season has been just incredible so far! We have been out at Guadalupe on the Solmar V for 8 trips this season so far and they just keep getting better. The action has been nonstop and the sharks very cooperative. The Shark Fans have been outstanding and we have been enjoying a stellar season with some fantastic people. Here is a little note from some of our newest family

Battle Ground Great White The Combat Has Begun

2010-09-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

Every year these incredible animals amaze me with not only their power but their resilience. The combat has begun at Isla Guadalupe. The arrival of another female white shark (possibly a brand new female) seems to have touched off a war between several male sharks at the island. On Monday Jacque a rather large male GWS was fine at 12:30 and he showed back up at the boat at 13:30 with some fresh

Isla Guadalupe Shark Season in FULL SWING!

2010-08-27T12:03:00.000-07:00

With trips #3 and #4 now complete, I can say that we are now in FULL SWING and the action has been non stop. With the arrival of Zapata (Bruce) on trip #4 everything just got crazy! Zapata is definitely hands down one of the Tres Grandes Tiburones at Isla Guadalupe. Zapata is a legendary player and favorite to many of us at the island. Even being so large and healthy, I'm sure he must have had

2010 Trip #2 Another Awesome Expedition #140 and still 100%

2010-08-17T10:36:00.000-07:00

Just back in from trip #2 of 14 for the 2010 season and our 140th to Guadalupe Island. CAL RIPFIN was once again the star of the show. Cal has to be the coolest White Shark ever! This handsome brute is the most cooperative white shark I have ever seen, and I know quite a few. Cal just loves to hang around and pose for photos and video. He is always calm, cool and easy going. He and 14 of his

2010 Isla Guadalupe White Shark Season Begins

2010-08-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

Greetings Shark Fans Sorry for my prolonged absence as I have been litteraly on the move for the last 6 weeks. I am currently in port in Ensenada on board the Solmar V preparing to depart for Isla Guadalupe for the second of 14 trips. Our first trip to Guadalupe was nothing short of EPIC! We had 12 individual white sharks over the 3 days at the island. That would be a record for the first trip

Juvenile White Shark Project Gets Underway in So Cal

2010-07-03T14:06:00.000-07:00

The Shark is out of the bag! We have been operating in the Los Angeles area over the past few weeks preparing for an epic film project. We are here on a mission, to film and document Juvenile White Shark behavior in the wild. Over the past few weeks I have been busy meeting with many local law enforcement and other government officials in preparation for this project. Getting everyone "In

Hawaii Celebrating New Shark Fin Ban Legislation

2010-07-03T11:28:00.000-07:00

The state of Hawaii is celebrating its brand new "Shark Fin Ban" legislation that took effect on July 1. Kelly Hu "I'm here to encourage other Asian Americans to help end the demand by talking, blogging and tweeting about this bill and encouraging their friends to support the bills in their areas prohibiting the sale and possession of shark fins as we have here," said Kelly Hu. "The way to stop

Mantas Sharks and Boobies at the Revillagegidos

2010-06-08T08:06:00.000-07:00

Giant Pacific Manta Ray I have just returned from an amazing trip on the Solmar V to the Revillagegidos Islands. We spent 9 days navigating and exploring the very special archipelago consisting of Isla San Benidicto, Isla Socorro and Roca Pardida. Being in the best place in the world to dive with giant Manta Rays we were definitely

CABO TODAY GONE TOMORROW

2010-05-25T11:29:00.000-07:00

We are in Cabo San Lucas, Baja on the second leg of the BAJA INVASION TOUR. After an amazing visit to Guadalupe Island last week, now I am off to the Revillagigedos Islands on board the Solmar V. Myself and a few very lucky shark fans will be enjoying 9 days of nonstop action, diving at Isla San Benedicto, Isla Socrro, and Roca Partida. Word has it that San Benedicto has a new resident, a

Isla Guadalupe Abulon Cooperativa Hyperbaric Chamber Project

2010-05-21T12:53:00.000-07:00

This is such a huge story I will just try to sum it up briefly and post updates as they develop. Isla Guadalupe Mexico is now known as one of, if not the best place in the world to dive with white sharks. What most people do not know is that Isla Guadalupe is also home to a small group of artisan fishermen and divers: The Isla Guadalupe Abulon Cooperativa. The Cooperativa consists of

BEEN ON THE MOVE ALL WEEK

2010-05-21T12:02:00.000-07:00

Sorry for being absent the last few days but I have been on the move constantly and it has been difficult to get online and post all the recent happenings. 3000 miles down and still on the road! Shark Conservation Banquet last Saturday in Long Beach, CA. It was an awesome gathering of all the local shark conservation NGO's. Special guests: Wyland,

Long Beach Scuba/Shark Show 2010

2010-05-18T04:59:00.000-07:00

The official "Roll Out" of our Self Propelled Shark Cage (SPSC) at the Scuba Show in Long Beach, CA this past weekend proved to be a real SHOW STOPPER! I want to say thank you to all who came by and visited us at our booth. It was great to see so many people that we have had on our trips over the last 10 years. With over 10,000 attendees at the show this year it was a busy 2 days for sure.

