Socorro April 9-17, 2023
Apr 9 - 17, 2023
Nautilus Belle Amie
19 dives
Socorro is about big animals: sharks (including hammerheads and whale sharks), 12'-16' manta rays, schooling pelagics, playful dolphins, whales, and large game fish. It is known as the Galapagos of Mexico. The only way to dive here is on a liveaboard. April should be good for seeing the hammerheads, mantas, and humpback whales. We'll be diving the Revillagigedos Archipelago, a group of small islands off the coast of Baja California, Mexico. The dive sites include Socorro, San Benedicto, and Roca Partida. The trip is on the Nautilus Belle Amie liveaboard.
Trip Includes
- 8 Nights on yacht
- All meals (continental breakfast, breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, non-alcoholic beverages, and snacks)
- Tanks & weights
- Daily room service, towels, in-water divemastering, end of trip DVD, onboard facilities such as the hot tub, lounge, kayaks, paddle boards
Trip Excludes
- Airfare to/from SJD, tips, gear (available for rent)
- Nitrox ($100 for the trip)
- Trip cancellation, medical, and dive insurance
- Nautilus require that all of their guests have dive insurance that covers emergency care and Medevac (Evacuation flights); if you don't have it they will offer a plan through DiveAssure when you check-in.
- Port fee $35 paid onboard in cash
- Bar tab, gift shop, rental gear
- Tips "most guests leave between US$250 to $350. Whatever you leave will be most appreciated by the crew."
Park Fee
- As of November 2020, the Mexican government requires a $225 Park fee to be collected prior to the trip.
- This will need to be collected for bookings prior to 2022. For bookings in 2022, this is included in the price.
At this time, it is a Fin Life policy for everyone on a trip to be fully vaccinated
- Water temp on Belle Amie
- 03-APR: 75 F
- 02-APR: 75 F
- 01-APR: 75 F (24 C Explorer)
- 31-Mar: 75 F (24 C Explorer)
- 29-MAR: 76 F (Nautilus Undersea)
- 28 Mar: 75 F (24 C)
- 27-Mar: 77 F (25 C)
- 25-Mar: 72 F (22 C)
- Shuttle
- If you are signed up for a shuttle, the name on the sign that the driver will be holding will be Belle Amie (umbrella #5 at SJD).
- After clearing customs, go to the shuttle umbrellas if your group is all on the same flight. If your group is spread across different flights, or if some people are delayed getting through customs, go to Fisherman Bar near the umbrellas to wait for the rest of your group to clear customs. The driver with the Belle Amie sign will find you there.
- If you are on the shuttle list, your spot on the shuttle has been paid for.
- The drivers appreciate tips, which are typically $5, $10, or $15 for the group. US cash is fine.
- Gloves: there are no restrictions on gloves. (Nautilus noted that gloves are also not needed.)
- Lights:
- "The Mexican authorities are worried that strobing lights may bother the animals. For that reason, high frequency “strobe lights” are not allowed ie. rapidly high frequency strobing flashes of light. However there is no prohibition against “camera or movie lights ie. single shot lights.
The really good news is that ambient light is excellent at the dive site - quite unlike anywhere else we dive - and camera lights really just do minor back lighting because the water visibility is almost always so clear."
- "The Mexican authorities are worried that strobing lights may bother the animals. For that reason, high frequency “strobe lights” are not allowed ie. rapidly high frequency strobing flashes of light. However there is no prohibition against “camera or movie lights ie. single shot lights.
- Food served at room temperature
- Food from street vendors
- Raw or soft-cooked (runny) eggs
- Raw or undercooked (rare) meat or fish
- Unwashed or unpeeled raw fruits and vegetables
- Unpasteurized dairy products
- ”Bushmeat” (monkeys, bats, or other wild game)
OK to eat
- Food that is cooked and served hot
- Hard-cooked eggs
- Fruits and vegetables you have washed in clean water or peeled yourself
- Pasteurized dairy products
- If there are problems, the cell phone for Dalila Martinez Ricardez is
- 011-52-624-246-2228 (from the US)
- 624-246-2228 (from Mexico)
- Dalia is on WhatsApp
- They track the flights and will know if a flight is delayed; you only need to contact them if the flight number has changed.
- After your flight arrives you will need to wait for the other passengers arriving around the same time. Sometimes they take 1 hour with customs. But the good news is that there is a bar (Fisherman Bar) at the airport where you can wait for the other people arriving around the same time.
Q8: Are there night dives?
A8: No.
Q9: I don't see how to select my dive group (Shark, Manta, or Dolphin) on the guest form. Are they still using this?
A9: Yes! If you send your preferred group to me I will get it added to your profile, if you would like. I'm sure they will gather the info after we are on board, also.
- $35 Port Fee, payable on board at the end of the trip in cash only
- Other on-board expenses and tips can be paid with US cash or credit card
- Bar tab, gift shop, rental gear
- Nitrox ($100)
- 350 Mx$ (~$19 USD) foreign tourist tax for Baja. You might be charged at your hotel or at the airport at the time of departure
- 89 Mx$ (~$5 USD) tourism tax*
- Tips: "most guests leave between US$250 to $350. Whatever you leave will be most appreciated by the crew."
