Destinations

Giant mantas and dolphins of Socorro Island

The Revillagigedo archipelago, of which Socorro is one of the islands, possesses an absolutely unique ecosystem with many endemic plant and animal species. That is why the Archipelago is often called Mexico's Galapagos. Indeed, it is as remote, as diverse, as pristine, and, well, even less inhabited than Ecuador’s pearl. And for divers, this is The Place to go for unforgettable manta diving, which is as unique as the Archipelago itself. This is the only place on Earth where you will – guaranteed – dive and interact with giant mantas.

How to get there

Fly to Cabo San Lucas (Mexico) the day before your departure date for an overnight hotel stay. The boat is stationed at API dock right in downtown Cabo San Lucas. Board the ship early in the morning next day.

The Trip

Trips board at the main dock at 8:30 a.m. and depart shortly afterwards. After a one-day ocean crossing we arrive at our first dive site on the morning of the first dive day. There are 6 dive days on an 8-night trip and we will be visiting 3 different islands of this beautiful remote and deserted archipelago. We will pack up after the last full dive day for the one day voyage home, arriving in Cabo San Lucas the next evening. You spend one more night on the boat before you disembark the next morning at 8:30 a.m. Trip length is 8 nights, 9 days. We also offer 10- and 12-night combo trips that combine diving at Socorro with the best of the Sea of Cortez, 15-night combo trips combining Socorro with Clipperton Island, and 15-night combo trips with the great white sharks of Guadalupe Island. During the regular trip you can expect 22 dives plus a thrilling night snorkel with silky sharks hunting under the ship's deck lights (unless it is a full moon - the silkies don't like to cooperate when it is a full moon).

What We Say

People go to Socorro to dive with giant mantas, and this is by no means a trivial goal. Mantas of Socorro are true giant mantas, Manta birostris (aka manta ray), and should not be confused with the regular and smaller Mobula species, which can be seen far more often and practically everywhere. The giant Pacific mantas which you will meet at Socorro are the largest of the rays and, probably, the most majestic creatures in the ocean. They swim by moving their wing-like pectoral fins, which can grow up to 9 meters wide, but usually average about 7 meters. They are very acrobatic, able to leap high from the water, and here, at Socorro, these giants choose to interact with divers! They come in very close - less than 1 meter! - make eye contact with you and then swim along beside you - totally on their terms. What is even more extraordinary, mantas will often wait at the dive site while you take your surface interval and be there to greet you on your next dive. Shark-sighting is also very good at Socorro Island with common sightings of silky, galapagos, hammerhead, whitetip and silvertip sharks. Whale sharks are usually spotted in the first half of the season and then it's the whale season when a population of 1200 humpbacks moves into the island's waters.

What Other People Say

• Had a pod of dolphins waiting to greet us. Hammerheads waiting for us at the cleaning stations. 3 mantas came in to distract us during what might have been the funnest safety stop ever. They swooped and dove and bumped several divers. Amazing dive. (Steve)
• Absolutely awesome, almost orgasmic. Pacific diving at its best! (Kirk)
• A landscape from another planet… You really are not prepared for the scale of these graceful giants. (Sue)
• Unbelievable! And they are huge!!! (Bobby)
• It is always interesting to be up at dawn as we arrive and guests see Roca Partida for the first time. My two favorite quotes are “I thought you were kidding” and “You’ve got to be crazy.” (Divemaster Tricia)
• Some guests are already asking us if we have any open dates for next year! (Captain Mike)