ABC4 Arrives in South Africa for Film Project

2010-05-12T13:27:00.000-07:00

I would like to share a note from the field from our "Man in Africa" ABC 4 (Andy Casagrande) : Hey bro - I know you are already probably on the road - but wanted to wish you safe and crazy and fun travels man! It's great to be back in Africa and all is well with me - all the gear and crew made it and we should make a cool show that hopefully you won't call me a "douche" bag after! ;-) Keep in

The 2010 Migration Begins

2010-05-08T20:45:00.000-07:00

Today May 9th 2010 (Mothers Day) is the beginning of my personal migration across the USA from Florida back to California. Driving across the southern states I will be making this trip for the 5th time in 4 years. The trip is just about 3000 miles and takes about 70 hours total drive time. I will be passing through 8 states. My destination is Long Beach, Ca and I should be there by Thursday. I

What Happened? The Deepwater Horizon Disaster Update

2010-05-06T09:42:00.000-07:00

The drill ship Deepwater Horizon was finishing work on an exploration well named Macondo, in an area called Mississippi Canyon Block 252. After weeks of drilling, the rig had drilled down over 18,000 feet, into an oil-bearing zone. The Transocean and BP personnel were installing casing in the well. BP was going to cap the well, and then move the Deepwater Horizon to a different location and

Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Update

2010-05-05T07:44:00.000-07:00

NASA's Terra satellite flew over the Deepwater Horizon rig's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, May 1 and captured a natural-color image of the slick from space. The oil slick resulted from an accident at the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Current OperationsMay 4, 2010 Operations: Vessel: 170 Boom deployed: 367,881 feet Boom avail: 1,092,091 feet Recovered: 23,968

Lessons Learned from the Deaths of 2 Pregnant Sharks

2010-05-03T08:05:00.000-07:00

From Mary Omalley: Last Wednesday was a very sad day in Florida for sharks and those of us who are working hard to conserve them. Dr. Neil Hammerschlag's report on the RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program blog sums up the day's events and the senseless waste of two pregnant sharks - a Great Hammerhead and a Bull Shark - and their 47 unborn pups. Out of tragedies, however, there are usually

Land Based Shark Fishing in Florida This Weeks Results

2010-04-30T10:07:00.000-07:00

Some people get their kicks killing pregnant mothers just for fun, just for the joy and thrill of seeing another creature struggle for its life and loose. They do! And it is a family affair. Here is just the latest results from this weeks "Land Based" shark fishing here in Florida.... One dead mother...... 12ft Bull shark in Florida Keys 12 dead babies..... These are full term pups that

Great News from Hawaii

2010-04-29T07:48:00.000-07:00

Congratulations and a job well done to all the Shark fans in Hawaii. The herculean efforts by Stefanie Brendal of Shark Allies and numerous supporters has paid off with ground breaking shark conservation legislation being passed. From Stef: Hi everyone,   By now the news has traveled around the globe.   The vote was a unanimous "Yes" in the Senate. Then we received word that

Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico the Deepwater Horizon Disaster

2010-04-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

I would like to start by saying that I do have some experience and knowledge about this topic. I had the opportunity of working in the offshore oilfield industry and also had a very unique experience working in oil spill response. I started my career as a commercial diver working in the Gulf of Mexico in 1983. I spent 7 years working in the oil patch as an offshore oilfield diver and then later

Oceans the Movie on Earth Day

2010-04-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

I celebrated Earth Day by going to see Oceans the new release from Disney Nature. This 90 minute documentary is incredible. Directed by Jacques Perrin and Jaques Cluzaud the film takes you around the globe from pole to pole. I personally recognized many of the shooting locations in the film such as Cocos, Galapagos and of course Isla Guadalupe. However I also realized that some of the footage

Welcome to Our Shark Diving International Team Blog

2010-04-21T21:08:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day to All Well, here we go! Our first post. We have purposely chosen to start this blog on Earth Day April 22, 2010 to celebrate our successes over the last decade and to share a new and promising decade with all of our friends from around the world. Currently our Team is scattered to the four winds: Heidi Derosa Heidi is stuck in London this week due to the Eyjafjallajökull