
Socorro
Giant Mantas & Dolphins
- “This was my third Nautilus Liveaboard trip and perhaps the one I was most looking forward to. Although I got to see an e…” News – 11 July 2022
- “My first liveaboard ever and I couldn’t have asked for a better first! I must admit the diving was more challenging th…” News – 11 July 2022
- “It’s hard to single out highlights from the trip. Curious mantas were circling our group for what seemed like forever,…” News – 11 July 2022
- “This has been an amazing expedition, Tony and I have enjoyed the many challenges that have occurred (every day is a scho…” News – 5 July 2022
- “Well… It’s hard to find the right words to describe these massive feelings of I made a dream become reality. Before …” News – 5 July 2022
The World’s Friendliest Giant Mantas
You can see giant mantas in many places around the world. But nowhere else boasts a population of giant mantas that literally seek out interaction with divers and snorkellers. While mantas are the main reason to voyage out to Socorro, there are lots of other animals to see, including schooling hammerheads and silky sharks, plus 10 other species of sharks, bottlenose dolphins that consistently hang out with divers at certain dive sites, large schools of pelagic fish, and, in season, humpback whales.
When should you Go?
Socorro features the friendliest giant mantas in the world, humpbacks, wild pelagic dolphins and up to 10 species of sharks. Surface weather is similar to southern California climate. Very warm during the day, and chilly at night.
Socorro diving is HOT right now !

Where is Socorro?
Socorro Island is a one day sail south of Cabo San Lucas, which is located at the southern end of Baja Mexico. We specialize in big animal diving at the cleaning stations of San Benedicto, Socorro, and Roca Partida.
Experience Manta Love
The behaviour these giant mantas exhibit is almost inexplicable. These gentle giants with a wingspan up to 20 feet consistently approach divers for intimate eye-to-eye encounters. If you are able to be calm and still in the water, you are almost sure to experience what we call “manta love.”Loads of sharks
You may also see up to 10 varieties of shark: schooling scalloped hammerheads, solitary giant hammerheads, Galápagos, whitetip reef, silver-tip, silky, tiger and oceanic whitetips. The list also includes whale sharks and dusky sharks and on occasion even a thresher shark.There is more
Your journey with us will include four dives per day (subject to weather and unforeseeable circumstances)—each an opportunity to encounter resident pods of playful dolphins.
Your Soccoro Giant Mantas Adventure looks like this*
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Day 1 – Welcome aboard
Enjoy our See Creature Dive Center, downtown Cabo close to the marina. Boarding begins at 8:00 PM.
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Day 2 – Arrival at San Benedicto*
At Sea. Evening arrival at San Benedicto Island. Safety Briefing, Diver Orientation, Manta 101, Cocktail Hour
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Day 3 – Diving Day*
Diving Day! San Benedicto is home to the friendliest giant mantas in the world! 3 to 4 dives, Our famous Mexico Taco Fiesta on the upper deck, Manta ID
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Day 4 – Diving Day*
Dive at Socorro Island. Night snorkel with Silky Sharks. 3 dives + Snorkeling with silky sharks under flood lights, Manta ID
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Day 5 – Diving Day*
Dive at Socorro Island. 3 to 4 dives, Shark Behaviour, Manta ID
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Day 6 – Diving Day*
Dive at Roca Partida. 4 dives, Manta ID
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Day 7 – Diving Day*
Dive at Roca Partida. Chase the Ace: Win the jackpot and help conservation, Manta ID
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Day 8 – Voyage home
Making our way back to Los Cabos. Ship shop, Trip slide show, Cocktail with friends
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Day 9 – Time to say Goodbye
Disembarkation at 8:30 AM. We recommend that you book your return flights for 12:00 PM or later
*Our captains and crew will do their very best to give you the most spectacularly dive experience.
Given weather and animal sighting itinerary may vary.
You May Wonder…
What are your COVID-19 protocols?
