The Nautilus Explorer takes you to the fascinating diving areas around the Socorro Islands, which are famous for encounters with giant manta rays, humpback whales and large schools of fish. At the back of the ship is the well-equipped dive deck, including a 5-tonne hydraulic crane, a low entry platform and a reinforced steel area specially designed for film crews and scientific teams.
Nitrox is available for certified divers and the ship is also rebreather-compatible.
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The Nautilus Explorer is the 35 metre long sister ship of the Nautilus Belle Amie and was specially designed for divers to explore some of Mexico's most spectacular underwater regions - including Guadalupe and the Socorro Islands. The ship was built by divers for divers and emphasises stability, safety and comfort. Accommodation on board comprises 13 cabins, ranging from a budget triple cabin to a luxurious premium suite. On the lower deck there are eight cabins with double or twin beds and one cabin with three berths. On the deck with a whirlpool, guests can expect three superior suites and one premium suite with a separate living area and floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows. Each cabin is equipped with a private bathroom and individually adjustable air conditioning.
There are numerous well thought-out communal areas on board that invite you to relax. Two sun decks on the upper deck and another with a whirlpool offer ideal retreats to enjoy the evening under the open sky with a glass of wine or a cold beer. The spacious main saloon, which is located directly in front of the dive deck, has panoramic windows, comfortable seating, a dedicated computer area with PC and Mac for video editing and a 42-inch plasma TV. Culinary delights are served daily with freshly prepared dishes, including homemade breads, pastries and soups inspired by North American, European and Mexican cuisine.
We love diving in Socorro, especially in spring and early summer. Always stunning, raw and pristine, Socorro offers fantastic diving experiences known for its super friendly and interactive giant manta rays. With 12 different species of sharks and playful bottlenose dolphins trying to outdo the mantas to see who can be the most playful with the divers. Although it's only 235 nautical miles from Cabo, it feels like you're deep in the Pacific in a remote and unvisited paradise. You almost expect to see the dragons from Game of Thrones peeking out from behind the active volcano on Socorro. The archipelago is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a strictly guarded national park, accessible only to a limited number of permit holders.
What makes May and June our favourite diving season of the year is the abundance of wildlife. At this time we encounter many sharks, often on every dive, including schools of hammerheads and shoals of silvertip sharks (not a misprint!), silky sharks and Galapagos sharks are very common, as are whitetip reef sharks, which are stacked like firewood at Roca Partida. Swimming through huge schools of thousands of mackerel is incredible. This is the time of year when we see baitballs, pilot whales and pelagic species, including huge tuna. There is more biomass, more fish, more animals and more life than at any other time of year.
*Exampleof an itinerary
We recommend SJD Cabo San Lucas as your gateway airport for a seamless transfer from the arrivals hall to Cabo San Lucas.
Our concierges are on hand to help you organise, make special requests and answer any questions you may have. We recommend flying into Cabo early to enjoy and partake in our Baja hospitality.
Day 1:
Free photo and video workshop at SeeCreatures Cabo San Lucas. 8:00pm boarding.
Day 2:
Travelling and relaxing at sea. It's a one-day excursion to the Socorro Islands. Cocktail hour. Sunsets. Arrival on the island of San Benedicto in the evening.
Day 3 - 7:
Five full days of diving will allow you to experience some of our favourite sites such as El Canyon, the Boiler, Red Rocks, Roca Partida, Cabo Pearse, Punta Tosca and Roca Oneal. We will do our best to offer 4 dives per day depending on if there are other dive boats on site, the weather and only 3 dives on the day of the mandatory inspection by the Mexican Navy. Expect to see the world's friendliest giant manta rays, bottlenose dolphins, up to 12 species of sharks and plenty of fish. We will also have other activities to keep you busy such as kayaking and paddle boarding. Or just relax in our hot tub.
Day 8:
Early morning drive back to Cabo San Lucas. A great time to look back on all your photos and videos, meet new friends or just relax on the drive back.
Day 9:
Disembark in Cabo at 8:30 a.m.
(*) Description of the itinerary provided by the boat operator.
The last dive will take place on the penultimate day of the trip. Divers are advised to wait 24 hours after the last dive before flying.
Sample itineraries and maps are for illustrative purposes only. The exact route and locations visited may change depending on local regulations, guest experience, weather and logistics and are at the captain's discretion.
