Once in a lifetime diving.
Maximum exposure to Big Animals at Socorro.
Cage-diving with the powerful Great Whites at Guadalupe.

A Note from Dom

The Revillagigedos Archipelago, more commonly known today as Socorro, in my opinion, can rightfully claim its place amongst the world's top pelagic destinations.

The highlight, almost certainly, is the extraordinary interaction with the Giant Mantas, which often exceed 20 feet wingspan, approaching divers in the brilliant clear blue waters with absolutely no fear. The effect on divers is always one of intense emotion.

No less intense is the cage diving experience with Great Whites at the Island of Guadalupe where you may find yourself virtually nose-to-nose with up to three 17-foot Great Whites who will stay with you for hours. Yep. Thank goodness for those cages!

There are several destinations for Great Whites around the world, but the extraordinary visibility & the intense blue water make this one unique.

Read on for info about the Nautilus Explorer, Solmar V and the new Baja Aggressor. Or click here to contact us for further details or to book a trip.

Cheers, Dom

Socorro Island and Guadalupe Island Overview

The Nautilus Explorer and the Solmar V have long established Socorro Island as the top big animal destination on the West Coast of the United States, the action being at its best from November through April.

At Socorro you will swim with sharks - 7 species of them - giant dogtooth tuna, humpback whales, dolphins, giant schools of jacks, and still more sharks and mantas. The warmer waters of the fall may yield encounters with whale sharks, while spring is the season for the humpbacks.

And more recently Guadalupe Island has been added to their itineraries as the Mecca of Great White cage diving. With blue water, fabulous visibility and lots of Great Whites from August thru October, this action packed adventure is a must do if you're an extreme diver.

A recent article in the LA Times paints a great picture of what these adventures are about and we would encourage you to read the article here.

In addition, you'll find some interesting videos posted on YouTube if you'd like to get a bit of advance action! Click here to link into a YouTube offering . . .

These trips fill very fast, so don't be surprised if you find that your options are limited during the next 18 months. If we know you want to go, we'll put you on a list to receive updates for future trip dates when they're released.

Click here to contact us for further information or to book spaces.

The Nautilus Explorer

The 116-foot all steel Nautilus Explorer is owner operated and was custom built in 2000 for precisely the type of open-water cruising she does. Everything about the ship and the way she is operated is designed for your maximum comfort. She carries 22 divers in 3 types of accommodation: Executive, Stateroom and Dorm cabins.

The Nautilus Explorer enjoys catering to more experienced divers looking for advanced and sometimes challenging liveaboard diving and takes you to Socorro & Guadalupe Islands off the west coast of Mexico, also to the Sea of Cortez, San Benitos Island & Baja California.

The vessel was custom built to be comfortable. stable and safe and offers a high level of personalized service and delicious fresh cuisine. You will feel as pampered as you would on a cruise ship.

As if 2 different sun decks with lots of deck chairs, a really comfortable main salon plus a sparkling clear fresh water hot tub aren’t enough, you’ll also find 30 different microbrews, extensive wine list and a great selection of single malts in the ship's bar.

She's set up with Nitrox and everything for the photographer .

For detailed information on the Nautilus Explorer click here. Read about her sister ship the Nautilus Swell below. Between the two of them they offer incredible programs along the Pacific West Coast, from shark & manta trips to orcas & grizzlies in the northwest,

Nautilus Swell

The Nautilus Swell has enjoyed a romantic & varied history having been in active service as a tug, a fishing charter boat & liveaboard dive vessel. She underwent a $3.5 million dollar refit in 2005 to bring her up to the high standard of modern liveaboard comfort and safety without losing the classic warm feeling of a vintage wooden vessel.

There are seven guest cabins all en-suite. 2 superior suites on the main deck span the width of the boat & offer a bright, light atmosphere. Just picture stepping outside in the morning with a cup of coffee in hand enjoying the beauty & stillness of Alaska. 1 superior cabin has 2 bunks. The other cabin has a 3/4 double and a single beside.

There are 2 double staterooms on the hot-tub deck with bunks, skylight, portholes and a door that opens directly outside. There are also 2 single occupancy staterooms on the same deck that are very similar to the double staterooms (bunk style). These cabins are available as a double if requested.

The “Captain’s Cabin” is at the forward end of this deck and accessible through the large, comfortable wheelhouse (where you are welcome to hang out). It has a 3/4 bed and a single berth fitted at 90 degrees to the other berth.

The Destinations - Alaska & British Colombia

ALASKA is stunning and spectacular. The diving is some of the best cold water diving in the world. And the animals topside are just as enthralling as the critters below surface; grizzly bears ambling along the beach, bald eagles more numerous than seagulls, humpback whales blowing right beside the back deck water level as you sip your morning coffee. Alaska itineraries usually run May to early September.

