Tiger sharks

To date we have enjoyed a 100% operational record at every shark site we operate in.Shark Diver remains committed to Safe and Sane Shark Diving TM, it’s a way of doing shark dive operations right, the first time, every time. No shark system is 100%, so let’s talk shark safety.

Over the past decade Shark Diver has steadfastly stuck to a few core operations principals that are at the heart of Safe and Sane Shark Diving.

1. Respect the sharks. Shark Diver sees sharks for what they are, predators, first and foremost. We respect that fact. No one, no matter how seasoned or professional should lose sight that sharks have the potential to be dangerous if they are not treated with a healthy dose of operational respect.
2. Sharks are not “playthings”. Along with respect comes the understanding that stunt work with sharks with regular divers ultimately leads to disaster. We conduct the same dive and baiting protocol with sharks each and every time.Operations that conduct stunt work with sharks while commercial divers are in the water have little respect for the animals and the resource. We are here to observe these magnificent animals, not use them for personal gain, either with stunt based images or video or by calling stunt work “conservation.”
3. Baiting and sites. Shark Diver only operates at sites with seasoned animals. We do not change baiting practices in the middle of a dive, and we do not confuse the animals. When you change what you do with sharks in a baited situation you often have confused sharks, which leads to situations that are not good for your divers or for the sharks. Sharks do not want to attack humans as a general rule, but they have 300 million years of predatory evolution behind them, so do the same thing with sharks each time, every time. Our crews work with the animals and let their behaviour be our guide – not the other way around.

These are a few of the simple yet successful principals we have developed and stick with year in and year out. Like we said no system is 100% safe, but a decade later we have shown that respect, protocols, and understanding the animals you are fortunate enough to work with can allow for safe shark interactions – and we hope you agree.

Other than being reasonably physically fit, you don’t have to be an expert diver to cage dive with us at our Isla Guadalupe white shark dive site. Divers joining us in the Bahamas do need to be certified divers. For non divers joining us this season at Guadalupe, you will be required to attend a one-hour onboard cage diving presentation. Comfort in the water is a must. We strongly suggest that non divers take an “intro to diving” class at your local dive shop prior to joining us at our white shark dive site.

Shark Diver operates under Mexican operations permits issued to the MV Horizon by CONANP and other agencies. We have done so since the permit system was introduced to Isla Guadalupe in 2008. There are no such things as “exclusive permits” at Isla Guadalupe. The Mexican white shark permit system is fair and even, each vessel, each operator, has to operate within the established park guidelines. If you become aware of any operator who makes claims to “exclusive permits” be wary of that claim as they are false, and the operator is hiding something from the divers.

As a general rule no, they do not. We do not entice sharks into cages nor do we seek hard shark interactions. As some operations have unfortunately discovered sharks can be unforgiving if you do not adhere to strict shark diving protocols. We do, and it’s our foremost consideration when you dive with us. Expect very close passes within 12 inches at times. We run a cage free operation in the Bahamas but do have film and television cage systems for rent if needed.

Isla Guadalupe Great Whites are primarily transitional sub adults, 12 – 16 feet in length are are sleek, fast, and beautiful. We also encounter makos on very rare and very special occasions. Later in the season we encounter much larger sharks upwards to 18 feet. We call this “The Time of the Titans.” Late season sharks also come with a better chance of poor weather on site so you need to take that into consideration when making your shark diving choice with us. In 2013 our primary focus will be on peak season dates from August-September and early October to maximize your chances of quality interactions with these animals.

Tigers in the Bahamas run from 10-15 feet in length and are primarily female. They can be shy at times but we work with them over a period of days at Tiger Beach until they, and our divers, reach a good comfort level.

At Tiger Beach Bahamas we run a cage free operation for our divers. At Isla Guadalupe on occasion adverse weather may prevent safe cage diving operations. Our experienced dive operations managers will make the decision when he or she feels that your dive safety may be at risk. We may move to a better location or even cancel the weeks trip. Safety is always our first priority. We will never “push the envelope” at any shark site when it comes to your safety or your loved ones safety. In the many years we have been at Isla Guadalupe we have canceled only one expedition due to late season storms. To protect against any unforeseen circumstances or acts of God, we highly recommend the purchase of trip insurance.

We suggest that you book your expedition with us as soon as possible to guarantee yourself a spot on any of our fleet boats for limited expeditions to our incredible and pristine shark diving sites. Worldwide attention has grown for Isla Guadalupe and Tiger Beach over the past decade, and we are experiencing record interest again this year!

Yes. After almost a decade of shark diving operations we offer the industries only shark diving guarantee. Shark Diver only runs shark operations during peak seasons, we know when and at what times the sharks are on site and have the benefit of the world’s most productive and pristine shark sites to operate in. We will never offer a shark expedition to you without a full and complete guarantee that you will see sharks. Our guarantee is backed up by a return expedition with a two year window. Many shark diving operations will not offer anything to their divers if they fail to deliver sharks. We choose to back our sites up with a “no loss shark diving policy.” After all this is your vacation, and your money, we’re in the business of delivering sharks. Join us! We highly recommend you purchase trip insurance to protect yourself against any unforeseen circumstances or acts of God, as the shark guarantee does not apply to weather or any act of God.