To dive the Revillagigedos - the legendary Socorro Islands - requires crossing the open Pacific. It demands a vessel built not just for comfort, but for the journey itself. The 135-foot (41m) long steel-hulled Nautilus Belle Amie liveaboard was designed specifically for these waters. With a deep draft and bulbous bow to cut through swell, and extensive sound-proofing in the accommodation decks, she offers a remarkably stable ride. Whether you are heading to the famous silvertips at Roca Partida or the giant mantas of Cabo Pearce, the ride is quiet and steady, allowing you to arrive at the dive site rested and ready. She is built to meet SOLAS international safety standards, undergoes annual Bureau Veritas auditing, and equips every guest with a free Nautilus Lifeline marine radio for an added layer of security in remote locations.
Life aboard revolves around the rhythm of the ocean, and the Belle Amie is laid out to make that rhythm effortless. The main deck houses an air-conditioned lounge and dining area where meals - ranging from fresh Mexican specialities to international favorites - are served family-style, fostering the camaraderie of a liveaboard trip. When you step out, you are directly adjacent to the sizeable dive deck. This proximity means less time fumbling with scuba gear and more time focusing on the dive briefing. Above, the sundeck offers loungers and a bar, a perfect spot to scan the horizon for spouting whales or just feel the sun after a morning with the schooling hammerheads.
Diving from the Nautilus Belle Amie liveaboard is tailored for the dedicated scuba traveller. The dive deck features individual gear lockers, ample space for camera preparation, and warm freshwater showers to rinse off after your immersion. Nitrox is available for those certified to use it, and the setup is equally accommodating for rebreather divers. The layout of the liveaboard encourages a natural flow from gearing up to giant-stride entry, ensuring you spend your bottom time focused on the encounter, not logistics. As a token of the experience, a complimentary CD of images and video from the trip is provided, capturing moments you might otherwise miss, like the interaction between a curious dolphin and the boat’s wake.
Cabin accommodation on the Nautilus Belle Amie is designed for genuine rest. All cabins feature private ensuite bathrooms, and the generous beam of the vessel translates into unusually spacious interiors. You can choose from configurations with side-by-side hotel-style beds or full king-size beds, depending on the category. The liveaboard vessel’s water-making capacity is substantial, meaning unlimited hot water for showers - a simple but significant luxury after consecutive days of diving. Even the shared stateroom option offers a comfortable, cost-effective way to experience the dive cruises without sacrificing the essential amenity of a private bathroom.
The team operating the Nautilus Belle Amie liveaboard brings years of experience in Mexican waters to every trip. They know where to find the mantas cleaning stations around San Benedicto and how to read the conditions for the best chance of encountering dolphins at Roca O’Neal. This local knowledge extends to the Sea of Cortez trips too, navigating the rich seamounts and islets of the national park. From the dive guides to the engine room crew, there is a palpable sense of pride in the vessel and the experiences they facilitate. It is this consistency of service, combined with the boat's proven seagoing capabilities, that builds the confidence to book a trip to one of the world’s most remote and rewarding diving destinations. Whether you are chasing the big animals at Socorro or the biodiversity of the Sea of Cortez, the Belle Amie is simply the vehicle that gets you there, and takes care of you once you have arrived.
Socorro Islands
Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, whales, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, drift diving, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: San Benedicto, Roca Partida, Socorro Island
Day 1-2
Nautilus Belle Amie departs at 20:00 hrs. You are advised to arrive early and drop into the Cabo Dive Center in Cabo San Lucas to make sure you have everything in order for the cruise. You can leave your bags in our recommended hotel and get to know the town. You should also have dinner in town because only snacks are served on board on the first evening. After boarding the crew will brief you on the boat and diving procedures. The boat will set off towards San Benedicto arriving on the evening of day 2. During the steam you will enjoy a hot cooked breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner.
Days 3-8
This cruise consists of 4 dives on most full dive days. Roca Partida is an underwater volcano that barely breaks the surface. It promises Galapagos sharks, silvertips, silky sharks, white tips, hammerheads, and lots of mantas. Humpback whales can be sighted near Socorro particularly from January to April. There is a hammerhead cleaning station at San Benedicto.
Before your first dive of the day you can have a light continental breakfast consisting of cereal, yoghurt, fresh baked goods and toast. Dive 1 is followed by a full cooked breakfast of eggs to order, hash browns, sausages and various breads. In general, the cuisine can be described as Mexican and International cuisine. Samples from the menu include quesadillas, fish burgers and tacos and Italian pizzas.
On the cruise’s penultimate day, the liveaboard will begin the cruise back to Cabo San Lucas so, like the crossing on Day 2, there is no diving on this day.
Final Day
You can plan to be arriving back in Cabo during the morning. After a farewell breakfast, the operator can assist you to arrange onward transport to your hotel or the airport.
