Marine Life & Conservation
Top 5 Guadalupe Liveaboards
Shark Week has ended for another year, but shark fans needn’t dismay; the Guadalupe cage diving season is just beginning. This iconic destination has featured in various Shark Week programs and is the premier great white shark diving destination to visit.
Guadalupe Island has over 200 known individual great white sharks and offers the chance to dive with these sharks in crystal clear, warm waters. There are a variety of Guadalupe liveaboards to choose from, with vessels for all budgets and needs. It can be difficult to know where to start when choosing the right liveaboard though, so here are our top five Guadalupe liveaboards to try:
MV HORIZON, AMERICA’S SHARK BOAT
Photo: MV Horizon
The Original Guadalupe Liveaboard
America’s Shark Boat MV Horizon is the original Guadalupe liveaboard and has been offering shark diving at the island since 2000. The crew are experienced and knowledgeable, having known some of the Guadalupe sharks for 16 years.
Ideal for Budget-Conscious Safaris
This is a great liveaboard for those on a budget, looking to focus on the shark diving and learn more about shark research and conservation. The MV Horizon has been involved in shark research at Guadalupe and they have a strong environmental commitment and passion for shark conservation.
Limited Guest Numbers
Guests looking an intimate safari should consider the MV Horizon, as the vessel has 8 air-conditioned cabins and cater for just 16 divers. The bathrooms are shared and there is a sun deck and saloon to enjoy between dives.
Maximum Time in The Cage
Guests can enjoy up to 20 hours in the water thanks to their small guest numbers and large cage capacity.
Safari Details
MV Horizon cage diving safaris depart from San Diego and are 6 days long, with 3 days of diving.
Experience Level Needed
The MV Horizon specialises in safaris for non-divers and divers alike, and has a cage designed exclusively for non-divers.
NAUTILUS EXPLORER
The Nautilus Explorer is the Nautilus fleet’s flagship and has her own unique features to enjoy.
Nautilus Explorer. Photo: Andreas Dellios & Nautilus Liveaboards
Million Dollar Views
The Explorer is ideal for those wanting to enjoy fantastic ocean views from the dining room and lounge after a great day of diving, and really immerse themselves in being at sea even when they’re not in the water.
New 2018 Extension
The Explorer is even better in 2018, have been extended to include a huge new dive deck and water-level platform, enlarged superior suite and interior upgrades. The Explorer also has a 5-ton hydraulic crane and reinforced steel deck. Both of which have made this vessel ideal for hosting film and scientific crews.
Ideal for Mixed Dive Buddy Groups
There are 13 cabins, including mixed-gender triple staterooms and premium rooms, all with bathrooms and showers. Guests can enjoy the two sun decks and hot tub deck in-between dives.
Safari Details
Nautilus Explorer cage diving safaris depart from San Diego and are 6 days long, with 3 days of diving.
Experience Level Needed
Nautilus Guadalupe safaris are suitable for experienced divers and non-divers alike.
NAUTILUS BELLE AMIE
The big, beautiful 41m Nautilus Belle Amie liveaboard is the newest and largest of the Nautilus liveaboards and is the sister vessel to the Nautilus Explorer. She is more like a floating five-star hotel than a boat and was built with divers’ needs, safety and comfort in mind. She offers safaris to both Guadalupe and the Socorro Islands, Mexico.
Photo: Nautilus Belle Amie
Maximum Guest Comfort at Sea
The Belle Amie prioritises guest comfort. She has a wide beam and deep draft, making her ideal for those who suffer from motion sickness and ensuring the most comfortable crossing possible to Guadalupe. The Belle Amie is also soundproofed, allowing guests ultra-quiet rooms and peaceful nights before action-packed shark dives.
Good for Larger Groups
With 16 cabins, including cost-effective staterooms, the Belle Amie is ideal for groups of friends or families visiting Guadalupe and wanting a variety of berth options to choose from. This vessel caters for up to 30 divers in total and the liveaboard is spacious and comfortable, with a beautiful full-length sundeck and large hot tub on the sun deck.
Dive from Dawn to Dusk
The cages are open from 7am to dinner time on the Belle Amie, allowing plenty of dive time with the sharks and almost unlimited time diving in the surface cages.
Submersible Cages
There are also submersible cages, providing a great opportunity to enjoy the sharks at depth and truly appreciate the environment they live in. Certified divers always get 3 or more submersible cage dives.
