Mexico Itineraries:
Guadalupe & San Benito Islands (11 days)
This incredible itinerary offers a unique opportunity to combine the Guadalupe Island and the San Benito Islands over an 11-day trip. The San Benito Islands are a perfect addition to the adrenalin-filled cage diving with the great white sharks at Guadalupe Island, bringing an excellent variety with its unique kelp forest diving and untouched wildness.
The San Benito Islands lie in the Pacific Ocean off the West coast of the Baja peninsula. They consist of three small islands known as: Isla Benito del Este, Isla Benito Del Centro and Isla Benito del Oeste (the only inhabited one) - literally meaning Eastern Benito Island, Central Benito Island and Western Benito Island.
They are located near another island called Cedros Island and they are completely barren, except for a few shrubs and small patches of herbs. You might be able to observe some birds, but the main land attraction, in the right season, is the colony of elephant seals (the world's largest pinniped) lazing in the sun!
Diving at San Benito Islands is either an excellent preamble to the adrenalin-filled cage diving with the great white sharks of Guadalupe Island (for more info click HERE) or a relaxing and surprising end of your holiday! Diving along these rocks is considered the best in the region and you will be able to see a large variety of panamic and sub-tropical fishes, as well an abundance of lobsters and abalones. For wreck lovers, there is also one wreck to explore, the US tanker Swift Eagle, which went aground in 1934.
The main feature of San Benito Islands, however, is without doubt the dense kelp forest. The visibility is excellent and swimming under the roof of the kelp, looking out at blue water while playing with the Guadalupe fur seals and sea lions is a very special diving experience! Very often, the seals and sea lions will come to check you out and starting playing with you. These sites are in one word: fantastic and they only are asking to be explored and discovered!
QUALIFICATION NEEDED:
We can welcome everyone, but we recommend being qualified as PADI OW or equivalent. For the dives at Guadalupe Island, a dive master is present in the cages at all times therefore cage diving can accommodate all levels of divers. The dives around San Benito Islands are suitable for all levels of experience. A good buoyancy control will help as some dives are in quite shallow water through thick kelp and this skill is necessary for your enjoyment.
ITINERARY:
Departing from any major airport in Europe, your flight will take you to San Diego, USA*. All the guests will be asked to meet for 19:00 at the Ramada Inn Hotel, very near San Diego airport.
They recommend you having a great dinner before the meeting time. The crew will start loading the coach at 19:00 and plans to leave at approximately 19:30 from the hotel. The transfer will take you to Ensenada, Mexico and will last approximately 2 hours.
The itinerary may vary depending on which of the 2 main sites you will start with. The below sample is an example which starts with Guadalupe Island.
The vessel will depart that same night for a 24hr cruise to reach Guadalupe Island the following evening.
The next day, the crew will arrange for a warm-up dive and following that, the cages will be lowered in the water. You will be in for virtually unlimited hours of diving! The cages are in the water from 06:30 until 18:30 and you will have a rotation of 2 hours in the water with 2 hours out. The record over 3 days is 31 hours for one diver!!!
After the 3rd day diving, the boat will cruise back to San Diego (approximately 24 hours) and arrive early evening when you will disembark.
You would be able to take a night flight back to Europe and due to the journey and time difference, you will arrive a day later back in Europe.
Sample itinerary:
**PLEASE NOTE** Itinerary may vary depending on weather conditions, guests' experience, flight schedules and is at the discretion of the captain.
Day 1 - Flight & boarding: Arrival at San Diego*, transfer to Ensenada, embarkation and overnight cruising
Day 2 - Arrival early evening at Guadalupe:
Day 3 - Guadalupe: Cage diving
Day 4 - Guadalupe: Cage diving
Day 5 - Guadalupe: Cage diving and overnight cruising to San Benito Islands (approx. 30hrs)
Day 6 - Cruising: Arrival at San Benito Islands
Day 7 - San Benito Islands: Diving
Day 8 - San Benito Islands: Diving
Day 9 - San Benito Islands: Diving
Day 10 - San Benito Islands: 1 or 2 dives and overnight cruising to Ensenada (approx. 18hrs)
Day 11 - Ensenada, San Diego & flight: Arrival & disembarkation between 13 -14:00 - transfer back to San Diego
Day 12 - Flight: Arrival in Europe
*IMPORTANT: Please click
HERE for VISA information.
Want to go? Check out the Schedules and Prices HERE
SEASON, WEATHER, CONDITIONS & CURRENT:
Most of the rainfall, due to strong winds & cyclones, occurs during the winter months. This itinerary operates from the end of July until the beginning of November to ensure adequate temperatures, smooth sailing and the best sightings. The seas are usually calm, but wind and swell are always a possibility.
The visibility at Guadalupe Island is usually excellent with an average of 20m to 40m, which is a dream for photographers and videographers. The water temperature is on average between 19C and 23C, but you need to know that you will spend most of your time in a cage and will not be swimming, so good suit protection will ensure you will enjoy your time underwater. The surface temperatures are on average 20C to 25C.
At San Benito Islands, the water temperature tends to be slightly higher with on average 22C to 25C and the outside temperature can reach 35C, but are on average around the 25C mark.
Most dives are in sheltered inlets and coves making for very calm sea conditions. The visibility tends to vary, but it's on average between 15-20m with very little current.
WHAT TO TAKE?
You will need to pack all of your equipment and we recommend a good 5mm - 7mm. During your dives at Guadalupe Island, you will only need the following dive equipment: your wetsuit/dry suit, hoods, gloves, booties and a mask. Since you will not be swimming around, BCD and fins are not necessary. Air will pumped from the surface (hooka style) down to the cages. Surface weather is comfortable and shorts, t-shirts and sandals/boat shoes should just do the trick, but we recommend you bring along a warm sweatshirt or a jacket for the cooler nights.
Want to go? Check out the Schedules and Prices HERE