Crocodile Diving Expedition
Banco Chinchorro, Mexico
ALL TRIPS CANCELLED
(6 day trip / 4 days snorkeling and diving)
THE ADVENTURE
We are traveling to Xcalak and Banco Chinchorro Island, Mexico for an Off the beaten path expedition to swim with American crocodiles, and we are inviting YOU to join us.
Banco Chinchorro is a protected marine reserve with one of the largest aggregations of wild American crocodiles in the world. These encounters are special, and we feel extremely lucky that this amazing location exists for in-water experiences with these ancient reptiles -up-close and personal.
These are chummed experiences. We use bait to keep the crocodiles interested in hanging around. The only bait we are allowed to use is lionfish. The lionfish are caught locally in the marine reserve. These fish are invasive and threaten Banco Chinchorro’s ecosystems, including the commercially and recreationally important fish that depend on them.
Before we feed them to the crocodiles, we cut the spines off the lionfish to ensure they are safe for the crocs to eat.
HOW THE CROCODILE DIVING STARTED
Banco Chinchorro is a protected Marine Reserve. The only people allowed to live here are the park rangers and the fishermen, who were living on this island before it became a reserve. So they got grandfathered in. Most of the fishermen live in stilt houses on the water.
After a day of fishing, the fishermen would return home and clean their catches, throwing the carcasses into the water. The crocodiles that live in the mangroves on the island learned they could get a free meal if they would hang out under their houses.
These stilt houses are where we stay when we visit Banco Chinchorro. It is a rustic camping-style living quarters, in a very picturesque setting.
The conditions here are the perfect place to set up a crocodile diving site.
“We have a safety diver in the water with you at all times.”
SAFETY IS EVERYTHING
Crocodile diving is all about rules. Our job is to provide you with the opportunities to get up-close and personal with these dinosaurs, while keeping you safe.
So we always have a safety diver in the water with you, making sure you and the animals are safe.
We also have our crew on deck, looking out, watching for crocodiles that may be approaching from behind while we are in the water.
Crocodile diving is special, and we want you to enjoy every second of your experience safely.
The only thing you will be bringing home from this trip is a sunburn and plenty of images and memories from your experience.
“We will be staying in cabins on the water.”
OUR ACCOMODATIONS
While we are in Xcalak, we will be staying in the Cloud hotel, but for the crocodile portion of the trip, while staying at Banco Chinchorro, we will be spending two nights in a fishermen's cabin on the water.
Think of it as a camping trip.
These are shared accommodations - we will be sleeping in hammocks, - (they also have two cots, just in case hammocks are not your thing.). It is a very basic, camp style setting. We will be bring everything we need with us from Xcalak, including an amazing cook. The evenings here are quiet, with a beautiful breeze and a great view of the sunrises and sunsets.
Trip Cost is $4,380.00 per person
an $800 deposit is required to reserve your spot.
PRICE INCLUDES;
6 nights lodging. (dble occ.)
Transfers (to and from) Cancun Int. Airport to Xcalak
weights (tanks on dive days) Crocs are strictly snorkel only.
3 days swimming with American crocodiles
One tank dive with tarpon and/or possibly manatees in Xcalak.
Fees/Permits to dive at the Chinchorro Marine reserve.
Fees/Permits to dive Xcalaks Reefs.
All Meals, and soft drinks while in Banco Chinchorro
PRICE EXCLUDES;
Airfare, Crew gratuities, trip insurance, Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages in Xcalak, any meal not specified in the itinerary, covid test (if required for travel), meals on travel days.
YOUR NEXT MOVE…
Let us know you're interested in joining us.
TRIP ITINERARY
Day 1
TRAVEL DAY
We pick you up at the Cancun International Airport (between 10-11 am) and take a 5 1/2 hour private van ride to the sleepy little fishing village of Xcalak, MX. (We have lunch on the way).
We check you into the hotel - We will have a 7pm meeting to discuss the morning plans. The rest of the evening is yours to prep gear, rest, and relax.
Day 2
LEAVE TO BANCO CHINCHORRO
7AM Departure. We wake up and pack our gear into a boat and motor over to Banco Chinchorro marine reserve, which is where we will spend the next two and half days. It takes two to three hours to arrive at the fishermen’s cabin.
We may possibly do a one tank dive once we reach the reserve.
Once we arrive at the cabin, we will unpack, have lunch, and then begin chumming for crocodiles. After the crocodiles arrive, we will spend the rest of the day diving with them.
Day 3
CROCODILE DIVING
Wake up, drink coffee with biscuits, then set off to do a one-tank dive in the early morning. After we return, we will spend the rest of our day with the crocs.
After we finish with the crocs, we will visit the ranger station on the island to photograph crocodiles ( that lay around the beach and in the lagoons) and the many giant iguanas (Black and green) on the island.
It will be our final night in Chinchorro. When our day is done, we watch the sunset, eat dinner and pass out from an exhausting day.
Day 4
FINAL DAY IN CHINCHORRO
Wake up, drink coffee with biscuits, then set off to do a one-tank dive in the early morning. After we return, we will have breakfast then spend the rest of our day with the crocs.
We then return to our lodge and chum for crocs. We spend the morning with them, until it is time to pack up and depart for Xcalak (generally around 1 PM).
Day 5
DIVE AND DEPART TO PLAYA DEL CARMEN
We wake up in Xcalak, and head out for a one-tank dive in the morning, to seek out manatees and tarpon.
After the dive we clean up, pack our gear and depart for Playa del Carmen at noon. It is a 4 1/2 hour drive to Playa. Once we are there, we will check into our hotel for your final night of our adventure.
Playa del Carmen is a popular resort town with many enjoyable places to visit for your last evening in Mexico.
Day 6
DEPARTURE DAY
A taxi will return you to Cancun in the morning for your journey home, (9 AM departure time). Return flights need to be made after 1 PM.
PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION POLICY
PAYMENT POLICY
A non-refundable deposit of $800 USD is required to reserve a space on SDM adventures.
50% of the expedition cost (balance) is due 180 days prior to departure.
100% of the expedition cost (balance) is due 90 days prior to departure.
A 4% surcharge is applied to payments made via credit card.
A 3% paypal surcharge is applied to payments made using paypal.
Payments can also be made via wire transfer. Just let us know and we will send you the bank transfer info.
Please add $40 to cover bank fees.Payments can be made by mailing a U.S. Check, or U.S. Money Order Payable to:
SDM adventures
332 East 15th St.
San Juan, Texas 78589
CANCELLATION POLICY
All cancellations made more than 120 days prior to departure will receive refund (less an administrative fee of $800 USD per person). This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. However, if we manage to fill the trip after you cancel, we will apply the deposit towards any of our trips that you sign up for, during the following 12 months. If you cancel again during that period, you will lose the deposit.
Cancellations made (91 to 120), calendar days prior to departure, are assessed a cancellation fee of 50% of the entire trip price, (including extensions).
Cancellations made within 90 days of departure date will not be refunded, therefore we strongly recommend all guest purchase travel insurance.
All cancellations must be made in writing by mail or by email to sdm@sharkdivermag.com, - received and acknowledged by SDM Adventures.
We are not responsible for cancellations due to medical or other reasons.
No fees will be refunded if you withdraw after an expedition begins.
We are not responsible for any fees associated with non-refundable air travel, we highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance.