Guadalupe Island, Mexico
Guadalupe Island in Mexico is considered to be one of the world’s top four destinations for cage diving with great white sharks. Discover why adventurous divers have given this diving destination such a high rating in our travel guide.Geography of Guadalupe Island, Mexico
Located in the Pacific Ocean, Guadalupe Island (or Isla Guadalupe) is about 165 miles (265 kilometers) southwest of Ensenada in Baja California, Mexico. It’s a rocky, extinct volcano that’s 22 miles (35 kilometers) long and six miles (10 kilometers) wide. Guadalupe has several islets lying off its coast as well.
The island is both a seal sanctuary and a biosphere reserve. It’s also inhabited and has hosted around 200 residents since 2010. Lobster and abalone fishermen, goat farmers, and military personnel are part of Guadalupe’s small population.
The island is both a seal sanctuary and a biosphere reserve. It’s also inhabited and has hosted around 200 residents since 2010. Lobster and abalone fishermen, goat farmers, and military personnel are part of Guadalupe’s small population.
Geography of Guadalupe Island, Mexico
Guadalupe isn’t your typical liveaboard destination. Fearless divers only flock here to dive with great white sharks. Cage diving mostly happens within the island. It doesn’t have any known dive sites, but the liveaboards here choose to put cages in certain locations. Their choices often depend on the daily weather and current patterns of great white shark sightings.
Most of the locations that divemasters pick for cage diving on Guadalupe Island lie within several miles. You’ll likely swim in the water without any visible land beneath or beside you. Additionally, the waters boast such a high level of visibility that it outranks other major shark diving destinations, including South Africa and Australia, in terms of popularity.
Marine Life
Aside from great white sharks, the following sea creatures also roam within Isla de Guadalupe:
- Guadalupe fur seals - This very dimorphic seal species boasts dark brown to black fur with light hairs on the back of its neck. It consumes squid and fish. Guadalupe Island is this seal’s breeding ground and sharks mostly prey on it.
- Northern elephant seals - Found in the Pacific Ocean’s coastal waters, the northern elephant seal inhabits sandy, rocky, and muddy shores on offshore islands. It usually has a brown color. Northern elephant seals can swim alone, but they congregate when they mate. Males can consume sharks, skates, and other dense food, and females feed on less dense food.
- Tuna - This big fish can grow up to 6.5 feet and weigh up to 550 pounds. It can also swim really quick at speeds between 44 and 62 miles per hour. Tuna fish eat a variety of fish, squid, and crustaceans.
- Sea lions - Just like seals, sea lions are marine mammals that mostly search for food underwater. They call the Pacific Ocean’s coastlines and islands home. Sea lions have sleek bodies, which is an ideal feature for deep diving into the ocean. They often feed on fish, squid, crabs, and clams.
Other Attractions
- Campo Oeste - Campo Oeste houses around 200 people, with a small community of abalone and lobster fishermen. It has generators and a desalination plant. Both provide electricity and fresh water.
- Mount Augusta - Deemed Guadalupe’s highest point, this mountain ridge lies on the island’s eastern cliff. Mount Augusta is 1,298 meters above sea level.
- El Picacho - El Picacho is 975 meters above sea level, making it the highest point on Guadalupe’s southern side. It’s located on a desert ridge on top of Campo Oeste.
How to Get There
You’ve got a few options for traveling to Isla Guadalupe. Here’s how you can get there:
By Air
If you’re boarding a private plane going to Guadalupe, note that the island has its own airport. Airport Isla Guadalupe has a 1,200-meter runway where private planes land. However, it doesn’t have a terminal, air traffic control, or even a hangar/parking space for planes.
By Sea
You can only dive in Guadalupe Island via liveaboard tours. They can depart from Ensenada or from San Diego, California. Liveaboards will take about 18 to 22 hours to reach the island. Most of these ships go on a three- to five-day cruise, with cage diving for three or four days.
Getting Around
If you’re driving or riding a car in Guadalupe, note that the island has several dirt roads. The main road runs along the top plateau, while the other roads separate off to the towns. The island has a main intersection southwest of the runway as well. Three roads make up this intersection.