Sea of Cortez South (Adventure) (8 Days / 7 Nights - 24 Dives)
Trip highlights: shark action, dolphins, manta rays, seals/sea lions, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: La Paz, Las Animas, La Reina, El Bajo, Espiritu Santo, San Franciscito, Loreto. Kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, hike into the hills, whatever you want.
Day 1
You should drop into the Nautilus dive center in Cabo San Lucas when you arrive in town to make sure you are all set for the cruise. There is a coach journey provided to La Paz, then board the Nautilus Belle Amie and get ready for diving the next day.
Core Days
The safari will include 4 dives per day, combining the very best of the southern Sea of Cortez. The sea is a diver’s paradise, and with its unique ecosystem and the overall natural beauty, it has earned UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Mid-May to July is a very special time with large aggregations of mobula rays. And when there are lots of mobulas, there are orcas!! There is a good probability that guests will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to snorkel with an orca. Mid-May and June is also peak season for the really big female whale sharks. You will also see large pods of dolphins, turtles, different shark and whale species, hammerhead sharks around El Bajo and Los Animas, giant mantas at La Reina, night dives, huge schools of fish and vibrant marine life. Spotter planes are on-hand to enhance your adventure.
Before your first dive of the day you can have a light continental breakfast consisting of cereal, yoghurt, fresh baked goods and toast. Dive 1 is followed by a full cooked breakfast of eggs to order, hash browns, sausages and various breads. In general, the cuisine can be described as Mexican and International cuisine. Samples from the menu include quesadillas, fish burgers and tacos and Italian pizzas.
Day 8
Enjoy a final breakfast onboard, before disembarking in La Paz and being transferred back to your local hotel or airport in Cabo. Guests can fly out in the afternoon.
Sea of Cortez South (Whale Shark Special) (8 Days / 7 Nights - 24 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, seals/sea lions, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: La Paz, Bahia de Los Angeles, Las Animas, San Pedro Martir, La Reina, Espiritu Santo, San Franciscito, Loreto. Spotter planes, snorkel with whale sharks, beachcombing.
Day 1
You should drop into the Nautilus dive center in Cabo San Lucas when you arrive in town to make sure you are all set for the cruise. There is a coach journey provided to La Paz, then board the Nautilus Belle Amie and get ready for diving the next day.
Core Days
The safari will include 6 dives per day, combining the very best of the southern Sea of Cortez, and spotter planes are on-hand to enhance your adventure. The sea is a diver’s paradise, and with its unique ecosystem and the overall natural beauty, it has earned UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Snorkel and swim with scores of whale sharks that aggregate in a quiet bay deep in the Sea of Cortez, located at the edge of massive upwellings of nutrient rich oceanic water - it’s crazy!! Giant finback whales and sperm whales can also be spotted.
Loreto is another gem that is seldom visited. The diving is great, the scenery is fantastic. Going ashore on the deserted white sand beaches is unforgettable. We will be sure to visit all our old favorites including Las Animas, the pinnacle of San Franciscito, Espiritu Santo and La Reyna. You will also see large pods of dolphins, turtles, and fingers crossed for hammerhead sharks!! Shoreside is really cool as well with the largest breeding population of blue footed boobies in the world, as well as the large populations of brown boobies and brown pelicans.
Before your first dive of the day you can have a light continental breakfast consisting of cereal, yoghurt, fresh baked goods and toast. Dive 1 is followed by a full cooked breakfast of eggs to order, hash browns, sausages and various breads. In general, the cuisine can be described as Mexican and International cuisine. Samples from the menu include quesadillas, fish burgers and tacos and Italian pizzas.
Day 8
Enjoy a final breakfast onboard, before disembarking in La Paz and being transferred back to your local hotel or airport in Cabo. Guests can fly out in the afternoon.
Sea of Cortez South (6 Days / 5 Nights - 16 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, whales, seals/sea lions, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Cerralvo Island, Las Animas, La Reina, El Bajo, Espiritu Santo, Los Islotes, Salvatierra wreck, Fang Ming, San Jose. Kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, hike into the hills, whatever you want. Backscatter Imaging workshop at SeeCreatures.
Day 1
You should drop into the Nautilus dive center in Cabo San Lucas when you arrive in town to make sure you are all set for the cruise. We encourage you to take advantage of our complimentary Backscatter Imaging workshop when you check in. Cocktail hour starts as soon as you board the Nautilus Belle Amie early evening. And as soon as we have completed provisioning, cleaning and any last minute engineering, we will soon be underway for a lovely dinner on our way to the Sea of Cortez.
