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| “There is
only one reason to visit the Farallon Islands: Because it is the
spookiest, wildest place on earth.” |
~ Susan Casey, author of
"The Devil's Teeth,
A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America's Great
White Sharks" |
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The
Gulf of the Farrallones Marine Sanctuary
is home to some of the world's largest great white sharks. These
islands (Southeast Farallon and Maintop Island) off the coast of San
Francisco are the winter water playground of adult great white sharks
measuring 15 to 20 feet long. (4.5 meters to 6.1 meters). (More info
on the history of the Marine Sanctuary
here.)
The sharks come to the Farrallons to dine on the local population of
Northern Elephant Seals. You'll find yourself rooting for the seals as
they compete in a race for their lives against some of the planet's
most incredible marine predators. Watching this natural great white
feeding event is an experience you'll never forget.
Incredible Adventures will take you to
this very special place aboard one of two vessels carefully chosen for
their ability to provide comfortable travel to such a remote and often
harsh place. Together with our
team of dive instructors, naturalists and shark
diving specialists,
you'll experience nature like you've never experienced it before.
We don't chum the waters or
otherwise interfere with life at the Farallons. Decoys may be used to
attract great white sharks closer to the boat so you can better
observe these magnificent creatures, but we are really at the
Farallons to observe natural feeding events. This isn't a trip to your
local aquarium. It's a rare opportunity to watch as a giant great
white shark chases and consumes its prey. |
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Go for the Sharks. Discover
So Much More.
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Peter Winch, Farallones Visitor Center
Naturalist, explains why the Farallons is one of the top places in the
world to see great white sharks:
“Cold water upwelling produces large
plankton blooms, making this the best place to come for food for all
types of wildlife.
Humpback whales and blue whales
travel all the way from southern Mexico and Costa Rica to feast on the
abundance of anchovies and krill. Leatherback sea turtles journey from
Indonesia to eat the jellyfish, and sea birds called shearwaters come
from Australia to fatten up on the fish.
The shelter and isolation of the
magnificent Farallon Islands make these outcrops the largest seabird
colony in the contiguous United States. Five different types of seal
and sea lion also shelter there, which in turn are food for the oceans
most thrilling and perfect predator…. the Great White Shark.
To the north of The Farallones is
another National Marine Sanctuary, the underwater island or seamount,
Cordell Bank. Directly south of The Farallones lies the Monterey
National Marine Sanctuary, a massive underwater canyon with an
abundance of diverse species.”
Incredible Adventures
offers incredible great white shark adventures in cooperation with
Ocean Outreach,
a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving
marine life.
| “The Devil's Teeth, as it's
known, is a 211-acre cluster of rocky, jagged islands that not
only are a sanctuary for some of the most endangered marine
wildlife but, from September to November, also serve as a refuge
for the biggest white sharks in the world. It takes a true
adventure seeker to embark on this trip, long known as the Mount
Everest of shark dives.” |
~
Amy Sorlie,
Great White - a journey to the
shark-infested
waters of the Farallon Islands
, American Way Magazine, August 2009 |
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