MV Islander

Operating out of San Diego, MV Islander liveaboard focuses exclusively on Mexico's Guadalupe Island during great white shark season, running cage diving trips of 4 nights duration. This 88ft (27m) monohull boat takes a maximum of 20 guests on unforgettable charters full of encounters with these kings of the sea.

Refurbished annually, MV Islander is a comfortable, if not luxurious, liveaboard vessel. There is an air-conditioned saloon and dining area on the main deck which is the main social area. Here you can enjoy the TV, DVD and reading library so you can be fully informed about everything to do with the great whites before you get to Guadalupe. The sun deck is also a great place to hang out and provides a good vantage point for seeing the action in the water.

The cabins on the lower deck are mostly twin share and all are the same price. Toilets and showers are communal. The focus is solely on the magnificent shark action around Guadalupe Island and you can enjoy 3 full days of shark cage diving using either or both the floating cage or the submerged cage. What is guaranteed is that you will leave with memories and photographs of some of the most exciting underwater encounters imaginable. If you are one of the many divers who longs for such a trip then MV Islander might be the right choice for you.

Notes: Guadalupe is a popular destination with limited liveaboard spaces. We recommend you book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Dive experience: These trips are open to all guests, with or without scuba licenses.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, soft drinks, hot drinks, beer and wine, dives (as detailed in the charters above), experienced English-speaking divemasters, tanks, weights and weightbelts, wetsuits, masks, weights and all related shark cage diving gear, Guadalupe Island Biosphere permit, Mexican tourist visa, ports fees and Mexican taxes on cruise price.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): None.

Optional extras: Transfers to the boat from the hotel or airport, dive insurance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.

How to get there: The M/V Islander liveaboard trips depart from San Diego with a mandatory check-in at Ensenada. The boat departs from the port in San Diego at 09:30 hrs. The boat returns to port in San Diego at 13:00 hrs. The last dive is done approximately at 15:00 hrs on the last day of diving, prior to sailing back to San Diego.

Non-diver rate: No discount.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travelers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of US$ 200 off of the published price.

Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 6 guests and 1 extra person can join the cruise in a Standard cabin free of charge (total 7 or more guests). See whole boat charter prices below.

Whole boat charter rate (per night): US$ 8,000.

The Islander has 10 Stateroom cabins on the lower deck. All cabins have twin bunk beds and shared bathrooms.

There are 2 shared bathrooms on board - 1 along the cabin passageway and 1 on the dive deck.

All the cabins have: No. of bathrooms / showers - 2 / 2 - hot water

The charter crew of 8 comprise: 688ft² (64m²) Dive deck & 86ft² (8m²) platform with ladders, rinse tanks, hot water shower and toilet - Camera table & separate rinse tank - Main deck air-conditioned saloon and dining area with TV, DVD, movie library, marine & general books, games - Satellite telephone - Partially-shaded upper deck with cushioned seating - Drinking water dispenser

MV Islander brings a lot of food on each trip for the sharks but also aims to keeps its guests well-fed too. The menu consists of international dishes with a wide range of influences and features a lot of fresh fish. A pre-breakfast, a cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner are complimented by snacks, beer and wine, all of which are included. As you might expect from a U.S. operation, food is considered a top priority.

• International cuisine meals - 1-3 different dishes per sitting.
• Steward served dining in the air-conditioned saloon.
• Pre-breakfast, breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are provided.
• Snacks, fruit, soft drinks, beer, wine, coffee, tea, drinking water are all provided free of charge.
• All dietary requirements can be catered for - please send advanced notice.
• Cruise dining service begins on boarding.

Meal examples: Grilled tri-tip with risotto and asparagus; Cornish game hens with grilled vegetables and wild rice; Belgian waffles with fresh berries and whipped cream ...