Our job is to keep our guests and crew safe. Now more so than ever during the COVID-19 crisis. Please find our latest covid protocols here.
What am I going to see at Socorro?
The friendliest giant mantas in the world. Bottlenose dolphins that are almost as friendly. Up to 10 species of sharks. Loads of fish. And in season you might see humpback whales, pilot whales, tuna or even false killer whales.
How much experience do I need?
All are welcome. Our roots are in the cold, current-swept waters of BC and Alaska and we have always catered to experienced self-reliant divers looking for complete freedom on their dives. These divers are usually first in the water. We love buddying up with new divers looking for the reassurance of being with a divemaster from the time they start gearing up until they are back on the big boat.
Most divers are somewhere mid-spectrum between these 2 groups and we make sure they are very well looked after as well. Note that several dives may be quite challenging and not suitable for divers of lower experience levels.
How many dives do I get?
Over five full dive days, you will be able to experience some of our favorite sites such as El Canyon, the Boiler, Red Rocks, Roca Partida, Cabo Pearse, Punta Tosca and Roca Oneal.
We know that many of our guests want the option of as many dives as possible and we strive to offer an average of 4 dives a day other than the day that we do our mandatory check in at the local navy base when you likely have the option of 3 dives plus our world-famous silky shark night snorkel.
Note that weather conditions, Mother Ocean or crowding by some of our competitors may limit some diving.
Where do we meet the boat?
See Creatures, located downtown Cabo San Lucas close to the marina. We want our dive center to be your home away from home! Please drop by when you get into town and we will get you kitted up with whatever you need. Maximize your vacation in Baja with savings on our Socorro pre-trip or post-trip packages including 2-tank boat dives or side trips out to Gordo Banks and Cabo Pulmo. In season, our beautiful 116’ dive yacht Gallant Lady is stationed at Cabo Pulmo for 6-day liveaboard extensions into the southern Sea of Cortez.
Can you help me get dive certified before the trip?
YES. We offer a full array of dive courses at our dive center including Nitrox.

Blogs
- March 25th, 2022
Dolphins can be a$$holes
Dolphins can be a$$holes. Perhaps a further explanation is warranted. I was down to around 800psi, others were low, and it was almost time to do our safety stop, if we could stay awake long enough from this boring dive. On top of that, Group 1 was coming from one direction and Group 2 from the other, so all divers were coincidentally in one general location.
- March 25th, 2022
We Had Our Most Insane Surface Interval Today
We had our most insane surface interval today. A humpback whale calf was around the Nautilus Undersea. This little curious whale was swimming less than 5 meters away from the boat. Everyone had a chance to see him sneaking his eye to check us out! January to April is our whale season in Revillagigedo and we are having the best of it!
- March 1st, 2022
One of the Most Requested Animals Our Guests Hope to See
On our second dive today at Cabo Pearce we came across a huge school of 60-70 hammerheads. Most of the school was deep, at around 40m, though the rest came close to inspect the divers at shallower depths. The number of sharks here in the area really lets us know that conservation and protection inside the marine park are working. Come see for yourself.
- February 24th, 2022
Whales Were Singing So Loud That Even My Tanks Were Vibrating
I can’t stop feeling so amazed at all the magic the underwater world has to offer us, I’m deeply grateful for all these adventures, it’s been so fun, humbling, and inspiring.
- February 24th, 2022
The Most Beautiful Underwater Song
Once we got to the cleaning station it was full of Silvertips and Galapagos and it just get better! we start to hear very loud the most beautiful underwater song it was a whale singing we couldn’t see it but it was so loud you could think it was next to you !! And suddenly a big school of hammerheads doing a tornado next to the receptor was so much to process watching this plus the whales’ song it was one of my favorite dives so far!
- November 5th, 2021
Mexico Liveaboards, the best destinations
With Mexico Liveaboards you can experience encounters with some of the most charismatic animals on the planet. Learn more about the best places to go diving.