B.C. diving is heaven for those who appreciate and enjoy the challenge of dry-suit diving. Expect incredible colour, amazing diversity of life, giant pacific octopus, wolf-eels, and nudibranchs galore. You'll see Giant kelp forests, and vertical walls so densely covered in life that there isn’t even a square inch in which you can touch the wall. It’s no wonder that this was ranked as the best diving in the North America 3 years in a row. B.C. itineraries generally run March, April, September, October.

View the Nautilus photo gallery on Flickr by clicking here.

Solmar V

Departing from Cabo San Lucas or from Ensenada, Mexico, depending on your destination, the Solmar V will comfortably cruise you to either Socorro or Guadalupe. She travels with a crew of 10 and a maximum of 22 divers, ensuring that your needs are met from the moment you board.

For trips to Guadalupe, the Solmar has three state-of-the-art shark cages; two float at the surface and one is a submersible that sits at about 30'.

The Guadalupe trips are limited to only 16 divers so you'll have plenty of time with the sharks and more room in the cage.

The submersible cage gives divers a 360 degree view! Air is supplied from the surface so you don't need a tank. Diving is done all day, rotating divers every hour.
You’ll have up to 100 feet + of visibility and water temps ranging from 67 to 70 F degrees.

It’s one of the ultimate adventures for anyone but absolutely unquestionably, if you’re a photographer, it’s paradise.

We have more information coming soon on the Solmar V. Please stay tuned!

Rocio del Mar

The Rocio del Mar offers 10 comfortable en-suite guest staterooms on two decks. Each cabin is carpeted and air conditioned. There are room length windows with privacy curtains and convenient gear and clothes storage drawers beneath the beds.

There are two staterooms on the second deck behind the bridge on the port and starboard side. Each features a full size lower bed and a single size bed on top with adjustable reading lights Eight cabins on the main deck - four on the port and starboard side. Each feature two parallel single beds with an aisle in between and night table at the pillow end.

Itineraries include the Midriff Islands in the Sea of Cortez, and the Revillagigedos Archipelago which includes Socorro.

On the Socorro itinerary you're likely to find any of the following: schooling Hammerhead sharks, dolphins, silky sharks, Galapagos sharks, clouds of jacks and barracuda, tuna, wahoo, marlin, oceanic white tips sharks, whale sharks and mantas.

Humpback whales visit during the winter months of December through March. This is a splendid time to hear the sound of the singing mating male escorts underwater.

Don Jose - Sea of Cortez

A wide variety of programs are available on the 80-foot Don Jose.

Live Aboard Diving in the Sea of Cortez - June-November

Diving at some of the best dive sites in the area have earned the Sea of Cortez its reputation for exciting diving. Aboard the 80-foot Don Jose, you’ll explore El Bajo, Salvatierra, Cerralvo, Los Islotes and much more. You'll share the Sea of Cortez with hundreds of fascinating marine species—including scads, grunts, sergeant majors, machetes, and Mexican barracudas. During some seasons you may find pods of pilot whales and dolphins, jumping mobulas, and with luck— perhaps even rarely seen orcas or sperm whales.

Natural History and Diving: Family Learning Adventure June-July

This family-friendly program on the Don Jose combines fun, adventure and learning. An experienced naturalist guide will lead hikes, kayak and snorkeling excursions and other environmental awareness activities sure to please all ages. Plus, certified divers can enjoy some great dive sites in the Sea of Cortez, while non-divers (ages 8 and up) can learn the necessary skills to safely try scuba diving.

Conservation Expeditions

NEW! Sail as a Friend of Wild Baja. Friends of Wild Baja is a non-profit whose mission is to help conserve and protect the critical habitats and biodiversity of southern Baja California. And now you can have your fun and support the Friends of Wild Baja too when you sign up for one of these exclusive Conservation Expeditions.

Baja Aggressor

Bold New Frontiers

Guests will explore the best of Baja aboard the spacious130-foot, 20-passenger yacht, Baja Aggressor.

Socorro The Revillagigedo Archipelago is often called Mexico's Galapagos. It's home to big animals and big action! The region's most famous residents are giant Manta Rays, but Baja Aggressor divers may also encounter Schooling Hammerheads, White Tip Sharks, Silver Tip Sharks, Galapagos Sharks, Bottlenose Dolphin and Tuna. This itinerary is from mid-January through mid-June.

Magdelena Bay Come face-to-face with Gray Whales and their newly born calves. All encounters are from our skiffs. The gentle Gray Whales often swim up to the skiffs! Have your camera ready to capture the exciting breaching, spy-hopping and fluking. This itinerary is from November through December.

Guadalupe - Great Whites The Baja Aggressor operates out of Ensenada from mid-July to mid-November. The diving in Isla Guadalupe is performed solely in large, roomy Great White Shark cages. Three cages accommodate 3-4 divers each, with dives at a depth of 5-20 feet

The Baja Aggressor is 130 feet, was built in 1999 and re-fit in 2010.
She takes a maximum of 20 passengers in 10 cabins.