Dive the Best Sites of Socorro With a Super Friendly Liveaboard!
Overall Rating
The marine life in the Revillagigedo Islands is incredible! We saw schools of hammerheads, dozens of oceanic rays and Galapagos sharks (much more than in the Galapagos!) but also right whales, which is an unforgettable sight! The boat Valentina is large for the 20 divers and the crew is very attentive, especially the cuisine which spoils everyone with a special effort for vegetarians! The guides know the places by heart, special mention to Arturo who "feels" where the pelagic can be found like I have never seen before!
I highly recommend this superb trip off the Mexican Pacific coast! The dive sites are extraordinary, the marine life very rich and interesting. We dived with a multitude of manta rays, sharks (hammerhead, Galapagos, white tip, black tip...), dolphins. The boat and crew were impeccable, the meals on board delicious. I have a gluten intolerance but it was no problem. Sea Crush is a very professional, reliable agency and always attentive to our desires and needs.
Exceptional stay! The marine life was simply incredible. From the first check-in dive, we saw rays (manta and electric), sharks (hammerhead, Galapagos, silky, and whitetip), and a school of dolphins came to play with us during the safety stop. The mantas were often very close and stayed around us for a very long time; it was amazing! We were lucky enough to observe large schools of hammerhead sharks, including one where we were almost in the middle! Regarding the organization, everything was impeccable. We were alone on the sites for almost the entire stay. The crew of the Valentina was excellent. The meals were incredible (very important for the French ^^) with a top-notch chef. This trip comes at a price, especially because of the remoteness and national park fees, but it's definitely worth it.
Exceptional trip! Comfortable boat. Attentive staff. The chef, who you have to be careful with if you don't want to gain too much weight, was excellent, taking us to the four corners of the world. Magnificent dives with very professional guides. Pelagic species are everywhere: curious mantas, playful dolphins, shy and curious sharks. I highly recommend this trip.
Numerous schools of hammerhead sharks, oceanic manta rays that stayed around us for up to 30 minutes, dolphins, a multitude of whitetip, silky, and Galapagos sharks, large schools of jacks, tuna... the marine life was truly magnificent! Visibility was sometimes average, however, out of the 23 dives we completed, only one didn't literally amaze us! The guides provide good briefings beforehand on how to behave underwater and for each site. Lorenzo is particularly excellent, communicating well with the group, and knowing how to wait when necessary so that the species come to us! The destination comes at a price, of course, due to the high marine park fees, but almost every day we were the only boat on the sites. When there were other boats, they arranged for us not to dive at the same time, so it was a real luxury to have the site to ourselves! Finally, we appreciated that the Valentina has a maximum of 20 divers on board, while most other boats have almost twice that number. The boat is very spacious and stable. The cabins are all on the main deck, which I particularly appreciate because there's no smell of diesel in the rooms. The twin cabins with bunk beds have the advantage of having a large 140 cm bed downstairs. A special mention goes to chef "Luigi," who prepared meals worthy of gourmet restaurants, with a variety of cuisine, from French to Mexican, Italian, and even a sushi evening! Certainly the best boat we've tested so far in terms of cuisine.
Why We Love It
Off the west coast of Mexico, Socorro is a superhighway for pelagic species! Divers and scientists from around the world come to dive with its giant manta rays, some friendly dolphins, and up to ten species of sharks. Between November and January, it's whale shark season. Humpback whales migrate in February and March and you might hear some if you're lucky. Finally, the end of the season in May brings amazing bait balls! With only 20 divers and top-notch service all along the trip, this is the friendliest Socorro liveaboard!
Conservation
The liveaboard regularly invites onboard scientists working to protect manta rays and other pelagic species.
Who Is It For?
For passionate, experienced divers. Medium to strong currents attract the pelagic, which is why most sites are challenging. A minimum of 50 logged dives and an Advanced Open Water certification are required.
Prices and Dates
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Dive Briefing!