Guadalupe And Socorro Combo
For a truly unique experience, the Belle Amie offers 15-night safaris to enjoy both the sharks at Guadalupe and the giant mantas at the Socorro Islands. These safaris usually occur in November.
Safari Details
Nautilus Belle Amie cage diving safaris depart from San Diego and are 6 days long, with 3 days of diving.
Experience Level Needed
Nautilus Guadalupe safaris are suitable for experienced divers and non-divers alike.
NAUTILUS UNDER SEA
Most divers know this liveaboard from her previous life as the Undersea Hunter of Cocos Island. Since then she has been upgraded, stretched by 20 feet, given a new superstructure, an enclosed dive deck and more.
Photo: Nautilus Under Sea
From James Bond to Dr Silvia Earle
The Nautilus Under Sea was the support boat for James Bond’s ‘Licence to Kill’ and for a Deep Rover mission with Dr Silvia Earle. Having undertaken many research missions, she is a fascinating vessel to spend time on.
Intimate Dive Safaris
This vessel has just 8 cabins, with ensuite facilities and air conditioning. She caters for 18 divers, making her ideal for those looking for a more intimate safari.
Wheelchair Friendly
The Under Sea has a wheelchair friendly stateroom adjacent to the dive deck. This ADA compliant room has twin beds, ensuite facilities, air-conditioning and a huge window.
Ideal for Photographers
This liveaboard has plenty of space for photography equipment, with large camera set-up areas and personal camera storage.
Guadalupe And Socorro Combo
Like the Belle Amie, this vessel offers 15-night safaris to enjoy both the sharks at Guadalupe and the giant mantas at the Socorro Islands. These safaris usually occur in November.
Safari Details
Nautilus Under Sea cage diving safaris depart from San Diego and are 6 days long, with 3 days of diving.
Experience Level Needed
Nautilus Guadalupe safaris are suitable for experienced divers and non-divers alike.
SOLMAR V
With a traditional steel hull, plus brass and mahogany interiors, the Solmar V is a classic liveaboard with a very experienced crew.
Photo: Solmar V
All About the Luxury
The Solmar V is focussed on luxury, offering 12 lavish staterooms with climate control, ensuite facilities, pillow top mattresses, non-allergenic alternative pillows and comforters.
Conservation Minded
The crew of the Solmar V are passionate about conservation and actively support marine conservation through Pelagic Life. This organisation aims to protect the marine megafauna of Mexico through raising awareness, contributing to sustainable ecotourism, and by making eco-conscious seafood choices.
Food Lovers Heaven
The Solmar V is very well known for gourmet cuisine and offers a variety of choices, including cooked-to-order breakfasts, three-course lunches and multiple course dinners. There are always snacks available and all beer and wine is included with the meals. The chef can easily accommodate dietary requirements. This liveaboard is ideal for food lovers.
Special Hotel Rates
The Solmar V partner hotel, Hampton Inn, offers special rates, complimentary airport shuttles and a free breakfast for Solmar V guests.
Perfect for Mini Vacations
Guadalupe safaris with the Solmar V are 5 days long and yet still include 3 full days of diving. They are ideal for mini vacations and those with limited time.
Safari Details
Solmar V cage diving safaris depart from San Diego.
Experience Level Needed
Solmar V Guadalupe safaris are suitable for experienced divers and non-divers alike.
This article was written by divers and writers at LiveAboard.com
Discover liveaboard diving holiday solutions around the world at Liveaboard.com. 
The Ocean Cleanup, the global non-profit project, has removed a verified all-time total of ten million kilograms (22 million lbs.) of trash from oceans and rivers around the world – approximately the same weight as the Eiffel Tower.
To complete its mission of ridding the oceans of plastic, The Ocean Cleanup uses a dual strategy: cleaning up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) to remove the plastic already afloat in the oceans, while stopping the flow of plastic from the world’s most polluting rivers.
Through cleaning operations in the GPGP and in rivers in eight countries, the cumulative total of trash removed has now surpassed ten million kilograms. This milestone demonstrates the acceleration of The Ocean Cleanup’s impact, while underlining the astonishing scale of the plastic pollution problem and the need for continued support and action.
While encouraging for the mission, this milestone is only a staging point: millions more tons of plastic still pollute our oceans and The Ocean Cleanup intends to continue learning, improving and innovating to solve this global catastrophe.
