Socorro February 2028
ONE STATEROOM AVAILABLE
GIANT MANTAS, DOLPHINS & SHARKS
The friendliest giant mantas in the world.
Bottlenose dolphins that are almost as friendly.
Up to ten species of sharks.
Loads of fish.
And in season perhaps humpback whales, pilot whales, tuna or even false killer whales.
You'll see these in Socorro!
Our stay is on the Nautilus Belle Amie. Prepare for a bucket-list trip in Luxury!
For more information or to reserve,
call 724.295.3500
or
email scottsscubaservice@gmail.com.
WHEN:
- February 10-18, 2028
PRICING:
Base pricing based on:
- double occupancy in Double Stateroom: $5315 per diver
- double occupancy in Superior Suite: $5892 per diver
- no single or triple occupancy rates available for our room type
Pricing above does not include airfare. Traveler is responsible for arranging air travel in/out of Cabo San Lucas at least one day before departure
FULL DETAILS BELOW
Availability: Contact us for booking information
Socorro Island Liveaboard
If you’ve ever dreamed of diving with sharks, giant manta rays, and playful dolphins all in one trip — you need to experience a Socorro Island liveaboard.
What makes Socorro so special is the wildlife encounters. Giant manta rays circle divers and glide effortlessly through your bubbles. Bottlenose dolphins approach with curiosity, often lingering for entire dives. And then there are the sharks. In a single dive, you could find yourself surrounded by schooling hammerheads, circled by Galápagos sharks, or face-to-face with a tiger shark. Maybe even whale sharks — the largest fish in the ocean. From January through April, you might hear humpback whale songs during your dives, while breaching and tail-slapping can be observed during surface intervals.
When divers talk about “Socorro,” they’re referring to the Revillagigedo Archipelago — four remote volcanic islands located roughly 240 miles off Cabo San Lucas: Socorro, San Benedicto, Roca Partida, and Clarión. Accessible only by liveaboard and protected by strict regulations, the dive sites remain uncrowded, wild, and remarkably pristine — offering some of the best shark dives on the planet.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site sits where powerful ocean currents collide, creating a nutrient-rich marine life hotspot. Dramatic underwater cliffs and volcanic pinnacles rise from the deep, creating the perfect setting for unforgettable big-animal encounters.
But what truly defines a Socorro Islands liveaboard is the feeling of connection. Out here, surrounded by open ocean, many of the animals don’t just pass by — they interact, investigate, and seem as curious about you as you are about them.
Marine Life of the Socorro Islands
This is big animal diving at its best! Socorro Island liveaboards offer some of the world's most impressive marine life encounters. It's not just the variety and abundance of life that makes diving here extraordinary — it's interacting with animals who seem genuinely curious about you.
The Friendliest Giant Mantas on The Planet
Nowhere else in the world boasts a resident population of giant oceanic mantas that appear to seek interaction with scuba divers. It is extraordinary. We have been running dive trips to Socorro since 1978, and these friendly giants never cease to amaze us. Imagine being plunged into shadow as a giant manta glides above you, its wingspan up to 7 meters wide, full of grace and intelligence, enjoying your bubbles tickling their belly.
It might sound odd, but we believe if you approach them with an open heart, they will respond. They will look directly at you, as if staring into your soul and, if they like what they see, they seek out interaction. That's reason enough to fall in love with Socorro and to visit as soon as you can.
Diving with Socorro's Sharks: Encounters You Won't Forget
Socorro's nutrient-rich waters attract iconic ocean predators in numbers rarely seen elsewhere. At cleaning stations and rocky drop-offs, scalloped hammerheads school in the dozens, sometimes hundreds. Tiger sharks patrol with the quiet confidence of a top predator. Galápagos and silvertip sharks cruise the currents and seamounts. These aren't fleeting sightings — these are regular, up-close encounters with animals at the top of the food chain..
With up to 12 shark species recorded in these waters, Socorro is widely regarded as one of the best shark diving destinations in the world. Whether you're a seasoned shark diver or encountering these animals for the first time, the experience here is in a class of its own.
Frequently spotted shark species include: scalloped hammerheads, tiger sharks, Galápagos sharks, silvertip sharks, whitetip reef sharks, silky sharks, and dusky sharks.
Playful Dolphins & Other Pelagic Species
Bottlenose dolphins, playful and highly intelligent, are known to interact with divers for several minutes at a time and can be encountered year-round.
Whale sharks — the largest known fish species, identified by their stunning and unique pattern of spots — are best seen from November through December and late April through June.
From April to June, baitball season brings one of nature's greatest spectacles: huge schools of fish attract sharks from all directions alongside pelagic hunters like yellowfin tuna and wahoo in spectacular feeding frenzies. It's an unmissable chance to witness the full power of Socorro's marine ecosystem in action.
Humpback whales are seasonal visitors to the Socorro Islands from January through April, passing through for mating and birthing.
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 dive guide from the time they start gearing up until they are back on the big boat. Most divers are somewhere mid-spectrum between these two 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.
Is the diving from the big boat or skiffs?
Usually from the skiffs. Multiple skiffs are employed as “taxis” so that divers can be picked up when they surface and whisked back to the big boat instead of waiting in the hot sun for everyone else to surface.
How many dives will I do?
Over five full dive days you will be able to experience some of our favourite 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 four dives a day other than the day that we do our mandatory check in at the local navy base when you will likely have the option of three dives. Note that weather conditions, Mother Ocean or crowding by some of our competitors may limit some diving.
Things to do (other than diving):
Kayaks and paddle boards, shoreline tours, humpback whale watching (January to April), manta ID in the late afternoon and after-dinner presentations. Of course, it’s always your option to find a nice quiet place to relax with a book, have a nice snooze, or maybe have a splash in our sparkling clear hot tubs.