Marine Life
- As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the large Marine Protected Area since 2017, the archipelago is largely uninhabited, with only two naval bases.
- You'll get to see oceanic mantas that can grow up to 7 meters (23 feet) in wingspan, some bottlenose dolphins, some whale sharks, and up to 10 varieties of shark - schooling scalloped hammerheads, solitary giant hammerheads, Galápagos, whitetip reef, silver-tip, silky, tiger and oceanic whitetips.
- Dive sites: some of the most famous sites we'll visit are The Boiler, a cleaning station for manta rays, The Canyon where you can see several shark species, Cabo Pearce, The Aquarium, Punta Tosca, and the impressive Roca Partida pinnacle.
- All dives are planned and executed without deco stops.
- There is a crossing journey of 24 to 28 hours from/to the marina.
Dive Conditions
- Season: from November to July: oceanic mantas, bottlenose dolphins and up to 10 species of sharks all these months. From January to April: Humpback whales. November-December and May to July: whale sharks.
- Currents: currents can be strong, and the sea, choppy.
- Visibility: 20 to 30 m (66 to 98 ft) on most days. Sometimes 15 meters (50 ft) or 45 meters (148 ft)
- Water Temperature: 23° to 26°C (73° to 79°F) with a peak of 28° (82°F) in November.
- Depth: deep dives mostly
Dive Sites
- A total of 20 dives for a 9-night itinerary, with a maximum of 4 dives a day.
- First morning dive starts at 7:30 am while the last dive of the day usually starts at 4:30 pm.
DAY 1
- Afternoon: 2 pm, 4 pm, and 5:30 pm shared transfers from Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) to the liveaboard in Puerto Los Cabos
- Evening: 9 pm: departure to San Benedicto
DAY 2
- Morning: safety briefing
- Afternoon: presentation of Revillagigedo national park and rules to dive in the park
DAY 3
- Morning: San Benedicto (2 dives)
- Afternoon: San Benedicto (1 dive)
DAY 4
- Morning: Roca Partida (2 dives)
- Afternoon: Roca Partida (2 dives)
DAY 5
- Morning: Roca Partida (2 dives)
- Afternoon: Roca Partida (1 dive)
DAY 6
- Morning: Socorro, Cabo Pierce (2 dives)
- Afternoon: Socorro, Cabo Pierce (2 dives)
DAY 7
- Morning: Socorro, Cabo Pierce (2 dives)
- Afternoon: Socorro, Cabo Pierce (1 dive)
DAY 8
- Morning: San Benedicto (2 dives)
- Afternoon: San Benedicto (1 dive)
DAY 9
- All day: navigation back to Puerto Los Cabos
DAY 10
- Morning: after breakfast, shared transfers leaving at 10 am and noon from the liveaboard to Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) or your hotel
The Team
- Dive operator in the area since 2000
- Boat renovated in 2013
- Languages spoken: English, Spanish
- Nitrox course available on board with an additional fee
- Maximum 6 divers per guide
Safety Information
- Equipment Recommended: a 5 to 7 mm long wetsuit, a hood, dive gloves, an SMB and a marine GPS, and the usual diving equipment.
- Insurance: both dive insurance and travel insurance are mandatory. We recommend DAN Europe that has plans to cover both - ask us for a quote.
- Nearest Hyperbaric Chamber: San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico
Visas, Flights, and More!
Visa Requirements
- Many countries’ residents do not require a visa to stay in Mexico for up to 180 days.
- Please check the current visa policy that applies for your country on Mexico's Ministry of Tourism website.
How to Get There
- International flights to San Jose del Cabo (SJD), Mexico.
- The liveaboard team will pick you up at San Jose del Cabo airport at 2 PM, 4 PM, and 5:30 PM on the first day of the cruise, and will take you back at 10 AM and 12 PM on the last day.
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- Bring sunscreen, a hat, mosquito repellent, a rash guard, and a sweater or light-weight jacket for the evening.
Destinations
Right Season
Dive Operators
Booking Fees
