Dive the Best Sites of Socorro With a Super Friendly Liveaboard!

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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9 nights cruise, in a twin shared accommodation basis with en-suite bathroom and air-conditioning.
18-20 dives
All meals (Western, Mexican, and Asian Cuisine, served in buffet style). Vegetarian options are available.
Water, local beer, soft drinks, coffee, and tea, and a glass of wine at dinner
Weights and belts
Complimentary transfer between the airport and marina (on the days of arrival and departure only)

Additional fees, payable locally: Socorro park fees MXP 3,622 (about ... EUR) per diving day, Chamber fee $15 (about ... EUR), Fuel surcharge $180 (about ... EUR)
Full dive equipment rental
Nitrox $140 (about ... EUR) for the whole trip
Alcoholic drinks other than those that are included
WiFi - purchase a local SIM card if needed
Tips for the crew
Flight tickets and overnight stays at hotels
Travel insurance (Medical coverage, Trip cancellation & Dive Accident insurance)

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.