- Nautilus require that all of their guests have dive insurance that covers emergency care and Medevac (Evacuation flights); if you don't have it they will offer a plan through DiveAssure when you check-in.
Q13: Will they have non-alcoholic beer available?
A13: They will get some for us.
Dinner Reservations, Saturday, April 8th, 5:30 pm 26 people
Lighthouse Restaurant at Tesoro Hotel
- NOT JOINING: Ingo & Shelli Wittig and Perry & Robin Webster
Q1 Local Diving: What is the best way to arrange local diving?
A1: As a liveaboard guest you get a preferred rate at SeeCreatures; for example 2 tanks dives for $75 USD + taxes. Either you or Jeanette can add it to your online guest profile.
Q2 Complimentary Photo Workshop: The trip includes a complimentary Backscatter Lesson in the morning. What are the details?
A2: Backscatter Workshop: on the departure day of every trip we are offering a complimentary photography workshop on anything you may be interested in learning. From how a camera works, to how to set camera settings to achieve the perfect exposure underwater, where to position your strobes, how to better edit your pictures, etc., anything that may come up for you as a way of improving your photography.
Our backscatter team will be there from 9:00 to 17:00, if you would like to set a time in advance just let me know so I can arrange it.
Please note that it does not include diving.
Q3 Rental Gear: What is the best way to arrange rental gear?
A3: The best way to reserve the rental gear is through the guest forms. If you want a link to the form ask Jeanette.
Q4 FMM Visa: Where and how do we obtain the FMM tourist visa?
A4: The Airport will provide you with the FMM tourist card. Usually the flight attendant will ask you to fill it up. You will need it to board the boat and also to leave the country.
Q5 DAN Insurance: Does DAN dive insurance, (either Master, Preferred, or Guardian), meet your minimum dive insurance requirements?
A5: It looks lie it.
From Nautilus "We require that all of our guests have dive insurance that covers emergency care and Medevac (Evacuation flights); if their DAN program covers it, they are good."
From the DAN website "If an Insured Member has suffered a Medical Emergency during the course of a Trip and such condition requires an Emergency Evacuation or Medically Necessary Transfer, DAN TravelAssist will arrange necessary services and Covered Expenses incurred for evacuation or transfer will be paid directly to the provider, up to the aggregate benefit limit."
Q6 Insurance for non-divers: What are the insurance requirements for a guest who neither dives nor snorkels?
A6: Dive insurance is mandatory for everyone on board.
Note on insurance" If purchasing the Dive Assure Dive + Travel package through this link: https://www.diveassure.com/en-intl/home/?pid=6776 do not click "liveaboard rider" as it is unnecessary and will significantly increase the price.
- ~ 73°F - 74°F
- Recommend exposure suit is a 5 mm with a 3-5 mm hooded vest. People that get cold easily might want a 7 mm, possibly with a hooded vest.
- Some people are considering bringing a thin (trilam) drysuit and using thin / few underlayers; I'd think a neoprene drysuit would be too hot.
"Dive Butler is our answer to allowing experienced and self-reliant divers as much freedom and fun as they want while ensuring that our newer divers are comfortable and well looked after while doing our best to ensure that dive sites are never crowded. We will be splitting the guests into three different groups to ensure each guest has their ideal diving experience.
- Shark = Experienced, self-reliant divers who want a really good site briefing, want to be dropped in exactly the right spot (current is ok) and want to be first divers in the water. These divers will be encouraged to jump in a skiff as soon as they are ready to go.
- Manta = Good divers who would like a really good site briefing and want to be in a loose group with a dive guide. These divers will be the second group to head out in an unrushed way to the dive sites, timed to avoid any crowding.
- Dolphin = Those divers who would like to be with a dive master at all times. We want our newer divers to feel relaxed and unhurried about gearing up and only heading out to the dive site with a dive master when they are good and ready. This group goes down with a DM, stays with their DM, comes up with their DM."
- Your journey will include four dives per day each an opportunity to encounter resident pods of playful dolphins. You may also see up to 10 varieties of shark: schooling scalloped hammerheads, solitary giant hammerheads, Galápagos, whitetip reef, silver-tip, silky, tiger and oceanic whitetips. The list also includes whale sharks and dusky sharks and on occasion even a thresher shark.
- The manta behavior here is unique in the world. The 12-to-16-foot giant mantas of Socorro seek out intimate interactions with divers. They communicate with us, from locking eyes in a first contact to gently swimming just overhead to be tickled by bubbles. Sometimes they hover alongside or underneath a diver, where they often stay, curious and seemingly in want of a connection that has left more than one diver with tears of joy.
- When the visibility is low we may choose dives where we’re closer to the reefs and marine life such as eels, octopuses and Socorro lobsters.