Core Days
The safari will include 4 dives per day, combining the very best of the southern Sea of Cortez. The sea is a diver’s paradise, and with its unique ecosystem and the overall natural beauty, it has earned UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Mid-May to July is a very special time with large aggregations of mobula rays. And when there are lots of mobulas, there are orcas!! There is a good probability that guests will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to snorkel with an orca. Mid-May and June is also peak season for the really big female whale sharks. You will also see large pods of dolphins, turtles, different shark and whale species, hammerhead sharks around El Bajo and Los Animas, sea lions at Los Islotes, giant mantas at La Reina, shipwrecks and night dives, huge schools of fish and vibrant marine life. Spotter planes are on-hand to enhance your adventure.
Before your first dive of the day you can have a light continental breakfast consisting of cereal, yoghurt, fresh baked goods and toast. Dive 1 is followed by a full cooked breakfast of eggs to order, hash browns, sausages and various breads. In general, the cuisine can be described as Mexican and International cuisine. Samples from the menu include quesadillas, fish burgers and tacos and Italian pizzas.
On the penultimate day of the tour the boat will start its way back to the mainland.
Day 6
Arrive back in Cabo San Lucas in time to enjoy a final breakfast onboard, before being transferred back to your local hotel or airport in Cabo. Guests can fly out in the afternoon.
Sea of Cortez South (Mobula & Whale Shark Special) (11 Days / 10 Nights - 15 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, whales, seals/sea lions, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: La Paz, Las Animas, La Reina, El Bajo, Espiritu Santo, San Franciscito, Loreto, San Pedro Martir, Bahia de Los Angeles. Kayaking, going ashore, hiking in the desert, snorkelling, paddleboarding, whatever you want.
Day 1
These cruises usually depart from La Paz, although there are occasional exceptions. You have the option to fly directly into La Paz, or into San Jose de Los Cabos with a coach journey provided to La Paz late afternoon. Cocktail hour starts as soon as you board the Nautilus Belle Amie! And as soon as we have completed provisioning, cleaning
and any last minute engineering, we will be underway for a lovely dinner and safety briefing on our way to the Sea of Cortez.
Core Days
This diving safari combines the very best of the southern Sea of Cortez. The sea is a diver’s paradise and, with its unique ecosystem and the overall natural beauty, it has earned UNESCO World Heritage Site status. July and August provide a unique opportunity to overlap the seasons when we traditionally encounter the most orcas of the year in the southern Sea of Cortez, with large numbers of whale sharks gathering up north in Bahia de Los Angeles. You will also see large pods of dolphins, California sea lions, turtles, different shark and whale species, hammerhead sharks around El Bajo and Los Animas, giant mantas at La Reina, night dives, huge schools of fish and vibrant marine life. Spotter planes are on-hand to enhance your adventure.
Before your first dive of the day you can have a light continental breakfast consisting of cereal, yoghurt, fresh baked goods and toast. Dive 1 is followed by a full cooked breakfast of eggs to order, hash browns, sausages and various breads. In general, the cuisine can be described as Mexican and International cuisine. Samples from the menu include quesadillas, fish burgers and tacos and Italian pizzas.
Day 11
Enjoy a final breakfast onboard, before disembarking in La Paz and being transferred back to your local hotel or airport in Cabo. Guests can fly out in the afternoon.
Some trips use the port of Cabo San Lucas so check exact port details above.
Magdalena Bay
Trip highlights: shark action, dolphins, whales, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities
Diving environment: advanced divers, off the beaten track
Dive sites and activities: Snorkelling, free-diving and scuba diving in Magdalena Bay, SS Independence and USS Seawolf
Day 1
Guests meet at the Nautilus dive center in Cabo San Lucas to check-in and collect any rental equipment. Then you will board the Nautilus Belle Amie early evening in Cabo for a boat briefing of the features, facilities and safety measures on board. Enjoy a delicious dinner as you settle into your cabin and the boat gets underway for Magdalena Bay. The journey takes around 15 hours.
Core Days
During October and November, a magical event happens in the nutrient rich swirling blue waters off Magdalena Bay - the second largest sardine run in the world, where striped marlin gather to hunt on bait balls. This thrilling underwater action is spectacular. There is also an excellent chance of seeing California sea lions, dolphins, wahoo, pelicans, different species of gulls, boobies, frigate birds, shearwaters, and even the awe-inspiring albatross.
While it’s best to snorkel or free dive around the bait balls, there will be plenty of scuba diving opportunities on your week long trip with massive schools of fish, turtles and the wreck of a World War I submarine and the passenger steamship SS Independence. But wait, there is more! Humpback whales are on the move at this time of year and, if you are really lucky, we might even see orcas or blue whales!
Before your first dive of the day you can have a light continental breakfast consisting of cereal, yoghurt, fresh baked goods and toast. Dive 1 is followed by a full cooked breakfast of eggs to order, hash browns, sausages and various breads. In general, the cuisine can be described as Mexican and International cuisine. Samples from the menu include quesadillas, fish burgers and tacos, and Italian pizzas.
Final Day
Disembarkation time at Cabo San Lucas. The operator will help you arrange taxi transfers back to your local hotel or airport after breakfast.
[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].
