|
“Red
Demon” Giant Squids of Mexico
5 Star Resort - Unlimited Adventures
Join us for an adventure that fewer than 100 divers worldwide get to experience, blue water encounters with the Giant Squid (Dosidicus gigas) otherwise known as Red Demon squids of Mexico. Growing up to five feet long, 70+ pounds and occasionally bigger—possibly much bigger these are the pinnacle predator of the ocean. While you’re here take advantage of the multiple side activities from deep sea fishing, horseback riding, sailing, shopping and more*. It’s all about morning adventure squid diving, afternoon land and sea adventures, tall cool margaritas and all within sight of the sparkling blue waters of the Sea of Cortez. Did we also mention your hotel is a 5 star resort?
Safety and Adventure
Shark Diver has teamed up with two legendary Giant Squid experts, divers who have spent more time in the water with these unique animals than any other divers on the planet. Exoedition leader Dale Pearson of Worldwide Expeditions has recently finished several documentaries about these unique predators.
Note: This expedition is truly and “expedition” in the classic sense.
Dive groups are limited to 4 divers per group. Divers must have at least 200
dives to participate and be currently certified. Giant squid dives will include
three days in the water and two days of travel.
Divers and Film Crews
Giant cephalopods have three hearts, primate-like stereoscopic eyes, blue blood and brains large enough to suggest a canny intelligence. Traveling in packs called "shoals" that range from tens  to hundreds; they come to the surface from depths of 500 plus feet to find food. This is when our experienced Squid Crew will take you in the water with them.
Our team knows where to find these squid and we know how to keep them at the surface. They have spent literally thousands of hours with these magnificentanimals. You'll be rigged with a specially designed blue-water diving tether system at a max depth of 40 feet. You can watch giant squid stalk prey, feed and interact with you while flashing their brilliant white & red color displays. Expect close encounters on this unique adventure!
Inclusive Pricing:
• Breakfast,
Lunch and Dinner
• Transportation
from the Loreto airport to our 5 star hotel
• 5 star lodging
• Light meals offshore on the pangas (water, sandwiches & snacks)
• Morning coffee and hot tea
Sample Weekly Schedule:
Day One
Arrival at Loreto Airport and a Giant Squid team member will be there to pick you up. Team members will have signs with your name on them. We then travel for 10 minutes to by van to and get you checked into your room at the 5 Star Inn at Loreto Bay www.innatloretobay.com Once settled in your room you’ll get introduced to the rest of the Giant Squid team and famed team leader Scott Cassel and be given a next day dive briefing, giving all a chance to mingle and discuss the activities yet to come in a relaxing setting with margaritas over-looking the magnificent Sea of Cortez.
Day Two-Squid School
This is why we are all here. The team will go through a thorough training with you. This precedes Humboldt squid dives so each client-expedition diver is confident and fully capable to safely perform these exciting dives. After breakfast at the hotel, the client-expedition divers undergo “Squid School”. This fun and informative class involves an overview of pre-dive, dive performance, safety, hazards, Humboldt squid behavior, protection and management. Our ultimate goal is to experience the presence of Giant Humboldt squid without any hard interactions (on either side). You will be diving with squid’s today so stay sharp. Dives occur at a max depth of 40 feet. Although you are in blue water, our unique tether system keeps divers safely at 40 feet at all times.
The Pre-Dive discussion is mandatory and includes:
• Dive profiles and current conditions report including squid sightings.
• Hazards of the experience and mitigation.
• Personal dive equipment check and issuance of blue-water-tether / installation.
• Contingencies and emergency procedures.
• Blue-water-dive system orientation and equipment familiarization (hands-on)
• Safe air bail-out bottles (one per diver)
• Descent/ascent cables
• Panga (boat) diver swim step
Standard personal sport SCUBA equipment will be used by client-expedition divers while the giant squid team divers will use a myriad of equipment (depending on the needs of the dive) including anti-squid armor, surface supplied air with helmet and communications or closed circuit rebreathers. The safety of client-expedition divers is foremost and plays a major role in giant squid team dive gear selection.
Day Three
You have been introduced to the wild world of Giant Squids yesterday. You and our dive team will once again enter into the world of the giant squid for another unique encounter. By now you will be accustomed to the gear and the program and can spend more time filming and watching these animals in their blue water environment. The dives occur in the morning to early afternoon. Later day activities included an 9 hole golf course with two lakes on site, horseback riding, hiking, off shore fishing, or just relaxing by the pool.
Day Four
Another day of Giant Squid encounters. This is your final day for diving with giant squids. It is also a day for other local dives if the squids have decided to not show, or weather does not cooperate. We run a variable schedule on the last day depending on what your team would like to do. We can squid hard, or play hard the decision is up to you and your crew. Our dive operations team can accommodate almost any request.
Day Five
Divers will pack up gear and after breakfast be driven back to the airport for their flights to other destinations. Depending on your flights this might be a great morning to discover the sleepy town of Loreto and it's many shops.We strongly suggest adding a few days in Cabo San Lucas, or other local Mexican destinations to complete your vacation experience, after all you’re practically there. Flexible booking with Alaska Airlines get's you almost anywhere in Mexico.
Dive Profile
Dive profiles will be to a maximum depth of 40 feet and be from the vantage of your personal blue water tether system. Humboldt squid will be located, encouraged to our vessel, and then giant squid team divers will escort each expedition diver to the blue water safety stop at 40 feet. When a client-expedition diver has completed his/her dive time a giant squid team diver will help them exit the operations area and safely ascend to the support boat.
|
|
© 2002-2009. "Shark Diver" and the Shark Diver logo
are trademarked. All rights reserved
July through October
