Great White Shark
Research Program 2005-2008
2008 Project Note:

2008 was a banner year for the CICIMAR-PIER-Shark Diver research effort at Isla Guadalupe. The Shark Diver team with help from the MV Horizon, MV Islander and MV Nautilus Explorer once again provided full support to ongoing and critical work at the island.

Shark Diver and her fleet vessels are the only companies in the USA offering financial and logistical support for serious Mexican lead shark research at Isla Guadalupe. Our investment in this critical program comes in part from divers who book their shark diving adventures with us. Shark Divers commitment to programs that further shark research and site conservation is the foundation of what we do. Thank you!

Last season Shark Diver in tandem with California’s U.C Davis, Dr.Peter Klimley, and Mexico’s renown shark researcher Dr.Felipe Galvan from the Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias del Mar continued its commitment to shark science with an expanded research program at our Isla Guadalupe site. The deployment of the first ever RAP Array (a series of sonic bouys) in latin america was just the start of the ambitious project. We successfully assisted in the collection of ongoing DNA samples from the islands white shark population and invited the local Mexican fishing community for the first time to review our shark diving operations and assist us. Shark Diver and her fleet vessels donated over $8000 in radio gear/boat engines and childrens school supplies to the islands inhabitatants.

View more about this project on UC Davis's web site.

Project Overview
The Guadalupe White Shark population is a real marine science enigma. Very little is known about the reasons behind why these animals congregate here each year in such large numbers. We do know the vast majority of the sharks encountered during our arrival from Sept-Dec are young male sharks in the 10-14 foot class. We also know from sat tagging done by the Marine Conservation Science Institute that some of these animals are traveling great distances from the island and back each year. Is this a migration? If so why?

One of several questions we hope to answer over the next few years of careful field operations are local movement patterns, a complete census of animals, feeding patterns, prey behaviors, continuing DNA and blood samples, and more importantly the answer to the biggest question of all “why are these animals here”?

RAP Acoustic Tagging
This season we’ll be offering complete operational support and assisting with the onsite acoustic tagging and tracking of several distinct great whites to determine their day to day movement patterns in and around Isla Guadalupe, including known seal haul out areas and more. Dr. Klimley's work with Great White Sharks up and down the California coast from Ano Nuevo to Bodega Bay has revealed some fascinating data in recent years using his RAP acoustic tagging array within the marine sanctuaries. 2009 will have an expanded RAP Program.

DNA Sampling
Continued and varied DNA sampling will allow our research group to determine if in fact the population of Great Whites at Guadalupe are in any way related to the adult sharks found along areas of the California and Mexico coastline. DNA samples have been taken from live and dead animals from all over the Pacific, we hope to cross-reference these samples with our own. DNA work done elsewhere in the world has revealed subtle variations between White Shark groups, such as South African White Sharks and Australia’s Great Whites.

Observation Video/Images
We’ll also be asking for help from you our shark divers. Images, video, and personal recollections as to sex, size and behavior are all greatly appreciated and relied upon during our 10 week expedition season. Often, due to the numbers of sharks present, divers will see something we miss - missed predation on a sea lion for instance, or even shark to shark behavior that we cannot view from the surface.

Long Range Tracking Program
The Marine Conservation Science Institute in Oceanside, CA has been studying the great white sharks of Guadalupe Island since 1999. Their primary focus has been deploying satellite tags on the sharks. These tags stay on the animals for up to a year collecting data and then pop-up and transmit the data to a satellite, providing swimming depth and temperature and information on where the shark went while the tag was on (for more information visit The Institute's web site). They have also been working on a comprehensive photo identification project to try and assess how many sharks are at the island and keep track of when they are sighted at the island. This project relies heavily upon still images and video donated by divers who have visited Guadalupe. If you would like to contribute your photos, please contact us.

Our 2008 Research Team
We’ll have a rotating team of White Shark researchers on board for almost the entire 2008 shark diving season. They will be happy to answer any questions you may have and if they have time will giving us an up to date lecture during your 5 day expedition with us. In short, we’re excited and proud to have such a distinguished group aboard.

• Dr. Peter Klimley - U.C Davis, California
• Dr. Felipe Galvan - Mexico, Centro Interdisciplinario
                                de Ciencias del Mar
• Mauricio Hoyos Padilla - Mexico, CICIMAR
• Constanza Ribot – Mexico, CICIMAR

Research Donations
Ongoing shark research is an expensive enterprise-but the data collected is very important to the long term understanding and overall protective measures that will be put in place to safe guard one of the oceans most magnificent predators, the Great White shark. Without a doubt the Isla Guadalupe Great White population is at risk from fishing fleets and its limited protected status in Mexican waters. Shark Diver in tandem with U.C Davis are looking for funds from the public sector to offset the costs of this large scale program. All donations are tax deductible. If you are interested in getting involved please contact us at the email below, the sharks and the Shark Diver crew thank you in advance for your involvement.

Cheers,
The Staff
Shark Diver