On 29 June, I received this email from Neal:
What do you think about this?
It's something I sort of fell into like I did the Cuba trip.
Terri Ettinger [who referred me] is one of TEAM MANTA's people.
She is not from Kenosha, but has been on at least two trips I've been on.
She mentioned on FB that they were looking for an
UW photographer to go on this science trip.
I have to find out if it's diving or just snorkeling.
Hi, Neal,
I am a shark conservationist and founded an expedition organization
named Shark Team One a number of years ago that
takes us to study sharks in various locations.
Terri Ettinger is a friend of mine who is coming with me on an
upcoming expedition where we are headed down to Isla Mujeres, Mexico
to photograph and study whale sharks.
She mentioned she had spoken with you.
There is one spot left on the expedition and we'd love to have you come with us!
Photography is extremely important for this trip because the science project
is based on photo ID of the individual sharks.
Terri mentioned you are a photographer.
Isla Mujeres is a whale shark aggregation area in the summer months;
we will be headed down there from the 3rd to the 10th of August.
Below is a rundown about the expedition:
The Whale Shark Conservation Expedition takes place in Mexico,
making day trips out from the island of Isla Mujeres.
Each day we will see whale sharks; [we] also could have encounters
with manta rays and dolphins. We will be diving in a pristine area
which is one of the last vulnerable whale shark aggregation areas in the world.
These are land-based expeditions and we go out for
five days for whale shark encounters.
Included in the expedition:
- Seven days, eight nights hotel accommodations, based on double occupancy
- Five full days of shark encounters with a small group on the boat.
- Lunch, snacks and beverages on the boat during the five boat days
- Breakfast at the hotel each day
- Shark conservation and safety diving orientation<
- In-field conservation project
- Transfers, marine park fees and golf cart rental for the group
We'd love to have you on the trip!
Angela Smith, President
SHARK TEAM ONE
Global Shark Conservation * Extreme Travel * Epic Photography Expeditions
ISLA MUJERES (Spanish for Island of the Women),
is an island in the Caribbean Sea,
about 8.1 miles off the Yucatan Peninsula coast.
The island is some 4.3Êmiles long and 2,130 feet wide.
To the east is the Caribbean Sea with a strong surf and rocky coast,
and to the west the skyline of Cancun can be seen across the clear waters.
In the 2010 census, the namesake town on the island had a population of 12,642 inhabitants.
The island is part of the Isla Mujeres Municipality in the State of Quintana Roo, México.
Aerial view of Isla Mujeres
Angela replies to Neal's questions:
It is snorkeling. We are allowed on the permit to free dive
down with the whale sharks but only via snorkel.
Some people are coming in from Texas, some from Florida
and Terri is coming in from North Carolina.
You will love my team.
I may also ask you to take some modeling shots of the girls.
The transfer from Cancun to Isla Mujeres is by cab to the ferry dock,
then by ferry to Isla Mujeres. I will book your transfer,
so you just need to get to Cancun and then I take it from there.
The water temperature is around 76 degrees.
The water is shallow and we will be snorkeling only.
You can free dive down a bit to get some cool photos
of the divers & sharks if you like. There will be weights
& weight belts on board for that if you want to do it.
You will need to bring a 3mm wetsuit, preferably long-sleeved.
The marine protected-area rules say we all must wear a life preserver,
but if you wear the wetsuit that counts as one if you prefer.
Number of participants is nine.
We will be staying at the . . .
Click on the photo for more information
MAUREEN SCOTT
in CANADA:
Already starting to enjoy Neal's new adventure!
BOB ANDERSON:
Wow - here he goes again! What a great opportunity!
Does he like to snorkel as much as dive?
Neal replies:
Almost. I started with snorkeling when I was a child.
Because I'm so nearsighted it's hard for me to see well enough
to truly enjoy snorkeling unless it's with something big like
the humpback whales or these whale sharks that you can see
quite well from the surface. I'm not much of a free diver.
The big difference is it's exhausting going up and down to breathe.
With SCUBA you don't have to worry about the next breath
so long as you keep an eye on your tank pressure and dive time.
RAELENE PINON:
Fantastic opportunity! Photographer Neal! Cannot wait to see more pics.
Looks beautiful there.
ELAINE SKRENES:
Very Cool
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