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Dive Review of SAN DIEGO SHARK DIVING/ANDREA LYNN in
Mexico (Western)

SAN DIEGO SHARK DIVING/ANDREA LYNN, Sep, 2008,

by TOM LOPATIN, NJ, UNITED STATES (Reviewer Reviewer 5 reports). Report 4456.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments FLEW FROM NEWARK TO SAN DIEGO THE DAY BEFORE THE 5-DAY TRIP STARTED. SAN DIEGO SHARK DIVING STAFF, LED BY PAUL "DOC" ANES MET ALL GUESTS AT RAMADA INN LTD., 5 MINUTES FROM THE AIRPORT. THE BUS RIDE TO ENSENADA MEXICO, ON THE NW BAHA OF MEXICO TOOK ABOUT 2 HOURS, WHERE WE BOARDED THE ANDREA LYNN, A 130 FOOT LIVEABOARD. IT WAS THEN OFF TO GUADALUPE ISLAND, A 20 HOUR, SOMEWHAT CHOPPY CROSSING (TAKE MEDICATION IF YOU'RE SEA SICK PRONE). WE ARRIVED AT THE ISLAND AT AROUND 10:00AM THE NEXT MORNING AND THE THREE CAGES WERE LOWERED INTO THE WATER. THE GUESTS WERE ABOUT HALF AND HALF, CERTIFIED VS. UNCERTIFIED. TWO CAGES WERE SECURED TO THE STERN AND THE THIRD WAS KEPT ATTACHED TO THE BOOM ON THE STARBOARD STERN, ABOUT 20 FEET AWAY FROM THE OTHER TWO. THIS CAGE HAD DUMP VALVES THAT ALLOWED IT TO BE LOWERED ABOUT 20 FEET AND WAS LIMITED TO CERTIFIED DIVERS. ALL CAGES HAD HOOKA AIR LINES DIRECT FROM THE BOAT, WITH THE SUBMERSIBLE CAGE HAVING BACK-UP SCUBA SYSTEMS IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT A SHARK WOULD BITE THROUGH OR ENTANGLE ITSELF IN THE LINES. THERE WWERE I8 GUESTS AND WE WERE DIVIDED INTO "A" AND "B" GROUPS, ALTERNATING FOR I HOUR EACH IN AND OUT OF THE CAGES, WHICH HELD UP TO 4 DIVERS EACH. THE ACTION WAS SLOW THE FIRST COUPLE ROTATIONS OF THE FIRST DAY, BUT AFTER SOME CHUMMING THE BIG BOYS (AND GIRLS) STARTED TO COME IN. I ONLY GOT SKUNKED (NO SHARKS) ONCE, ON THE FIRST DAY AND THE LAST HOUR, FROM 5 TO 6PM. IT WAS NON-STOP ACTION THE OTHER TWO DAYS, WITH 15 FOOT 3000 LBS ANIMALS GOING AFTER THE BAIT, (UP TO FOUR AT ONE TIME), WHICH WAS TIED TO 30 FOOT LINES WITH FLOATS. I SPENT 15 HOURS IN THE CAGES...YOU COULD DOUBLE UP BACK-TO-BACK CAGE TIME WHEN SOMEONE FROM THE OTHER GROUP OPTED OUT FOR AN HOUR. THESE ANIMALS ARE SPECTACULAR AND IF WANT TO SEE THEM UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL...THIS IS THE TRIP TO TAKE. AN ADDED BONUS WAS THAT MARTY SNYDERMAN, THE WORLD RENOWNED UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER WAS ON BOARD...A FRIENDLY EXTREMELY HELPFUL EXPERT THAT CAN COUNSEL YOUR PHOTO SKILLS AND CRITIQUE YOUR SHOTS. DOC AND HIS CREW WERE ALL GREAT PEOPLE AND HE HAS THE OPERATION DOWN TO A SCIENCE. THE MEXICAN CREW FROM THE BOAT WERE ALSO SUPERB, WITH FRANKY, THE BAR TENDER A FUNNY AND SUPER FRIENDLY CHAP (OPEN BAR ON THE BOAT). THE BEST TIME TO GO IS IN THE EARLY PART OF THE SEASON, WHICH RUNS FROM LATE AUGUST TO EARLY DECEMBER...SEAS GET ROUGHER/COLDER AND FEWER SHARKS (BUT POTENTIALLY LARGER FEMALES AS I UNDERSTAND). GUADALUPE ISLAND AND SAN DIEGO SHARK DIVING IS THE WAY TO GO FOR GREAT WHITES IF YOU'RE FROM THE STATES...A WHOLE LOT CLOSER THAN SOUTH AFRICA!

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving ALMOST EVERYWHERE
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas
Water Temp 68-70°F / 20-21°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 30-100 Ft/ 9-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions CAGE DIVING IN 1 HOUR SESSIONS
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals N/A Tropical Fish N/A
Small Critters N/A Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments BRING YOUR CAMERAS AND VIDEO....GREAT WHITE ACTION!!
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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