Photo taken by Xabi during our diving trip to Gordo Banks ©nomadoftheblue
5th January
A punchy but challenging day at Gordo Banks with 4 guests and 2 guides. The ride out was uncomfortable with waves and wind throwing spray, and underwater the visibility was limited. We still found a 10+ school of hammerheads, but they stayed shy and deep, giving us only a short interaction before melting back into the blue.
Diving Conditions:
- Water temperature: 75 – 80 ºF / 24 – 27 ºC (no thermocline)
- Visibility: 30 – 40 Feet / 10 – 12 Meters
Wildlife encounter:
- 10+ School of Hammerheads
11th January
Normal seas with medium waves and a bit of wind for this Gordo Banks trip with 4 guests. Underwater, a school of hammerheads cruised by deep, keeping things brief but exciting. Add a quick appearance from a skipjack school and solid visibility, and it felt like one of those dives where you’re constantly scanning the blue, hoping the next pass is closer.
Diving Conditions:
- Water temperature: 75 – 80 ºF / 24 – 27 ºC (no thermocline)
- Visibility: 70 – 80 Feet / 21 – 25 Meters
Wildlife encounter:
- 20+ School of Hammerheads
- School of Skipjacks
15th January
A cracking day at Gordo Banks with 4 guests and 2 guides. The sea was normal with medium waves and a bit of wind, and once down we enjoyed a long, close encounter with a 20+ school of hammerheads. Plenty of shark action, plus a few whales on the commute, made it one of those trips you replay in your head all week.
Diving Conditions:
- Water temperature: 75 – 80 ºF / 24 – 27 ºC (no thermocline)
- Visibility: 70 – 80 Feet / 21 – 25 Meters
- Current: not recorded
Wildlife encounter:
- 20+ School of Hammerheads
- Whales on the way
30th January – Boat 1
Cloudy skies and a smooth run set the tone for this Gordo Banks trip with 6 guests and 2 guides. We had whales on the way out and again on the ride back, and underwater we bounced between a skipjack school and a big school of hammerheads. It was a short but exciting window, about five minutes, before conditions pushed us off the action.
Diving Conditions:
- Water temperature: 70 – 75 ºF / 21 – 24 ºC (no thermocline)
- Visibility: 50 – 60 Feet / 15 – 18 Meters
Wildlife encounter:
- 20+ School of Hammerheads
- Skipjack school
30th January – Boat 2
Warm, cloudy weather and around a 1.5 hour ride brought us out to Gordo with 6 guests and 2 guides, with whales spotted en route. We spent a few minutes above the reef before dropping into the big blue-green, and we hit a clear thermocline at 85 ft/25 m (76°F/24°C above, 65°F/21°C below).
Diving Conditions:
- Water temperature: 70 – 75 ºF / 21 – 24 ºC
- Visibility: 40 – 50 Feet / 12 – 15 Meters
Wildlife encounter:
- Some fishes on the top of the reef of Gordo 1