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Sep 3 - 10, 2022

Rocio Del Mar - Sea of Cortez Midriff Islands

3-4 dives/day + 2 night dives + snorkel with whale sharks

Overview
FAQ

Warm water, diverse underwater life, easy to get to, lots of dives!

The Sea of Cortez is called "The World's Acquarium" by Jacque Cousteau. With clear, deep waters, abundant sea life, golden sandy beaches and inspiring vistas, the Sea of Cortez is a breathtaking diving destination. Dive with Sea Lions! The Sea of Cortez is diverse and has an array of nudibranchs, blennies, jawfish, rays and guitarfish, schools of fish, eels, octopus, sea horses, frogfish, Mexican horn sharks, and the list goes on. On the last day of diving, we do a morning dive then snorkel with whale sharks at Bahia de Los Angeles.

Water temp expected to be ~ 85 F at depth with occassional thermoclines. The dives are off pangas, (2-3 minutes rides are typical). Fly into Phoenix (PHX) then take a 4 hour air condidtioned shuttle van ride into Puerto Peñasco, Mexico. (Air and shuttle van not included.)

Trip Includes

7 Nights
All meals, including local beer and wine, and soft drinks
Tanks & weights
Taxes and Port Fees

Trip Excludes

Airfare to/from PHX
Transfer from PHX to boat in Puerto Penasco, Mexico (currently $125 Round Trip)
Tips, gear (available for rent)
Nitrox (currently $120)
Trip cancellation and dive insurance
Marine Park Fee (currently $28)
Mexican Tourist card, currently $36 USD cash

Cost

Initial deposit $150 (non-refundable, unless cancelled spot is booked by another person)
$1,000 due October 3, 2021 (non-refundable)
Balance due May 3, 2022

Diving

Dives/day: Average 3-4 dives/day plus 2 night dives.

Nitrox: Nitrox is $120 for the trip

Expected water temp: ~ ~ 85°F in the Midriff Islands in September, with brief thermoclines 10°F cooler.

Expected viz: 60-80+ ft

Tanks, weights: 80 cubic ft. tanks (DIN and yolk compatible) and weights are provided.

Other gear: Available for rent. Every diver is required to have a dive computer, safety sausage (SMB) and a whistle

Expected diving:

Sea Lions!
Our trips have 3 dive masters on board to lead dives and assist divers. We also have two zodiac drivers vigilantly watching for bubbles and retrieving divers upon surfacing.

Nearest hyperbaric chamber:

Yacht

Style/Comfort: Nice. All rooms have private toilets, showers and sinks, and AC.

"Rocio del Mar Liveaboard is of the utmost seaworthiness and is approved by the U.S. Coast Guard and Mexican Coast Guard. Rocio del Mar is equipped with state-of-the-art electronics and all required safety equipment."

Alcohol: Domestic beer and wine is included. Guests are welcome to bring along their own beverages if there is something special they would like.

Food: Meals included: three meals per day, snacks, beverages including soft drinks, juice, domestic beer and wine.

American style breakfast consists of pancakes, waffles muffins, toasts, egg dishes, fresh fruit, juices, hot chocolate, coffee or tea –served to fuel your active morning. Lunch is typically sandwiches, burgers, fish tacos, vegetables, fruit, pasta salads to keep you energized for the afternoon’s fun. Domestic beer and wine are stocked. Dinner starts with fresh vegetable salad and/or homemade soups. Local fresh seafood dishes cooked with savory spices are our chef’s specialty, paired with vegetable and pasta fusions of pork, chicken, or meat. Desserts are a sweet surprise made fresh daily. We can accommodate limited dietary requests.

Linens: Provided

Towels: Provided

External Communication: There is no Wi-Fi on the boat. Rocio del Mar maintains daily contact with our US office via radio communications. We are ready for constant communication in the event of an emergency. Your family and friends are welcome to contact our office at (602)558-9580 in case of an emergency. Our office staff will immediately assist your family and friends in getting messages to you. We also have a satellite phone on board for your use and emergency needs. The phone number is 011 881 632 557 444 and the rate for using the phone is $2 per minute.

Elecricity: 110 V

Logistics

Airport: PHX, Pheonix, AZ

Flights: NOT INCLUDED.

Getting here

Rocio del Mar is located at the Marina Fonatur in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico. Marina Fonatur is approximately a 4- hour drive from Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is the most convenient and closest airport to fly into to reach our port.

Booking transportation to boat: https://www.mexicoliveaboards.com/booking-hotrp.html

Arrival into PHX:

Friday Shuttle to RockyPoint: Pick up time is 11:15 am. Terminal 3, Door 9 (NE corner of terminal 3). Outercurb, northside arrivals.

Saturday Shuttle to RockyPoint: Passengers must arrive at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport no later than 11 am on the trip departure date. If you choose the Head Out to Rocky Point shuttle service, the shuttle will pick up all passengers at 1 pm at Terminal 4, door #5 at the outer curb, northside arrivals.

Departure: The boat will return to the marina in the early morning and passengers need to be ready to depart by 7 am. A continental breakfast will be served. The shuttle will pick up passengers promptly upon disembarking. Please remember to book your departing flight from the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport no earlier than 2 pm.

