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Shark Diving

AMOS NACHOUM: The Great White Shark Research and Photography Expedition

Great White Shark Cage Diving

Farallon Islands, off San Francisco, California

Great White Shark Cage Diving: The Incredible Great White Shark Adventure

Travel by luxury boat 30 miles off the coast of California to San Francisco's Farallon Islands, one of the best places in the world to view Great White Sharks. Cage dive with Great White Sharks the size of cars in the world's largest shark cage - and you don't have to be a diver.

Your Great White Shark expedition begins just before dawn, when you board our giant shark boat at the Tiburon, California Marina. We typically leave the dock by 6 am in order to be on location in time to witness early morning feeding events. Great white sharks feed on the population of seals who inhabit the Farallons.

Total time at the dive site is usually 8 - 10 hours, but can vary. We'll be back at the dock no later than 7 pm. Trips may end earlier if a sufficient number of sharks are spotted early in the day. Our boat is equipped to easily handle 16 cage divers and 4 or more topside viewers in comfort.

The Farallon Islands “The Devil’s Teeth”

Located roughly 20 miles off the coast of San Francisco is a series of land formations known as the Farallon Islands. The islands lie within the Gulf of the Farallones Marine Sanctuary, 1255 square miles of protected waters deemed part of a “nationally significant marine ecosystem.”

This is the only place in the entire United States where you can cage dive with Great White Sharks.

Because the waters around the Farallons are protected under law, NO CHUMMING is permitted. We observe natural feeding events only. At times, seal decoys are used to attract great white sharks to our boat.

Shark Dive Basics

Diver Requirements: No dive certification is required if you are over the age of 18. Anyone under the age of 18 must be dive certified and accompanied by a parent or guardian. Our boat is equipped with a Brownie’s Third Lung hookah system, which allows participants to connect to an air source onboard. This eliminates the need to wear air tanks, which would restrict your movement within the cage. A certified dive instructor will explain the equipment and supervise your time in the cage. Those uncomfortable underwater can join our adventure as a topside observer and watch shark action from the deck.

Equipment Required: We will provide you with a wetsuit to wear during your cage dive or you may bring your own. You will receive a suggested packing list for your day at sea prior to your adventure. Please know that seas can be very rough and the waters near the Farallons are known for being cold and murky.

Important Scheduling Note: The best months for viewing big sharks tend to be the worst months when it comes to weather. We strongly encourage you to have a back-up day in your vacation schedule “just in case”. Dives are non-refundable. In case of bad weather, you’ll get a raincheck for another trip.

What is Cage Diving?

Cage diving allows divers, researchers and film crews to view the extraordinary world of Great White Sharks in comfort and safety. Specially designed shark viewing cages provide adequate protection for the sharks from sport divers, while allowing divers total freedom of movement and panoramic views. Our shark diving crews are industry professionals who care about your safety and enjoyment. Equally important, they care about making our dives safe for the sharks.

Our Shark Boat

You’ll get to the Farallon Islands for your incredible Great White Shark Adventure aboard a 55’ high-speed catamaran. The New Eldorado III is fully Coast Guard approved and provides a stable platform for shark dive operations. She can get from Fisherman’s Wharf to the Farallones in about 90 minutes.

Our Shark Team

When you join us for a Great White Shark adventure to San Francisco’s Farallon Islands, you’ll find yourself in very good hands. We’re proud of our staff and when you dive with us, you’ll understand why. Here are just two of the great people you’ll meet:

Greg Barron is our Director of West Coast Shark Ops. Greg has spent his entire life living and diving along the North Coast of California and has been part of our shark dive operation since the beginning. Greg helped the great people at DOER Marine design and build our massive shark cage and has worked to transform our boat into an incredible shark diving platform.

We’re also very lucky to have Peter Winch, the naturalist for the Farallones Marine Sanctuary with us on each trip. Peter has a very special way of pointing out things and teaching you a lot, without making you feel like you’re back in school. With binoculars in hand, he’ll be on the deck, scanning the horizon for fins and calling your attention to whales, dolphins, jellyfish, rare birds and more.

Ocean Outreach, Inc.

Our Great White Shark Adventures in San Francisco are offered in cooperation with Ocean Outreach, Inc.. Ocean Outreach is a 501 C-3 non-profit organization founded in April 2002 that aims to create educational outreach projects and support ongoing scientific research. We think education leads to the protection of our oceans and sealife, which is why a portion of shark dive proceeds goes to Ocean Outreach.

One Day Dive Adventures

Our Incredible Great White Shark Adventures depart from San Francisco’s famous Fisherman’s Wharf.

You’ll need to be at the dock by 6:30 am to get checked in and ready for a prompt 7 am departure. Total time at the dive site varies, but expect to be back at the dock no later than 5 pm. A continental breakfast, hot lunch and beverages are provided for you. Our boat is equipped to handle 12 divers and 6 topside viewers in comfort.

Cage Dives: $875 Top Side Viewing: $ 375

Full payment is required the day you book your dive and is NON-REFUNDABLE. We will make every effort to reschedule your dive if it is cancelled due to weather conditions or mechanical difficulties.

Dates for shark season 2010 Farallon Islands

We allow 16 cage divers and 4+ topside observers per trip.

The 2010 dates available:
September 25
October 2,16,23,30
November 6,13

Trips depart Fisherman’s Warf in San Francisco.

No Shark Guarantee

Although we go to the best places at the best time of year, we cannot guarantee you'll see sharks. If we see no sharks, there is no refund. If we are unable to deliver your adventure due to weather or unforeseen mechanical problems, there is no refund. We will work with you to reschedule your cage dive or top-side experience for a future date.

For more information
Contact:
Dive Discovery
@
1 800 886-7321
ph- 415-444-5100
or
Request Info