This past trip to the Revillagigedos archipelago’s (Soccoro isl.) was my induction trip on the Nautilus Explorer as first mate, and what a fantastic trip it was! It is such a pleasant change to work with a very positive and professional multinational crew, and enthusiastic guests who have traveled from all over the world to experience the west coast of Mexico’s amazing diving. Just days before I travelled down for crew change on the Nautilus and I was working on a patrol boat out of Vancouver (Canada) watching rain come down incessantly, and cold wind whip up a heavy chop. Now I am waking up to put on khaki shorts, a tee shirt and SPF 30 Sunblock 🙂
In the past few weeks I have seen marine life I had previously only saw on television or in magazines despite sailing on the Pacific, Atlantic, and in the Gulf of Mexico for the past 15 years. Giant Manta’s seem to be everywhere in this protected archipelago, and even while divers are down experiencing them much closer, they come by to check out the dive skiff. After spending the past several years working on board large ships and tug boats on the west coast of Canada I developed a healthy phobia of icy cold water, so it is a real treat to get in this warm water. The kicker from last trip was I somehow got persuaded to join in the night snorkel with sharks at Punta Tosca. For a man whose favorite movie is JAWs, this did not seem a prudent choice until I was actually in the water at night with sharks circling just a few feet beneath and loving it! Needless to say, I am alive to tell the tale. More words to follow after this trip; so far the weather is amazing, the seas calm, and the diving superb, and breakfast is ready…
-Aaron
Mate
Nautilus Exploer