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Triple cabin
- 1 double and 2 single beds (bunk beds) M/W mixed
- en-suite bathroom
- adjustable air conditioning
- max. 3 guests
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Double cabins Stateroom
- 1 double and 1 single bed
- En-suite bathroom
- adjustable air conditioning
- max. 2 guests
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Superior Suite Upper Deck with window
- 1 double or 2 single beds
- En-suite bathroom
- adjustable air conditioning
- max. 2 guests
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Single Single room
- 1 single bed
- En-suite bathroom
- adjustable air conditioning
- max. 1 guest
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Premium Suite, 2 rooms, upper deck with bathtub and panoramic window
- 1 double bed
- 2nd room
- En-suite bathroom
- adjustable air conditioning
- max. 2 guests
Included: VAT, soft drinks, tea & coffee, drinking water, welcome cocktails, special dinner, snacks, full board (all meals), dive packages, kayaks, stand up paddleboard, towels for use on deck, cabin towels, complimentary toiletries.
Required extras: Dive insurance, harbour fees (35 USD), national park fees (100-172 USD per day).
Optional extras: gratuities, hotel transfers, alcoholic drinks, rental equipment, nitrox (125 USD per trip), nitrox course, private dive guide.
Prices for rental equipment
Rental equipment is available on this ship. Please indicate on the booking form what you need. Details below of what is included and the additional prices.
- 15 litre tanks 65 USD per trip
- Regulator 55 USD per trip
- BCD 55 USD per trip
- Fins 20 USD per trip
- Mask 25 USD per trip
- Nitrox bottle 125 USD per trip
- Signal buoy Included
- Dive computer 35 USD per trip
- U/W camera rental 115 USD per trip
- Full equipment (including: regulator, BCD, dive computer) 35 USD per day
- Wetsuit 55 USD per trip
- Air temperature: Warm all year round with average temperatures between 24 °C and 29 °C.
- Water temperature: Stable temperatures between 25.5 °C and 29.5 °C, ideal for diving.
- Rainfall: Drier months from January to May; wetter period from July to October, with the highest rainfall in September.
Diving around Socorro Island - an unforgettable adventure in the Pacific
Socorro Island, part of the Revillagigedo archipelago in the Pacific Ocean and located around 600 kilometres off the Mexican coast, is one of the most spectacular diving destinations in the world. It is also known as the "Galapagos of Mexico" due to its isolated location and abundance of large fish.
Why is diving around Socorro worthwhile?
Big fish guarantee: Socorro is famous for its exceptional encounters with big fish. It is one of the few places in the world where you can regularly dive with giant manta rays, various shark species, dolphins and occasionally even whale sharks - all on a single trip.
Interactive manta rays: The manta rays at Socorro are not only huge (some with a wingspan of over 6 metres), but also exceptionally curious. They actively seek contact with divers, glide over them and linger for minutes - a magical experience.
Dolphins up close: Particularly playful bottlenose dolphins often come in groups, swim with the divers and react to their movements and eye contact - a real highlight.
Intact underwater world: As the island is located in a protected biosphere reserve, the underwater world is particularly intact. Visibility is excellent and the reef life is lively.
Best time to visit and animal sightings by season
| month | Animal highlights |
|---|---|
| November - May | Peak season for diving. |
| December - May | Huge manta rays, large schools of hammerhead sharks, many silky sharks, whitetip reef sharks, silky sharks and sometimes tiger sharks. |
| January - March | Humpback whales in the region - with a bit of luck you can hear their songs while diving or see them while snorkelling. |
| February - April | Occasional whale sharks, especially on warmer days. |
| All year round | Dolphins, large schools of fish, good visibility and strong currents for action dives. |
What makes Socorro so special?
Seclusion: Only accessible by liveaboard (travelling from Cabo San Lucas/Mexico), which keeps the diving operations controlled and sustainable.
Unspoilt nature: No permanent population, no hotels - the island is dedicated exclusively to science and nature conservation.
Interaction instead of observation: The animals show exceptionally little shyness towards humans - a sign of the sustainable ecosystem.
Adventure character: Far removed from mass tourism - every dive feels like an expedition.
Conclusion
Diving at Socorro is not a typical diving holiday destination, but a unique experience for experienced divers looking for big fish action, wilderness and intense nature experiences. Those who enter the water here not only return with spectacular encounters - but with memories that will last a lifetime.