Nautilus Explorer: "Socorro Islands - bait balls, pilot whales and manta madness!", Apr, 2022,by Kabir Teja (Dive Hard), FL, US (![]() |
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Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best): |
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Accommodations | ![]() |
Food | ![]() |
Service and Attitude | ![]() |
Environmental Sensitivity | ![]() |
Dive Operation | ![]() |
Shore Diving | N/A |
Snorkeling | ![]() |
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Overall Rating |
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Value for $$ | ![]() |
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Beginners | ![]() |
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Advanced | ![]() |
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Comments |
For the full overview of this trip, check out the full DIVE HARD trip report on our YouTube channel: [youtu.be link] The last time I visited Socorro (successfully), it was on this boat, around the same time of year and roughly 10 year prior. What struck me was that there were actually MORE sharks this time than last, which is extremely rare these days. As always, the mantas were incredibly friendly, approaching divers, circling around them, making eye contact etc. Really special behavior, especially from such large and majestic animals. We had a few, short dolphin encounters, but nothing like the magic they gave me last time around (when they spent 20 minutes with us, imitating divers and blowing bubbles from their blow holes). However, we were graced with pilot whales at Roca Partida (and a massive bait ball!!) which gave us plenty of magic to work with. I just love diving in Socorro - it is an incredible place and if you have the means to go, you should go! The Nautilus Explorer is a great boat - its comfortable, the food is great, a spacious dive deck and amazing crew. One BIG complaint: there are only every 4 15L tanks, which is massively problematic for folks like me that carry huge camera rigs and are swimming around gathering specific shots, etc. Despite asking for tanks well in advance, and having the shop confirm them, I had to use a 12L tank for the trip (so did another diver with the second biggest camera rig). For such an expensive trip, this is ridiculous and unacceptable. However, this is the only negative comment I have about the operation. I would go back with the Nautilus in a heartbeat - but next time, I will secure my own tank in Cabo San Lucas and bring it on board with me :) |
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Websites | Nautilus Explorer | ||
Reporter and Travel |
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Dive Experience | Over 1000 dives | ||
Where else diving | Lots of places! Eastern Pacific (Cocos, Malpelo, Galapagos, Socorro), Indonesia (Raja Ampat, Komodo, Lembeh, Bali), Philippines (Malapascua, Cebu, Dumaguete, Anilao), South Africa, Maldives, all over the Caribbean, etc. | ||
Closest Airport | SJD | Getting There | Direct flight to San Jose del Cabo from NYC, JetBlue makes it easy |
Dive Conditions |
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Weather | sunny, windy, dry | Seas | calm, surge |
Water Temp | 78-82°F / 26-28°C | Wetsuit Thickness | 5 |
Water Visibility | 60-100 Ft/ 18-30 M | ||
Dive Policy |
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Dive own profile | yes | ||
Enforced diving restrictions | |||
Liveaboard? | yes | Nitrox Available? | yes |
What I Saw |
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Sharks | Lots | Mantas | Squadrons |
Dolphins | 1 or 2 | Whale Sharks | None |
Turtles | 1 or 2 | Whales | 1 or 2 |
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best): |
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Corals | ![]() |
Tropical Fish | ![]() |
Small Critters | ![]() |
Large Fish | N/A |
Large Pelagics | N/A | ||
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best): |
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Subject Matter | ![]() |
Boat Facilities | ![]() |
Overall rating for UWP's | ![]() |
Shore Facilities | N/A |
UW Photo Comments | Great dive deck and dedicated dry area for cameras, air blowers, rinse tanks, etc. Overall very good for big rigs |
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