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NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

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.


Just Two Hours by Air from Los Angeles...

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