Socorro
Giant Mantas
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.
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.
Soccoro Giant Mantas Sample Itinerary*
-
Day 1 – Welcome aboard
Enjoy our See Creature Dive Center at the Tesoro Los Cabos. Boarding begins at 8:00 PM.
-
Day 2 – Arrival at San Benedicto*
At Sea. Evening arrival at San Benedicto Island.
Safety Briefing, Diver Orientation, Manta 101, Cocktail Hour -
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 -
Day 4 – Diving Day*
Dive at Socorro Island. Night snorkel with Silky Sharks.
3 dives + Snorkeling with silky sharks under flood lights, Manta ID -
Day 5 – Diving Day*
Dive at Socorro Island
3 to 4 dives, Shark Behaviour, Manta ID -
Day 6 – Diving Day*
Dive at Roca Partida
4 dives, Manta ID -
Day 7 – Diving Day*
Dive at Roca Partida
Chase the Ace: Win the jackpot and help conservation, Manta ID -
Day 8 – Voyage home
Making our way back to Los Cabos.
Ship shop, Trip slide show, Cocktail with friends -
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
-
Dive virtually now
Dive virtually with us! Join us and “get back in the water” as we continue to dive Socorro. You can expect a video piece every week. We might not be able to visit our beautiful giant mantas right now but that doesn’t mean we have stopped dreaming about them.
-
Stopovers on the shark highway
Satellite stations strategically placed at the dive-sites tell us that many shark species – including silky, silvertip and hammerhead –migrate between Cocos, Galapagos, Malpelo and Socorro. They navigate the corridors between these food-rich seamounts on what is known as the Shark Highway.
-
Ecotourism at Socorro
As sharks, whales, tunas and marlins populations plummet, we must carefully choose sustainable actions if we ever hope to keep these big pelagic species from extinction. Through ecotourism, a world where pelagic species thrive and flourish is possible. We know, because we witnessed it, and it was magical.
-
This is the trip of dolphins
We started off jumping close to the wall. While swimming towards the receiver, several whitetips crossed our way. Suddenly, a hammerhead appeared in the blue and disappeared as fast as he came. When swimming to the inner side of the lava finger, several whitetips were circling between the rocks…
-
Revillagigedo trip aboard the Nautilus Undersea
First day, ever, in the Revalli… Reville… in the Socorro islands and we have already feasted with Silver and White pointed Sharks.
But what will stay forever engraved in my memories, is my first in-dive encounter with a Manta Ray, then the second, the third, the fourth… And someone told me this is only the first day! -
Jacks, dolphins and mantas at El Boiler
We had hundreds of different types of Jacks taking advantage of the current to hunt the smaller Creolfish. It was a great spectacle!! Especially as a dolphin and its young joined the fun and started chasing around the Jacks seemingly just for fun! After 5 minutes the mum and kid reunited swimming together belly to belly away into the blue; they looked just like they were having a little chuckle after scaring the Jacks.