4 hr van ride to the boat: We can facilitate transportation services to and from Phoenix and the Marina for you through Head Out to Rocky Point. This shuttle service has 14 passenger vans that haul trailers for gear. The cost is $125 per person, round trip, payable directly to Head Out to Rocky Point. If you require this service, please do two things: 1) indicate this on your passenger documents, and 2) reserve and pay at www.HeadOutToRockyPoint.com/scuba. Head Out to Rocky Point accepts credit cards on their website or you can pay by cash (USD only) on-site.

Tourist card - bring $36 USD cash: For guests DRIVING into Mexico, (including riding the Head Out To Rocky Point shuttle), you must stop at immigration and purchase a Mexican Tourist Card (FMM). Some refer to it as a visa, but it is not officially a visa. The cost is $36 US in CASH. Bring $3-5 extra in case the exchange rate changes. Credit cards are not accepted, and immigration officials will not give change. This is not a new law; it has been in effect for years, yet it was not often enforced. However, it is now, and we must provide these to the Harbormaster. If we do not have an FMM for every passenger, the boat cannot leave the port. Should you lose your FMM, there is a fine of $50 US.

Once in Puerto Peñasco what do I do?

If you come days early, or want to stay after the cruise, luxury beach hotels to economical in-town accommodations can be arranged; and activities like golf or sport fishing. Or you can simply hang out and walk around the small waterfront area shops and restaurants. Taxis are plentiful.

Typical itinerary:

You will board the boat after 5:00 pm and dinner will be served at 7:00 pm. The boat will depart at 6:00 PM.

We travel for 12 hours and arrive by 7 am the next morning ready for our first dive. On the last day, by 3 pm we start motoring back to Puerto Peñasco.

Day 1 - Embark at 5 pm in Puerto Peñasco. Depart ~ 6 pm

Day 2 - Wake up at Refugio Bay on Angel Island Potential Dive sites: Angel Rock, La Vela, Lolo’s Cove, Sunset Zodiak Cruise with Sea Lions

Day 3 - Angel Island Potential Dive sites: Andrea’s Eagle, El Aquario, Las Vivoras, Las Vivoras including a night dive

Day 4 - San Pedro Martir Potential Dive sites: El Arroyo, Punta Martir (Sea Lions), Chayo’s Cove

Day 5 - San Pedro Martir Potential Dive sites: Ravijunco, Xareni’s Pinnacle, Coronel, Morro, in the afternoon we go looking for whales!

Day 6 - Salsipuedes & Animas Potential Dive sites: Los Cuervos, El Caballo, In Animas, El Lavadero, El Lavadero including a night dive

Day 7 - Baja and Snorkeling with Whale Sharks in Bahia De Los Angeles Potential Dive sites: El Pescador, Baja Ca., start heading back to Puerto Penasco in afternoon

Day 8 - Disembark at 7am

Money

Travel insurance: We strongly recommend travel insurance. The guest or their insurance must shoulder the costs of cancellations, losses and disruptions caused by reasons outside of the Dive Operator’s control or responsibility. This includes but is not limited to: inclement weather, health problems, family emergencies, lost luggage, cancelled or postponed flights (including those we book for them) and any other unforeseen reasons that can change travel plans and/or cause financial losses. This is available several places, including DAN, Dive Assure, and www.csatravelpro.com.

Dive insurance: Required. You must show proof of insurance and dive certification when boarding. Without proof, you will not be able to dive. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

Airfare: Not included

Other fees:

Nitrox $120 currently
Marine Park Fee $28 currently

How settle bill for on board expenses:

Fees and gratuity can be paid in advance or on the boat. Cash (USD, Pesos, and Euros) and MasterCard/Visa are accepted.

Tipping: 10 - 15% is customary. The preference is to receive gratuities in cash so that the crew may be paid at disembarkment.

Before you go

Bring: Cert cards (including Nitrox)!

Forms: complete on-line

For the form, go to www.MexicoLiveaboards.com and scroll to the bottom of the home page. The link is under General Information, 'Online Passenger Registration"

To make this process as easy as possible, gather all pertinent information such as dive certifications, medical and dive insurance information, etc. before you start. Read the instructions provided at the beginning of the form. Once you start, you will have a 4-hour window to complete the form otherwise you will need to restart the process.

In addition, Rocio Del Mar requires a manually-signed liability waiver. You will find a link to this form when you complete your online passenger information.

Passport: Please ensure your passport is valid at least six months after your return date to the US. Rocio Del Mar needs a photo of your passport 30 days prior to the trip.

Miscellaneous

Caveat: The dives are subject to the current and weather conditions that day, and can be changed at the Captain’s discretion.

CANCELLATION POLICY: If you cancel before October 2021 the initial deposit will be refunded when and if the spot is booked by a different diver. The second $1,000 deposit is non-refundable.

Sea of Cortez September 3-10, 2022 Rocio Del Mar

Sep 3 - 10, 2022

Rocio Del Mar - Sea of Cortez Midriff Islands

3-4 dives/day + 2 night dives + snorkel with whale sharks