One giant manta ray cruising by divers

Location: Cabo Pearce, Socorro Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico

Comments: Captain Dave reports that he steamed over to Cabo Pearce on Socorro Island (Revillagigedos) after checking in at the Base Naval de Isla Socorro first thing this morning. It’s a beautiful and dramatic anchorage with sheer volcanic cliffs and giant basaltic blocks above and below the water. The outer cleaning station (one of our favourite dives at Socorro Island, first recommended to us by cinematographer Bob Cranston) had very good dive conditions with calm seas and mild current, five scalloped hammerhead sharks and one Galapagos shark. One giant manta ray cruising by didn’t seem interested in interacting with the divers. And, of course, the ever-present silky sharks shadowed the divers, curious but not aggressive.

Dave also put kayaks in the water and a number of guests went paddling below the steep cliffs and in and out of the sea caves. Throughout the day, groups of humpback whales cruised in and out of the bay with some interesting fluking and breaching behaviour. Divemasters Sten, Tricia and Mike B finished the day off by offering an opportunity for everyone to jump off the back of the Nautilus Explorer for a night snorkel with 20 or so silky sharks circling around the ship. The occasional “bump” by the sharks meant that it was a 30-minute snorkel max!!!

Weather: Overcast, north wind 15 knots, low 3 foot swell, air temperature 77°F

Water: Water temperature 73°F, visibility 60 feet.

By Nautilus Staff

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