LIVE YOUR DREAM
Being a Shark is about more than just marine animal encounters.
It’s about creating potentially life-changing experiences and supporting those individuals who choose to join us on the journey.
It’s about responsible tourism. Education. Community. Always being a shark.
What are people saying about us?
“I’ve been traveling with Nikki Brant to Guadalupe Island to cage dive with White Sharks for more than ten years. For some of those years, she’s been my cabin mate, but for all of those years, she’s been my guide, my “shark identification expert” and my liaison to the boat crew. If I needed/wanted something (help with a hotel reservation, mask defogger, shampoo, Dramamine, more/less food – anything), or if I had a question or concern about my equipment, the boat’s equipment, the trip logistics or “cage etiquette, ” Nikki was my go-to person. She’s a genuine problem solver. On top of all that, she’s fun, smart and an all-around nice person. I’m pretty sure that I’d never go to Guadalupe without her.”
— Michèle S
“I went last year for the first time. Nikki Brant made every part so easy, and answered all my ridiculous questions. It was the best trip I’ve ever been on and will be returning next year with Nikki and most of the new Shark family!”
— Dustin B
“I’m not in the habit of writing testimonials – like many others, I’m more easily motivated to write scathing reports of bad service, or experiences. Sometimes though, we need to acknowledge when someone is an awesome human being.
Euan Rannachan is one of those infectious people that you just can’t help, but want to be around. He has a heart of gold and will go out of his way to help anyone. I was fortunate enough to spend a week on a boat with him in Guadalupe, Mexico, cage diving with great white sharks.
It’s not a cheap trip and I was struggling with my new DSLR camera. I hated the idea of going all that way and not being able to capture some cool pics. My girlfriend has the same setup as me and she too was having issues. We were at our wits end trying to trouble shoot our cameras and Euan, who was there to do his own photography, spent ages with us fixing our camera settings and actually teaching us how to use those new rigs. All that time he could have been in the water, taking his own pics, but he chose to help us instead.
Seeing his images blowing up on social media and witnessing his rapid rise to stardom in the shark photography world, is a credit to his talents. Having heard that he’s launching his own shark cage diving trips to Guadalupe, I can only imagine they’ll be awesome. This is the guy that will stop at nothing to make sure you’re happy – and that’s exactly the sort of operator you want to go diving with!”
— John G
“Going on dive trip with strangers can be an intimidating experience for many travelers. I have joined Nikki on several of her trips and have witnessed firsthand her ability to make everyone feel like they belong. It doesn't matter if they're a rock star, a famous photographer, someone checking off a bucket list item, or even a first time traveler, each individual is treated equally, yet at the same time also made to feel like they are special. It's no wonder that I've met so many amazing people on trips with Nikki who have become part of our larger shark family.”
- George P.
“Going to la Isla de Guadalupe was an absolute dream come true! I began following Euan on Instagram when he posted on a local Facebook group that I am a part of. He posted a shark photo that I was so stoked to see. I then decided to contact him and he let me know that he took that photo at la Isla de Guadalupe and told me to contact Nikki so she could let me know more about it. As soon as I spoke to Nikki I knew I was in good hands. She was so welcoming and answered all of my questions. I immediately felt like I had known her forever. She made sure to check in often which was great because I didn’t feel like I was bothering her with all of my questions. Once I got to the hotel in San Diego and met up with everyone I knew it was going to be a great time. Everyone was friendly and treated each other like family.
Arriving at the island was unreal and something I will never forget. For the most part, we had nonstop shark action. Everything definitely exceeded my most wild expectations. It was awesome to have such great photographers on the trip as well (Euan and Nikki.) Having them there allowed me to truly take in the experience as the entire group would be sharing one another’s pictures at the end of trip. This trip is worth every single penny!! JUST DO IT!”
- Lupita C.
“Cage diving with great whites has been a bucket list of mine since I’ve been young. I’ve been following on social media many different places to fulfill this bucket list of mine. Coincidentally, I had planned on doing this trip next year for my birthday, but, luck had it that there was room for me this year. Not only was Nikki extremely helpful on getting me onto the Solmar V, I was pleasantly surprised to discover one of my favorite shark photographers, Euan, would also be on the trip. From the moment of meeting everyone in San Diego, the 2 hour bus ride to Ensenada, and the 18 hour boat ride to Isla Guadalupe, it was clear I made the right decision on the group to go with! I met wonderful people who share the same passion as I, and I can now call friends. This trip is highly recommended and I look forward to joining them again next year.”