Our "Hotel on the Water" Liveaboard: the Nautilus Belle Amie
The Nautilus Belle Amie is a modern and super spacious custom-built 147-foot vessel. She accommodates up to 32 guests across 17 en-suite staterooms and suites, ranging from standard twin cabins to spacious premium suites with ocean-facing windows, sitting areas, and flat-screen TVs. All cabins are air-conditioned, and the heavy steel construction with built-in stabilization makes for a comfortable ride even in open ocean conditions — it genuinely feels like staying in a hotel at sea.
The main deck hosts a generous air-conditioned lounge, bar, and dining area — the natural gathering place at the end of a long day on the water.
Up on the expansive sun deck, there's room for everyone to stretch out, soak up the sun, or ease into the freshwater hot tub with a drink in hand.
Our reserved accommodations
We have six double-occupancy staterooms and two double-occupancy superior suites.
The staterooms feature side by side beds with ensuite and individually controlled air conditioning.
The superior suites feel as if you are staying in a nice hotel room. They are spacious, have large outside windows, and an ensuite bathroom & shower. They can be configured as a California King bed or two doubles.
The nine-day adventure itinerary
Day 1: We encourage you to fly in early and arrange for some local diving whether it’s Gordo Banks, Cabo Pulmo or the La Paz whale sharks. Our trip includes a complimentary photography lesson in the afternoon. The photo pro’s will coach you on how to get that perfect manta image, help set up or service or repair your camera gear and assist with camera rentals. You are welcome to drop your bags off and check-in whenever it’s most convenient, but you are asked that you please check-in at by 7pm latest. Please arrive back at the departure point by 7:15pm for the mandatory safety video before boarding the boat at 8pm.
Day 2: This is a traveling and relaxing day at sea. It is a one day run out to the islands. An orientation briefing will be held in the morning, followed by a fire and boat safety drill. A drill? On vacation? Don’t worry, it is for your safety but they will make it lots of fun. You’ll be kept as busy as you like on this sea day with Manta 101 in the afternoon, then you will have a chance to prep your gear, read a book, relax on the sun deck or check out the movie selection on our onboard wifi. Everyone will be watching for the “green flash” at sunset, and while cocktail hour is officially at 7pm every evening, many guests enjoy some adult beverages well before that on sea days! Arrival at San Benedicto Island is that evening allowing you a calm night to relax and get a restful sleep before the next morning’s excitement of diving with the friendliest giant mantas in the world.
Days 3-7:
Over five full dive days you will be able to experience some favourite sites such as El Canyon, the Boiler, Red Rocks, Roca Partida, Cabo Pearse, Punta Tosca and Roca Oneal. Many guests want the option of as many dives as possible and they strive to offer an average of four dives a day, other than the day of the mandatory check-in at the local navy base when you will likely have the option of three dives. When the weather is really good and the seas are calm, certain dive sites like Roca Partida might become crowded with three or four dive boats in which case park regulations restrict offering three dives maximum that day.
Divers of all experience levels are catered. You'll learn about that after booking your reservation.
Note that several dives may be quite challenging and not suitable for divers of lower experience levels. The number of dives on offer is subject to weather, the whims of Mother Ocean, and crowding by other diveboats.
There is also other stuff going on to keep you as busy as you like with kayaks and paddle boards, shoreline tours, humpback whale watching (January to April), manta ID in the late afternoon and after-dinner presentations. Of course, it’s always your option to find a nice quiet place to relax with a book, have a nice snooze, or maybe have a splash in our sparkling clear hot tubs
Day 8:
We will likely get underway very early this morning for the voyage back to Cabo San Lucas. This is the perfect day to check out photos and videos with the new friends you made onboard, pack your dive gear up and take time to relax before reality sets back in. The islands, the mantas, the sharks and the dolphins are almost “other worldly” and we hope the magic stays with you for a long time.
Day 9:
Always a sad time. It’s time to say goodbye and disembark the boat in Cabo at 8:30am for either SJD airport or to SeeCreatures in Cabo San Lucas.
WHEN:
-
February 10-18, 2028
PRICING:
Base pricing based on:
-
double occupancy in Double Stateroom: $5315 per diver
-
double occupancy in Superior Suite: $5892 per diver
-
no single or triple occupancy rates available for our room type
Pricing above does not include airfare. Traveler is responsible for arranging air travel in/out of Cabo San Lucas at least one day before departure (It’s a one-day sail from Cabo out to Socorro which means the ships cannot wait for guests who have missing luggage or missed their flight)
INCLUDED IN PRICE:
-
Eight nights room accommodations
-
Daily room service
-
All meals daily
-
Non-alcoholic beverages and snacks
-
All diving as scheduled
-
Use of weights, weight belts, aluminum 80 tanks, air
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Use of kayaks and stand-up paddleboards
-
Towels
-
Socorro Island park fees ($860 as of Nov 2025, subject to change)
-
Does NOT include airfare. Traveler is responsible for arranging air travel in/out of Cabo San Lucas
EXCLUDED IN PRICE
-
USD $35 Port Fee ($35 as of Nov 2025, subject to change)
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Airport transfers
-
Dive gear rentals
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Nitrox
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Wifi access
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Bar
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Gift shop
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Crew gratuities
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Nautilus Belle Amie - Hotel Taxes and Fees
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Airfare. Traveler is responsible for arranging air travel in/out of Cabo San Lucas
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
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Upon reservation: $1000 deposit per traveler
-
December 31, 2026: $500 due per traveler
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March 31, 2027: $1000 due per traveler
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June 30, 2027: $1000 due per traveler
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September 30, 2027: $1000 due per traveler
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November 15, 2027: Final payment in full
