
Socorro
Giant Mantas
- “Looking up towards the surface a huge black manta glides by, followed soon after by a chevron manta. They glide around us” News – 22 January 2021
- “It is no surprise that the staff and accommodations are exceptional. I had made this trip on the Nautilus Explorer a few” News – 22 January 2021
- “We stopped and three chevron mantas found us. They stayed with us for the remainder of the dive.” News – 22 January 2021
- “Fabulous trip with many folks in our group saying these were some of the best dives of their lifetime.” News – 22 January 2021
- “Time and time again we are treated as if we were family rather than simply guests on a liveaboard.” News – 22 January 2021
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 at the Tesoro Los Cabos. 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 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 beside the main lobby of the Tesoro Hotel on the boardwalk in downtown Cabo San Lucas. 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. We offer a complimentary warmup dive for anyone heading out to Socorro (please book in advance), as well as a variety of pre-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
- January 22nd, 2021
A Once in a Lifetime Trip for Father and Son
This was truly a trip me and my son will never forget and a high recommendation to any diver contemplating if this trip is the right one for them. My advice: Do it, you won’t regret it.
- January 13th, 2021
Top Five Travel Trends for 2021
As we enter a new year, we’d like to cast an eye on the future of travel. 2020 will forever be the year that unshakably changed the world, and while we don’t have a crystal ball, we will travel more thoughtfully. As we recover from the aftershocks of the pandemic, we’ll travel with more spontaneity […]
- January 6th, 2021
December Diving in Socorro: Part III
The Nautilus Belle Amie has just returned from an epic voyage to the Revillagigedo Islands in Mexico. Diving in Socorro in December never fails to disappoint, and this voyage has been one of the best yet – as Elizabeth, or star guest and diving superstar, can attest to. If you haven’t already, read Part I […]
- December 24th, 2020
December Diving in Socorro: Part II
Regularly hailed as one of the top diving spots in the world, Roca Partida, part of Revillagigedo Islands in Mexico, is an oasis in the ‘desert’ ocean for marine life. Following Part I of Elizabeth’s diving adventures aboard the Nautilus Belle Amie, discover her aquatic escapades diving the sites of Roca Partida and San Benedicto, […]
- December 23rd, 2020
December Diving in Socorro: Part I
While we regularly toot the horn for Socorro and all the incredible big animal diving across the archipelago, we wanted to share some of our guest’s incredible marine encounters. One lucky diver, Elizabeth, has just docked from the voyage of a lifetime aboard the Nautilus Belle Amie, where she ticked off just about every species […]
- December 20th, 2020
In the Midst of a Shark Feeding Frenzy in Socorro
Socorro is amid a marine life renaissance. From one lucky dive group having a whale shark tag along for an entire dive, to the sheer volume of biomass showing up, our dive masters have been reporting better marine life experiences than ever. We’re not sure the exact reason why, however seeing such a monumental resurgence […]