This announcement comes as governments from around the world meet to continue negotiations to develop a new legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution at INC4 in Ottawa, Canada. Representatives of The Ocean Cleanup will be in attendance and the organization will be urging decision-makers to collaborate towards a comprehensive and ambitious global treaty which addresses plastic at all stages of its life cycle and in all marine environments worldwide, including in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
It is encouraging to see that the need for remediation is reflected in the various options for potential treaty provisions. It is essential that the final treaty contains clear targets for the remediation of legacy plastic pollution, and reduction of riverine plastic emissions.
Tackling plastic pollution requires innovative and impactful solutions. The treaty should therefore incentivize the innovation ecosystem by fostering innovations that make maximal use of data, technology and scientific knowledge – such as those designed and deployed by The Ocean Cleanup.
‘After many tough years of trial and error, it’s amazing to see our work is starting to pay off – and I am proud of the team who has brought us to this point.’ said Boyan Slat, Founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup. ‘While we still have a long way to go, our recent successes fill us with renewed confidence that the oceans can be cleaned.’
The Ocean Cleanup was founded in 2013 and captured its first plastic in 2019, with the first confirmed catch in the GPGP coming soon after the deployment of Interceptor 001 in Jakarta, Indonesia. After surpassing one million kilograms of trash removed in early 2022, the non-profit project has since progressed to the third iteration of its GPGP cleaning solution, known as System 03, and a network of Interceptors currently covering rivers in eight countries, with more deployments set for 2024.
About The Ocean Cleanup
The Ocean Cleanup is an international non-profit organization that develops and scales technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. They aim to achieve this goal through a dual strategy: stemming the inflow via rivers and cleaning up the legacy plastic that has already accumulated in the ocean. For the latter, The Ocean Cleanup develops large-scale systems to efficiently concentrate the plastic for periodic removal. This plastic is tracked and traced through DNV’s chain of custody model to certify claims of origin when recycling it into new products. To curb the tide via rivers, The Ocean Cleanup has developed Interceptor™ solutions to halt and extract riverine plastic before it reaches the ocean. Founded in 2013 by Boyan Slat, The Ocean Cleanup now employs a broadly multi-disciplined team of approximately 140. The foundation is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
For more information, visit: theoceancleanup.com and follow @theoceancleanup on social media.
Marine Life & Conservation
Steve Backshall to headline Shark Trust’s flagship event: For the Love of Sharks
Join a host of amazing, shark loving, speakers including Steve Backshall and the Shark Trust team for an evening celebrating shark conservation at the Royal Geographical Society in London this November.
Date: 29th November 2024
Time: 6-10pm
Location: Royal Geographical Society, London
Tickets: https://www.sharktrust.org/Event/flos24
The event will be a celebration of all things shark. Those lucky enough to get hold of tickets will hear from engaging guest speakers with a passion for sharks.
The line-up includes (*subject to change if unforeseen circumstances arise)
Steve Backshall: One of television’s busiest presenters, BAFTA award-winning wildlife expert Steve has been passionate about the wild world ever since he was young.
Steve’s impressive TV career has taken him all around the world, investigating a wide array of species and environments. Steve has filmed over 100 hours of children’s wildlife programmes with the BAFTA award winning Deadly 60 franchise and recently, with Sky Nature, for his new series ‘Whale with Steve Backshall’. He has been a patron for the Shark Trust for 10 years.
Simon Rogerson: is a photojournalist specialising in natural history, diving and the sea.
He is editor of SCUBA magazine, the official journal of the British Sub-Aqua Club. Simon started his career as a crime reporter but gravitated towards his ‘less depressing’ interest in underwater exploration, joining the staff of DIVE magazine in 1999. In 2005 he was named ‘Editor of the Year’ in the PPA’s Independent Publishing Awards. Simon also works as a freelance writer, contributing frequently to the Sunday Times and Telegraph, in addition to BBC Wildlife, Esquire, and a host of international diving magazines. He is the author of a book, Dive Red Sea, published by Ultimate Sports. Now based in Berkshire, Simon has been a Patron of the Shark Trust for 20 years.
More speakers to be announced soon. Head to the Shark Trust website to learn more.
The evening will also allow guests the final chance to see the Oceanic 31, shark art exhibition. Some of the artwork will be auctioned/raffled at the event, while the rest will be auctioned online to raise money for the Shark Trust Oceanic Programme.
For the Love of Sharks is an evening with something for everyone who is interested and fascinated by sharks. Join the Shark Trust, their Patrons, Trustees and Staff, along with a host of supporters for this celebration of shark conservation.
For more information or to buy a ticket: https://www.sharktrust.org/Event/flos24
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