- At Socorro there are some spots near the main dive sites that are suitable for snorkeling, 10-20' depth
- We'll probably spend one full day at the Boiler; this is about 10' from the surface so is a good snorkel spot (if the swell isn't too big)
- Roca Partida juts straight out of the water, and is also a good place to snorkel around; one can see lots of fish and sharks from the surface
Alcohol: Available for purchase. The Nautilus carries a wide variety of alcoholic beverages stashed at the onboard bar including: red wine, white wine, champagne, vodka, gin, tequila, rum, mezcal, brandy, bourbons, single malt scotch and beer (Mexican and domestic)
Pre-dive Continental Breakfast: A pre-dive continental breakfast with fresh baked goods, a fruit plate, homemade granola, a choice of cereal, yogurt, toast, fresh orange or mango juice and oatmeal.
Breakfast: Breakfast is usually served after the first dive and will be a mix of buffet and cooked to order. While menus are always subject to change and refinement, our "hotel breakfast" presently include: eggs to order, omelets, eggs benedict, French toast, pancakes, bean & rice burritos, muffins, hashbrowns, turkey bacon and sausages.
Lunch: Lunch is served with salad and soup of the day and presently include: Deli style sandwiches with fresh bread, homemade Italian style pizzas, fish tacos, burgers, fajitas with fresh salsas, tostadas, quesadillas and lasagna.
Snacks: Our hostesses will be on the back deck to meet you after every dive with a big smile and a tray of goodies, drinks, and snacks. Afternoon snacks include a selection of the following; homemade cookies:, brownies, sushi, cheese and cracker plates, chicken wings, assorted cakes, freshly baked muffins, banana bread, artichoke dip, ceviche, nachos, melted brie, ice cream, vegetable platters with dip and all sorts of other yummy stuff.
Dinner: Dinner is served plated, buffet or family style. There is a nice array of both Mexican and American style meals. Some of the delicious dishes include: street taco night, roast beef, salmon teriyaki, clam alfredo and New York grilled steak.
Drinks: Tea, coffee, juice, soda are included in your trip price.
Logistics
San Jose del Cabo is in the same time zone as the US this time of year.
Getting here
Arrival:
- Nautilus recommends arriving "at least one day before departure given our experience with airlines having mechanical problems, losing luggage or even cancelling flights. 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, otherwise everyone else will also miss a day of diving."
Meeting Sunday April 9th:
- Nautilus has a dive center SeeCreatures located in downtown Cabo San Lucas, 2 blocks from the Marina and a 5 min walk from Hotel Tesoro. It is in the heart of the downtown restaurant and bar district.
- You are welcome to drop your bags off and check-in whenever it’s most convenient
- The SeaCreatures dive shops opens at 8 am. You can check in for the liveaboard between 9 am - 5 pm.
- Please check-in at SeeCreatures by 5 pm.
- If you are doing the add-on 8 am boat dive on the 9th, the Sea Creatures staff will meet you at the shop at 8 am and drive you to the boat.
- Please arrive back to SeeCreatures by 7:15 pm for the mandatory safety video before boarding the boat ~ 8pm. They will drive us to the boat (we won't walk).
- On board, they will serve sushi, fruit and cheese for dinner; if you provided dietary restrictions in the on-line form, these will be accomodated, including vegan.
- If you are staying at the Tesoro Hotel, a late check out is available until 5 pm for $50 subject to availability. This can be arranged at check-in.
- Transportation to/from SJD: Nautilus does not include transportation. A shuttle is included in your package.
- If you want to use the shuttle I arranged then please send me your flight info (both directions) and hotel (if applicable); I will inform the shuttle company. They will group people with similar arrival/departure times.
- These items are provided to borrow during the trip: Nautilus Lifeline, SMB, and dive alert signaling device
Departure April 17th:
- We disembark the boat in Cabo at 8:30am. Nautilus recommend booking an outward flight after 11:30 am.
- After disembaraking you will be driven back to the See Creatures dive shop.
Our plans
- We arrive a day early on April 8 and are staying at the Tesoro hotel.
- Arrival: Alaska Flight 1422 PDX-SJD non-stop 10:29 am - 2:20 pm
- Departure:
- Alaska Flight 1391 SJD-SEA 12:40 - 5:22 pm
- Alaska Flight 2258 SEA-PDX 7:45 - 8:34 pm
Note: According to Nautilus "While sea conditions are usually fairly benign, it is an open ocean crossing to Socorro. We recommend taking anti-seasickness medication."
Typical itinerary:
April 9: board at 8 pm
April 10: arrive at the destination in the evening
April 11: dive day 1
April 12: dive day 2
April 13 dive day 3
April 14: dive day 4
April 15: dive day 5
April 16: travel back to Los Cabos
April 17: disembark 8:30 am. It is recommended that flights leave at 11:30 am or later
Money
- Non-refundable, unless cancelled spot is booked by another person paying full price.
- Non-diver price includes snorkeling (there is no snorkel guide)
- Nautilus requires all guests to either purchase medical diving insurance from them or to have proof of valid insurance from a recognized and reputable carrier. Dive and evacuation insurance is mandatory. They can assist you with purchasing this at check-in if you like. Travel insurance is recommended but not mandatory; it can't be purchased last minute after a weather event has been “named.”
Before you go