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Destinations

Remark
Shark tagging and research led by Dr. Peter Klimley

Trip Commentary:
Join Dr Pete Klimley aka "Dr Hammerhead" on a shark tagging and research expedition to the Revillagigedos Islands, with the Nautilus Explorer. Dr Klimley has been studying sharks for over 3 decades and has written over 50 scientific articles and papers on shark behaviour. He has appeared in dozens of shark documentaries. Written a number of books, including his most recent "The Secret Life of Sharks" It was his famous appearance on PBS that christened him "Dr Hammerhead". Dr Klimley brilliantly predicted the calamitous decline of the Hammerhead Shark years ago and has been campaigning ever since for Governments and Fisheries to provide Marine Reserves to protect this beautiful Living fossil. The Nautilus Explorer gives you the opportunity to meet and learn from one of the Worlds greatest Shark experts. Aboard the Nautilus Explorer Dr Klimley will share with you his incredible insights into Shark behaviour and demonstrate techniques required for field research with large pelagic sharks. Dr Klimley will dispel some of the myths surrounding these threaten beasts and expose their schooling behaviour. As to be expected from a man of Dr Klimley's standing he brings with him a team of assistants and diving experts. He will be joined by Salvador Jorgensen, a PhD Student from UC Davis and Luke Inman (Wildlife Cameraman & PADI Course Director). Dr Klimley will enlighten you with information on the methods of tagging and the purpose of his research and why Closed Circuit Rebreather technology and free diving is used to place the state-of-the-art satellite tags on the sharks. Dr Klimley's team head up The Non-Profit IEMANYA OCEANICA and "ADOPT A SHARK". This voyage gives you the chance to learn and contribute to their research and conservation efforts. Partial Proceeds from your fare will be used towards the purchase of more satellite tags. For more information: www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sharks/masters/hammerhead.html www.iemanya.org & www.adoptashark.com November through May is peak season for diving the Revillagigedos Archipelago, a pristine marine wilderness located 220 nautical miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas. These islands are of volcanic origin and Benedicto (which is the one closest to Baja California) actually erupted in 1952. The next and largest island in the chain is Socorro which is uninhabited except for a small Naval base and village. Roca Partida lies to the southwest and is little more than a large group of rocks awash on the edge of a 6000' abyss. The most distant island is Clarion, located about 370 miles from Cabo San Lucas. The diving here is famous for extraordinary interactions with giant manta rays and you will be able to get extremely close and have numerous encounters with these gentle giants. For more details check out the October 24, 2003 Captain's Log entry at www.nautilusexplorer.com. Water temps range from 78 - 82 in November and then drop to 72 - 74 at the end of January -- which is OK because that's when the humpback whales and their babies show up. Surface conditions are just plain tropical paradise! You can expect to see a myriad of colourful reef fish and large numbers of spotted trunkfish as well as whitetip, silky, galapagos and hammerhead sharks, eels, octopus and scorpionfish. This area also boasts some of the best sportfishing in the world and you may see bonitas, tuna, jacks and wahoo at places like Roca Partida. Vast numbers of marine birds nest around the islands, giant sea turtles lay their eggs on sandy beaches, sealions hang out on the rocky shorelines and California grey whales give birth off Clarion Island and have been reported as so numerous inside the coral reefs that it's difficult to skiff ashore! Please note that you will not be allowed to night dive in the Revillagigedo Islands (it's too sharky). You should be aware that we will be making an open ocean crossing of 216 miles to reach Benedicto Island. We have collected 3 years of meteorological data from the military base at Socorro Island and found that the average winter winds were less than 10 knots. The Revillagigedo Islands are located under the sub-tropical high pressure area of stable, calm and diverging winds known as the horse latitudes -- so called because the sailors on the old windships would sometimes be driven to distraction by day after day of calm weather and would throw their cargo (including horses) over the side in an attempt to light their ships. The prevailing swell is out of the northwest and ranges from flat calm to 6 - 8 feet which is no problem for a heavy stabilized steel vessel like the Nautilus. It is very rare for guests not to find their sea legs after Day 1 or 2 and we do supply complimentary electronic motion sickness bands for anybody who might be concerned about seasickness. Hurricane season generally runs from June through October. Sample itinerary Day 1: Afternoon warmup dive in Cabo San Lucas once we have picked up all our incoming guests. Followed by an overnight run to Benedicto Island. Day 2: Late afternoon dive at Benedicto. Day 3 - 9: Opportunity for 4 dives per day at Benedicto and Socorro Islands with inwater divemastering and critter spotting available as well as our regular topside activities. We do not normally offer any night dives out there because it is so "sharky". Benedicto Island is known for some of the best diving with giant manta rays anywhere in the world. These animals are up to 21' across and can be very friendly. If the weather cooperates we should be able to spend one or two days diving at Roca Partida (lots of game fish, sharks, etc.) and maybe even the seldom visited Clarion Island -- the fourth of the Revillagigedo Islands. Colourful invertebrate life is not as prolific as we're used to up north. The islands range in size from little more than barren rock pinnacles covered with bird guano to a large desert island covered with vegetation. They are remote, unspoiled and untouched marine wilderness frontiers that present unlimited exploration opportunities for adventuresome divers. Day 10: One more day of diving at Benedicto Island before getting underway for the steam home. Day 11: Afternoon arrival at our dock in Cabo San Lucas. Free time on shore with the option of returning to the boat for dinner as well as a big marguerita send-off party. Day 12: Breakfast followed by disembarking.