— Natalie S
“One of the top things on my bucket list was to dive with great white sharks. I always thought it was just a dream, and that it would never become a reality for me. When I reached out online to learn about the trips, I was greeted by Nikki, who was the kindest, most prompt person I could have ever been connected with! For an entire weekend, she answered every single question I had, no matter how ridiculous they were. We must have sent messages for 3 full days, and she was replying to every message within an hour. It was amazing to be connected with her, as she has been diving with great white sharks for years, and has been on countless trips to Guadalupe Island. I was in luck, and ended up on one of the trips that she was going on in October 2017. Upon meeting her at the hotel, she was as kind and friendly as she had been over all our months of conversations. We’ve been #sharksisters ever since and I look forward to going back to Guadalupe with Nikki and the shark tribe.”
-Sarah C.
“Nikki helped set us up on our first Great White trip ever. She was very patient with all of our questions, and there were a lot. She guided us through what to expect, and gave us little tips on what items were needed, and what were nice to haves. I mentioned that we were taking GoPros, and a few days later received an email from Euan with detailed instructions on how to set up our cameras, and why.
That was just the lead in. Once we actually got on the trip, it was easily the coolest, and most relaxing, vacation we've ever been on. Is relaxing a word I should even use when talking about being in the water with Great Whites? LOL. Well, it was. Everything from the beauty of Guadalupe Island, to the serenity, when under the water. It is amazing how everything slows down, and clarifies, when you see that first shark swim by. We can't wait to go again, and I wouldn't book with anyone except Nikki.”
-Stacy E.
“On behalf of Brie and myself I wanted to thank you for the most amazing adventure we experienced aboard the Solmar V last September 2019.
Everything about or adventure to cage dive and observe Great White Sharks up close and personal exceeded our expectations. Not only viewing the sharks was fantastic but also the crew of the Solmar V. Their highly professional customer service was five star! They treated all of us as highly valued customers and couldn't have been more accommodating to our needs. Also the food they served up was the bomb, especially the banana pancakes for breakfast and the hot soup after the morning dive always hit the spot. Brie and I both were pleasantly surprised about the high quality of meals aboard the Solmar V.
We are both looking forward to joining you and Euan next year. We both feel we are part of your Great White Shark Tribe. Speaking of the tribe, everyone we met onboard was so engaging and helpful to us "rookies". The tribe helped us by sharing their experience from previous voyages' and made our first adventure go so much smother.
Thanks again for sharing with us an experience we will never forget!”
-Tim C.
“For my first trip out to Guadalupe and first solo travel trip a few years ago, I was up and amped to dive when the cages opened in the wee hours of the morning as the sun was starting to rise, when I had a moment of pause on deck (newly certified and about to dive with great whites!-AHH!). I heard Nikki, “you aren’t going to see them up here!”. I thought, she is right, I got into the cages and later made eye contact with my first great white, Luca! From that point forward, I was hooked, the interactions are personal and different with each trip. Meeting my shark sister Nikki was a great part of the first trip, she was kind and supportive, especially to someone on a solo trip and meeting new people. Euan, I met on the second trip and he was great to help with camera tips and a chill “Viking” to hang around. Years later, the trip is still as magical as the first trip! A special mention to Jacques Cousteau who helped foster a love of the ocean and all the animals that inhabit it.”
-Sarah M.
“I first met Nikki as a fellow customer going shark diving on the Solmar V in 2013. My family and her family bonded on the trip. My sons began great white shark cage diving in 2006 and I started in 2007. Nikki and family were also experienced cage divers, but 2013 was our first encounter and a truly memorable trip. Since then, we have been on three more shark trips with Nikki and she has handled our booking the past two years. Being a fellow diver, she understands what makes an outstanding trip for both the first time shark diver and for the returning shark enthusiast. She will work very diligently to meet all your needs. Shark enthusiasts quickly become her extended family.”
-Frank P.
”Nikki and Euan were the next best gift to finally observing white sharks with my own little land mammal eyes. Many view cage diving with sharks as a thrill seek and those who heard I was going were concerned for various safety reasons. Everything about my trip, the vessel I was aboard and the experienced and knowledgeable people I was with, felt secure. This was not only safer than my morning commute, it was the greatest experience of life. I cannot emphasize enough how much that price point is worth the most extraordinary moments of your existence. There is nothing like being where you don't belong (breathing underwater) and being exactly where you belong. Many thanks to Nikki, Euan and the captain and crew aboard the Solmar V.”