Measuring 91 metres by 45 metres by 34 metres high, the island is actually the lava plug from a volcano that gradually eroded away around it. It is an amazing 11,000 feet deep around the volcano and we gingerly anchor the Nautilus Explorer in 245 feet of water very close to the lava tube. Roca Partida is a “magnet” for mantas, sharks of all kinds, wahoo, tuna, dorado and all other manner of sub-tropical fish.
Read MoreI recently noticed that the highest pinnacle at the north end of the ridge sticks up into the current and seems to be somewhat of a “magnet” for giant manta rays – I suspect that it is a cleaning station for mantas. So I dubbed it “manta rock,” and have been encouraging our guests to hang out there as well as the other cleaning station. Everyone has been having very good luck finding giant manta rays there.
Read MoreHad a great run from Roca Partida straight back to Cabo San Lucas. Sometimes it is a rough crossing with 6 – 8ft seas. Most of the time it is pretty nice, with the ship gently pitching up and down and an easy roll from side to side. And sometimes it is flat calm. This crossing was so calm that it was as if we were already tied up to the dock!
Read MoreOur friends on the Solmar V frequent a site there called the Aquarium. It is nice but not too sharky, which makes it perfect for a night dive. We arrived there at 8 pm and launched our divers shortly afterwards. You can imagine my sigh of relief when they reported back that it was a great night dive with nice visibility and lots of critters including dense nests of Socorro lobsters. Phew!
Read MoreA couple of our guests are here to free dive instead of scuba dive which is always good fun. One of them has been free diving for over 30 years and had the experience of his career today when he came face to face with a tiger shark. He was on the surface resting between dives when a huge tiger shark came right in towards him at The Canyon dive site on San Benedicto Island. He says that the tiger shark was huge and just kept coming in closer and closer until it was only 2 feet away. Yes, 2 feet away!
Read MoreWhat a beautiful night. We are anchored in the lee of San Benedicto Island, tucked in beside the moonlit volcano. It is spectacular. I often get asked what the open ocean crossing is like between Cabo San Lucas and Socorro Island…
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