Special
New Year's Announcement + Stalking Hammerheads
 Diver
Bruce Watkins shot both of the images accompanying
this article on his April, 2010 trip
Divers onboard the Solmar V often
encounter Hammerhead Sharks at various locations throughout
the Socorro
Islands - particularly at Roca Partida and San Benedicto
Canyon.
We have individual encounters, plus groups (we call
them "hammerhead gangs"), and even very large
schools!
While it's always amazing to spend time relaxing
underwater with Hammerheads - how do you get close
enough to take pics and video?
 Chasing
Them Doesn't Work
If you try
to swim directly at them to get closer - they will
either slowly move away or ZOOM away if they are
startled. They seem comfortable at 10 -15 feet
away - as long as you don't make any sudden moves. Close
enough for great encounters - but not close enough
for great pics.
Can
You Sneak Up On Them?
Yes - you can
get close to Hammerheads. But No - you can't really
sneak up on them. So, how do you get close? Check
out the underwater terrain and look for rock outcroppings
and/or boulders. Hide behind them and stay close
to the bottom! Wait a couple of minutes,
and you'll see the Hammerheads start to move closer.
Stay patient - and you'll get the shot you want!
One important point here - the closer you can get
to the bottom, the better. Swimming around 5 feet
above the bottom will spook the hammerheads just as
easily as swimming toward them!
Study Their Swim Pattern
Individuals, small groups,
and large schools often have different swimming patterns
depending on current, water depth, and time of day. Large
schools, for example, are nearly always facing
the current - and moving only enough to maintain
their position. They may be approached from the side
(very slowly) but it's still a better idea to
see if you can pick a path close to the rocks to avoid
spooking them. Individuals and
small groups will usually be actively swimming - so
you watch their pattern. If you see them swiming over
the same spot (a shallow portion of the reef) - it's
a good bet more will follow. Position yourself
accordingly, hunker down and out of sight, and get
your camera ready.
Move
Your Camera Very Slowly - Keep Bubbles To A Minimum
OK
- the hammerhead is only 5 feet away - has not seen
you yet - but you need to change your camera angle. As
frustrating as it might be - you must move the camera
very slowly -or the sharks will disappear. These sharks
are also not fond of SCUBA bubbles - and a quick exhalation
will see them veer away.
Try
Different Angles
Underneath and from the side
yield the best results, although because of the position
of their eyes - you sometimes have
some interesting "head on" encounters, as Bruce Watkins did on his
April, 2010 trip. Stay low on the reef, preferably out of direct sight, let the
Hammerheads come
to you - and you'll come home with great pics and video.
The crew of the Solmar V will use their extensive diving experience
in the Socorro Islands to brief you on how to dive with Hammerheads
on every cruise.
New Year's Celebration
Cruise
Due to a last
minute cancellation, the Solmar V cordially invites
you to
join us on a New Year's
Celebration Cruise
on Dec 26, 2010 through Jan 3, 2011.
Your
hosts for the cruise will be Jose Luis Sanchez and
Leslie Lee Sanchez. "JL" and Leslie pioneered
liveaboard diving to the Socorro Islands by
launching the
Solmar V back in 1992. They look forward to sharing their
experiences from 30 plus years of diving in
both the
Sea of Cortez and the Socorro Islands. In
addition to all normal cruise amenities, we'd
like to offer you:
-
 Reduced Price
of $ 2995 - we'll pay your 11% tax!
- Free roundtrip
airport transfers
- Free Nitrox for Nitrox certified
divers
- Special New Year's Champagne
Dinner
- Complimentary personalized
DVD of your trip
- Onboard Scuba Equipment
Raffles
Leslie
and Jose Luis invite you to join them on this very
special New Year's celebration
cruise. In these
uncertain times, one thing is certain, Socorro
is the experience of a lifetime and wilderness
is the
ultimate
luxury. Please call or <mailto:ask@solmarv.com>email
to reserve your space.
Your Hosts: Jose
Luis Sanchez & Leslie Lee
Sanchez
 Jose
Luis Sanchez was born in Mexico, but moved to the US
at age 4 and graduated from San Diego
State
University. He got hooked on diving while visiting
relatives in La Paz in his early teens, and moved back to Baja in
the late 70's to start a fishing / diving business.
In 1984, Jose Luis met Leslie Lee and together they established Amigos
Del Mar, the first PADI resort facility in Cabo San Lucas. Amigos Del Mar has
provided first class diving services to guests and hotels in Cabo for nearly three
decades.
In 1992, Jose Luis and Leslie, along with the Don Luis Bulnes family
in Cabo, launched the Solmar V and initiated the first scheduled,
adventure scuba liveaboard to the Revillagigedos Archipelago (commonly
known as the Socorro Islands).
2011
will mark the 19th year of continous operation to
the Socorro Islands,
and we'd appreciate the opportunity to share this very special New
Year's trip with you.
Coming Next Month in
the Solmar V eNews: We begin a multi-part series
detailing the history of the Solmar V and diving in the Revillagigedos
Archipelago. Part 1 will be "The Early Days..."
 Solmar V Going "Greener" in 2011
The owners and crew of Solmar V will be making changes
in systems and operations in order to continue to minimize
the "environmental imprint" of our cruises
in 2011.
We will be making announcements of these changes in
our eNews as they are implemented and they should all
be completed by Jan, 2011.
Stay tuned for more Green!
The
2010 YouTube VIDEO
CONTEST!
Solmar passengers have
enjoyed our YouTube Video Contests in 2007, 2008, and
2009. 2010 marks the 18th year the Solmar V has
been exploring the Socorro Islands - and we've hosted
more than 10,000
guests.
Experience. That's the theme of this year's contest.
If you've been on the boat years ago but still have
video, still images, pics of crew and guests -
you are in a unique position to enter the contest and
win. Be creative and tell your story in video or still
images (slide show).
For all the 2010 contest details,
contest rules, and to see videos already
entered for this year, please
click here.
Congratulations
to our 2009 winner, Lisa Sorenson.
Check out her
video here...
SOLMAR V
P.O. Box 529, Topanga, CA 90290
Toll Free: 1-866-591-4906,
CA and Int: (310)455-3600
(Office Hours are Mon - Fri, 9-5, West Coast U.S.Time)
Contact us
by email
ABOUT SOLMAR V eNews: This is
an educational and news service provided by Solmar
V. It is sent only by permission to those divers who
have requested it via the services of WaterPath Electronic
Publishing.
ALL EMAIL RECIPIENTS ARE AUTOMATICALLY
ELIGIBLE FOR AN ANNUAL GRAND PRIZE OF A FREE WEEK ABOARD
THE SOLMAR V ON A SEA OF CORTEZ TRIP.
The drawing takes place in December 2007 and the winner
will be notified by email.
All email addresses and names are strictly confidential.
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