Diving Mexico's Islas Revillagigedo

Socorro scuba diving features

Giant Pacific manta rays
Silky sharks
Galápagos sharks Bottlenose dolphins

SOCORRO'S TOP DIVE SITE:
Roca Partida

DESTINATION OVERVIEW
Although most divers and dive operators refer to this destination as Socorro, the correct name for this island group southwest of Mexico's Baja Peninsula, is actually Islas Revillagigedo. The islands have a unique marine ecosystem. Inside the Pacific Ring of Fire they are isolated from any major land mass and, for that matter, each other. They are often nicknamed the mini-Galápagos and you can see why. Both above and below the water, the landscapes are similar to those islands further south.

For scuba diving, the marine life is quite closely aligned to that of the Galápagos with sharks and mantas, dolphins, whales and whalesharks but where this destination differs is that it is all about interaction. The mantas are so friendly they swoop in to see visiting divers. Dolphins come to play, the sharks approach the boat to see what is happening.

Seasons
November to May
Visibility:
10 – 40 metres
Water temperature:
20 – 24º C.
Deco chambers:
Cabo San Lucas

Flights to San Jose del Cabo from any main US based airport.
Transfers: 20-24 hours sailing time to San Benedicto Island
Liveaboard operator:
Nautilus Explorer
Accommodation:
plenty of options in either San Jose del Cabo or Cabo San Lucas.

PROS AND CONS
There is only one negative about this trip - it takes a long time to reach these offshore islands and the trip is through open ocean which can be rough. However, Nautilus Explorer is a huge vessel with great facilities and you will not be bored. The big positive is the animals you will see, and that makes this trip truly worthwhile. This is the place for getting up close to pelagics.

SCUBA DIVING
Conditions can be a little frisky around the islands, nothing that most divers would struggle to cope with, and it's miles easier than diving in the Galápagos. And it's worth putting up with little current to get so close to so many big animals.

OPINION
We have wanted to got to this region for a very long time, but kept putting it off due to cost. Now, our only regret is that we waited so long. This is truly a unique scuba diving experience, where just one encounter with a giant manta ray will make the entire trip worthwhile. What's even better is that you will get far more than one encounter.

We travelled with liveaboard, Nautilus Explorer for the second time. The boat is big and perhaps a little crowded but the operation is run so smoothly that you hardly notice. And any operation that hands you hot chocolate and cookies as you come up from a chilly dive gets a big thumbs up from us.