You can go around Guadalupe on foot, too. But it may get challenging due to the island’s size and its rugged terrain. You’ll have to walk carefully in certain areas if you’re moving off dirt roads. Keep this tip in mind since Guadalupe has many volcanoes, cliffs, and mountain slopes.
Boarding a boat can also be a good way to travel around the island.
If you’re boarding a private plane going to Guadalupe, note that the island has its own airport. Airport Isla Guadalupe has a 1,200-meter runway where private planes land. However, it doesn’t have a terminal, air traffic control, or even a hangar/parking space for planes.
By Sea
You can only dive in Guadalupe Island via liveaboard tours. They can depart from Ensenada or from San Diego, California. Liveaboards will take about 18 to 22 hours to reach the island. Most of these ships go on a three- to five-day cruise, with cage diving for three or four days.
Getting Around
If you’re driving or riding a car in Guadalupe, note that the island has several dirt roads. The main road runs along the top plateau, while the other roads separate off to the towns. The island has a main intersection southwest of the runway as well. Three roads make up this intersection.
You can go around Guadalupe on foot, too. But it may get challenging due to the island’s size and its rugged terrain. You’ll have to walk carefully in certain areas if you’re moving off dirt roads. Keep this tip in mind since Guadalupe has many volcanoes, cliffs, and mountain slopes.
Boarding a boat can also be a good way to travel around the island.
Best Time to Visit
August to October is Guadalupe Island’s shark diving season. The ocean here is at its calmest during these months. This period is considered to be the best time to dive off the island since its waters get colder at 19 to 22°C (66 to 70°F), luring great white sharks.
Guadalupe Island’s weather gets hot and humid during August and September, but you can expect it to cool down in October. The weather during these months can even bring a little rain. However, hurricanes have the highest chance of hitting the island within the August to October period so getting travel insurance is a good idea.
Guadalupe Island’s weather gets hot and humid during August and September, but you can expect it to cool down in October. The weather during these months can even bring a little rain. However, hurricanes have the highest chance of hitting the island within the August to October period so getting travel insurance is a good idea.
Required Trainings & Certifications
Certified and non-certified divers can participate in great white shark cage diving near Guadalupe Island. Liveaboard dive operators limit uncertified divers to surface cage activities where they can use air hoses. Certified divers can dive while they’re in submersible cages and use their scuba tanks during the session.
There are also some instances where you can come out of your cage and see majestic great white sharks without anything blocking your view.
There are also some instances where you can come out of your cage and see majestic great white sharks without anything blocking your view.
Miscellaneous Information
Currency
The Mexican peso (MXN) is Mexico’s official currency. Note that Guadalupe Island doesn’t have any stores so you should take all the necessary provisions with you before embarking on your trip.
Language
Official data reports that Mexico has 69 official languages. Spanish is the country’s most widely-spoken language.
Time Zone
Isla Guadalupe observes the GMT/UTC -8 or Pacific Standard Time zone. Baja California, the state where it’s located, follows this time zone.
Driving Side
Mexican drivers do right-side driving. As we’ve mentioned, you can drive through some of Guadalupe’s dirt roads and the main intersection on the southwest.
Calling Code
+52 is Mexico’s local calling code. Dial 011 first before the code and the number you’re calling if you’re making a call from the United States or Canada.
ISO 3166 code
Baja California’s ISO 3166 code is MX-BCN.
Internet TLD
.mx is the top-level Internet domain for Mexico.
The Mexican peso (MXN) is Mexico’s official currency. Note that Guadalupe Island doesn’t have any stores so you should take all the necessary provisions with you before embarking on your trip.
Language
Official data reports that Mexico has 69 official languages. Spanish is the country’s most widely-spoken language.
Time Zone
Isla Guadalupe observes the GMT/UTC -8 or Pacific Standard Time zone. Baja California, the state where it’s located, follows this time zone.
Driving Side
Mexican drivers do right-side driving. As we’ve mentioned, you can drive through some of Guadalupe’s dirt roads and the main intersection on the southwest.
Calling Code
+52 is Mexico’s local calling code. Dial 011 first before the code and the number you’re calling if you’re making a call from the United States or Canada.
ISO 3166 code
Baja California’s ISO 3166 code is MX-BCN.
Internet TLD
.mx is the top-level Internet domain for Mexico.