This workshop is organised Scuba Travel, UK, contact Caroline@scubatravel.com for bookings and further information. It was originally scheduled for 2021, but was moved to 2022. 3 Spaces available.

“Quite simply they are the most famous fish in the sea, a subject that deserves to be in any photographer’s portfolio,” says Alex. “The aim of this special workshop is to give you the best chance of fantastic photos of great white sharks. The small number of guests on the luxurious, fast, and new Vortex liveaboard greatly enhances the experience and productivity of this trip, both above and below the surface.”

Each autumn, Guadalupe Island, way out in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Baja California, becomes a hotspot for white sharks, with ideal photographic conditions of plentiful sharks in calm and clear blue waters. The sharks gather at the island because this is the time that the pups of Guadalupe fur seals, Californian sea lions and northern elephant seals start to head out into deeper water. Unlike South Africa, where the sharks ambush prey at the surface, the very clear waters here force the sharks to hunt at depth. The boats use bait is used to attract and expertly wrangle the sharks right in front of the cages. This trip is scheduled in the middle of the season, when there is a chance to see photograph numerous male sharks and some larger female sharks.

Alex adds “the other big attraction on this particular trip is that it is on the fabulous new liveaboard the Socorro Vortex. This 140ft former Canadian Coast Guard vessel has been converted into a fast, luxurious and spacious new liveaboard run by the Pelagic Fleet, who have years of experience with the sharks with the well known Solmar V liveaboard, that I’ve previously made three trips on.” The typical liveaboards that visit Guadalupe area carry up to 20+, meaning long waits for a turn in the cage, this trip is limited to just 12 photographers + Alex, meaning lots of space underwater and on board for a truly memorable experience. Vortex is also a very fast boat, greatly reducing crossing times, which should mean some extra time at the island, weather dependant. Finally, Vortex has a mobile, submersible cage with pilot, providing us with unique photographic perspectives on the sharks.

This trip is entirely focused on great white sharks. Alex’s workshop will focus on the specific techniques for photographing Guadalupe sharks from the cages to create both classic portraits and creative imagery. The evenings will be used by Alex to run detailed image review sessions, sharing stand out images and covering how best to post-process your shark images. Unusually you do not need to be a scuba diver to join this workshop, as you do not need a diving certification to dive in a surface shark cage, with surface-supplied air (which means you don’t have to wear fins, BC or tank and don’t need to watch your air!). “You feel totally secure inside the cage and can just focus on your photography,” says Alex. “A Guadalupe white shark expedition is one of the most fun and memorable trips in the underwater world, I have such fond memories of all my previous visits and this promises to be a step above those amazing experiences because it is on the Vortex.”

VITALS
Dates: 22nd-27th August 2022 – 4 nights on Socorro Vortex and 1 night pre-trip in hotel.
Most of the group will overnight in San Diego or Tijuana pre-trip.
Group size 12 + Alex

Price varies slightly with cabin type:
£5495 GBP – standard stateroom, £5695 GBP – junior suite stateroom, £5795 GBP – master cabin. USD prices and payment is possible, with exchange based on day of booking.

Included are transfers (from San Diego including border crossing, or Tijuana), pre-trip hotel (on B&B) and liveaboard (on full board, including beer and wine).
Extras: flights and National Park Fees.

BOOKING
For further information and for reservations please contact Scuba Travel. Email is the best way to start booking this trip. Contact Caroline@scubatravel.com. Because of the late announcement of this trip (delayed by Covid) a deposit of £2500 GBP is required to secure your place. The balance payment is due 100 days before travel.

Caroline says “To reassure you, if this workshop is affected by COVID travel disruption, we will reschedule the workshop and offer you a place on the revised dates. If this is unsuitable, we have various options, including other workshops, credit notes or refunds. We will not ask for balances on any workshop until your destination is open for travel.”