Closure of Guadalupe Island for divers cause of great concern for the sharks

Effective January 9, 2023, the Mexican Government has closed Isla Guadalupe indefinitely to all diving activities, film and television productions. Essentially eliminating one of the best places on the planet to cage dive with great white sharks.

White shark at Guadalupe
Ecology & Science

This action expands on the 2022 closure of the Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), the federal agency tasked with managing Mexico’s protected natural areas.

They also closed the island to cage diving in 2021 and the pandemic closed down operations in 2020.

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Diving with Great White Sharks of Guadalupe Island

“You’re crazy; I don’t get in the water with bitey things!” The announcement of my impending great white shark trip drew a variety of such responses from horrified friends. The undisputed bad boys of the shark world, great whites are the largest of all predatory sharks, reaching lengths of up to 6m and weighing in at over 2,000kg. The concept of seeing them up close, even from within a cage, invoked a variety of additional gems including “Oh my God,” “I hope you come back with all your limbs” and “Come back alive.”

Words:
Scott Bennett
Images:
Scott Bennett
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Travel & Trips

The blatant sensationalism of the Discovery Channel's "Shark Week" notwithstanding, the movie Jaws has not done the image of sharks, and great whites in particular, any favours. Unfortunately, perception overrides facts. “Sharks are dangerous and eat people,” say those who know better.

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Guadalupe Island: Great White Shark Adventure

Rising out of the depths, a shape emerges from the shadows, methodically swimming in a wide arc. The outline is unmistakable, as it continues to climb and inch closer at every turn. With one last pass, seemingly in slow motion, I am struck by the sheer enormity of the creature in front of me.

Visions of Martin Brody voicing his famous line, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat,” play through my head. Fortunately, I am not on a small fishing boat, nor is this the demonic, mechanical shark from the movie "Jaws".

Words:
Matthew Meier
Images:
Matthew Meier
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Travel & Trips

Today begins my three-day adventure: cage diving with great whites at Guadalupe Island. And my excitement level is skyrocketing after the first face-to-face meeting with these massive sharks.

There is no way to truly put into words the exhilaration of seeing a great white shark swim past you, only a few feet away. I have jumped out of airplanes, skied off 80ft (24m) cliffs and run with the bulls in Spain, but nothing quite compares to the rush of being eye to eye with the ocean’s top predator.

Stewart Island shark cage diving creates controversy

Residents’ petition demands immediate halt of shark dives

Great White Shark
Ecology & Science

A New Zealand parliamentary select committee has raised concerns about the potential human risk from shark cage diving around Stewart Island. The Local Government and Environment Committee published a report considering a petition calling for the Department of Conservation (DOC) to immediately and permanently cease shark diving. The petition was created by Stewart Island resident Helen Cave and signed by 768 people.

Shark cage diving not a risk to other water users

Shark cage diving does not increase risks to other water users New Zealand's Department of Conservation states.

Ecology & Science

Residents of Stewart Island, New Zealand have pleaded for politicians to halt shark cage diving in their waters. The residents and paua divers have expressed fears that the cage diving is attracting great white sharks to the area and putting them at risk, saying they live in fear of a fatal shark attack.

Cages or no cages? ... Whose business is it anyway?

Are divers tempting fate with Guadalupe Island Great White sharks? Tour operators engage in a war of words over shark diving practices.

Ecology & Science

Weighing in at up to 3,000 pounds and attaining lengths of 18 feet, Great White sharks are among the ocean’s most feared yet revered inhabitants. Having a face-to-face encounter with the ocean’s apex predator is a bona-fide adrenaline rush, with divers worldwide shelling out mega bucks and travelling great distances for the privilege.

Boasting pristine blue water with 100-foot visibility, Guadalupe Island situated west of Baja California, Mexico, is one of the world’s premier Great White destinations.

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