Socorro Dec 2027
Socorro Islands December 1-9 2027, 9 Days
Join us on the Nautilus Explorer as we dive among giant manta rays in the Socorro Islands!
Socorro is an oasis in the Pacific Ocean—it’s not easy to get to but it’s definitely worthwhile! After an overnight trip, our adventure starts when we arrive at these Jurassic Park-like islands, and with a little luck from mother ocean, we’ll experience our first dive with the giant mantas that call these waters home. The mantas of the Socorro Islands are happy to share the ocean with divers and appear to enjoy the feel of our bubbles hitting their bellies. Diving in Socorro offers the opportunity for amazing interaction with these gentle giants—and no other mantas in the world behave like this!
November and December boast the warmest water temperatures of the year; typically, in the low 80s. Coupled with the islands’ clear blue water and excellent visibility you couldn’t ask for a better time to visit. In addition to manta rays, there are also dolphins and 10 species of sharks that routinely make an appearance. And if this wasn’t enough, it’s also the best time of year to see whale sharks!
Why chose the Socorro Islands? The Nautilus Explorer launched their inaugural exploration in 1978. And during that time, dolphins began emulating the interactions the mantas had with divers. As time passed, pods of bottlenose dolphins started appearing on every expedition. Socorro isn't just about mantas; it's about the harmony you’ll witness among the species you’ll encounter.
Typical Itinerary
Day 1
The Nautilus owned SeeCreatures dive shop is located in downtown Cabo San Lucas, near the marina and is your home away from home. We encourage you to fly in early and allow us to arrange for some local diving at Gordo Banks, Cabo Pulmo or with the La Paz whale sharks. Your trip includes a complimentary photography lesson on Backscatter in the afternoon. Our photo pros will coach you on how to get that perfect manta image, help set up, service, or repair your camera gear, and assist with camera rentals if you left your equipment at home. You are also welcome to drop your bags off and check-in whenever it’s most convenient, but we request that you please check-in at SeeCreatures no later than 7pm as the mandatory safety briefing video for all divers starts by 7:15pm and must be completed before boarding the boat at 8pm.
Day 2
Today is all about relaxing at sea as we travel out to the islands. An orientation briefing will be held in the morning, followed by a fire and boat safety drill—but don’t worry, we’ll make it lots of fun! Nautilus Explorer is proud to have been the first, and one of the only, ISM safety-certified passenger vessel dive boats in the world, meaning that we share the same elite safety certification as the largest cruise ships. After that, we’ll keep you as busy as you like on this sea day with Manta 101 in the afternoon, then you’ll have the opportunity to prep your gear, read a book, relax on the sun deck or check out the movie selection on our onboard wifi. At sunset we’ll watch for the “green flash,” and while cocktail hour is officially at 7pm every evening, many of our guests choose to enjoy some adult beverages well before that on sea days!
We should arrive at San Benedicto Island that evening allowing for a calm and relaxing 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’ll experience some of our favorite dive 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 for as many dives as possible and we strive to offer an average of four dives a day (other than the day we have our mandatory check-in at the local navy base. That day 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 us to offering a maximum of three dives that day.
The crew caters to divers of all experience levels with what we call “dive butler.” We will zip self-reliant and highly experienced divers straight to the dive site when it opens, while encouraging our newer divers who would like to be accompanied by a dive guide from start to finish to take their time gearing up and splash 20-30 minutes later. Most divers are somewhere in the middle of this and we’ll shuttle them along with dive guides to the sites with our skiffs running back and forth like taxi cabs! 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 dive boats. We always have plenty of other options to make the most of your time in Socorro 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!
Price:
State Rooms shared: $3,895.00 per person - 6 available rooms
Single State Room: $4,868.75 - 2 available rooms
Superior Suite shared: $4,395.00 per person - 3 available rooms
Premium Suite shared: $4,995.00 per person - 1 available room
Triple State Room: $3495.00 per person -1 available room
Deposit Schedule
$600 Due at sign-up
$1000 Due May 1st, 2026
$1000 Due December 1st, 2026
$1200 Due April 15th, 2027
Final Payment due September 1st, 2027
Preferred payment is by check
4% Credit Card Fee
Your Package Includes:
State Room and all Meals
Nonalcoholic Beverages
15-19 Dives
80 CF Aluminum Air Tank
Not included
Flight and transfers
Hotel November 30th, 2027
Port tax to boat $35 pp (cash)
Nitrox $130
Steel Tank $65
Gratuity
5% Mexico Tax (will be added to total cost)
$960 per person park fee.
Payment is due at sign up.
In the event you need to cancel your trip, we will make every effort to fill your spot. If we fill your spot at full price we will refund your payments except for the initial deposit.
PLEASE NOTE:
All divers are required to have dive insurance. Travel insurance is recommended.
Note from Nautilus regarding SURCHARGES: We fully understand and appreciate how upsetting it is to be notified of a retroactive charge after you have already booked and paid for a vacation and we avoid them whenever possible. Fuel prices can be extremely volatile. Nautilus reserves the right to add a fuel surcharge if the price of diesel goes over a certain price point or unforeseen charges are legislated by the Government of Canada, US, or Mexico.
Socorro Islands December 1- 9, 2027.
Contact us: 561-745-7807 or info@jupiterdivecenter.com
Florida Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST45472
