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

Days 1-2
Your trip begins in Cabo San Lucas. Head to the Nautilus base at SeeCreatures during the early evening on day one to handle check-in. If you arrive ahead of schedule, you can leave your luggage, explore the shops along the marina, or take part in the no-cost photo workshop to get your camera settings dialed in with guidance from the onboard specialist. In the evening, you'll board the Nautilus Explorer liveaboard. Once the safety orientation is complete and everyone is settled, the vessel departs on its overnight crossing toward the Revillagigedo Archipelago. The following day is given over to life at sea. You might set up your dive kit, listen to a talk about the region's ecology, or simply claim a spot on the sundeck and watch the Pacific roll past as the sun drops toward the horizon.

Core Days
The next several days are spent exploring three of Mexico's most isolated volcanic outposts: San Benedicto, Socorro Island, and the sheer pinnacle of Roca Partida. The Nautilus Explorer liveaboard crew uses tenders to bring guests to each site based on conditions and individual comfort levels. The pace allows you to absorb the distinct character of each location.
At San Benedicto, the dive site known as the Boiler is the primary draw. This submerged seamount serves as a cleaning station where giant mantas congregate with dependable regularity. They appear from the blue with slow, deliberate wingbeats, often circling divers for extended periods. These animals have grown accustomed to human presence over years of encounters, and they sometimes pass close enough that you can make out the unique spot patterns on their undersides, patterns the crew uses to track individuals across seasons. On the deeper sections of the same site, schools of hammerhead sharks occasionally cruise along the drop-off, their silhouettes appearing and fading in the distance.
Socorro Island presents a different underwater terrain. At sites like Cabo Pearce and Punta Tosca, lava flows from ancient eruptions have formed slopes and ridges now draped in black coral and whip corals. The water here holds large aggregations of creolefish and amberjack, their numbers dense enough to shift the quality of the light. Dolphins move through these areas regularly, sometimes approaching divers with what appears to be genuine curiosity. Between November and March, humpback whales frequent the waters around Socorro. Their songs carry through the water column, and on the surface it is not uncommon to see a pair resting or a male launching himself clear of the sea.
Roca Partida occupies its own category. This rock pinnacle rises from abyssal depths with no shallow reef system, just vertical walls dropping into darkness. Currents tend to run here, and the diving is unambiguously pelagic. Silky sharks circle in loose formations, joined by Galapagos sharks and the occasional tiger shark during certain seasons. Schools of skipjack tuna move through with purpose, and wahoo cut across the periphery.

Final Day
On the last morning, the Nautilus Explorer liveaboard pulls into Cabo San Lucas. After breakfast, guests go ashore and arrange onward travel to the airport or a local hotel. The week covers a remarkable stretch of the eastern Pacific: mantas working cleaning stations, sharks holding in current, whales sounding in the blue.

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, Isla San Ildefonso, San Pedro Martir, La Reina, Espiritu Santo, San Franciscito, Loreto, Mulegé. Spotter planes, snorkel with whale sharks, beachcombing.

Day 1
This whale shark special trip gets underway with an evening check-in at the Nautilus office in Cabo San Lucas. Once paperwork is complete, a complimentary coach transfer brings you north to La Paz, where the Nautilus Explorer liveaboard waits at the dock. Boarding is straightforward: the crew meets you on the aft deck, shows you to your cabin, and leaves you to settle in. As the vessel clears the marina and heads out into the night, dinner is served in the saloon, a relaxed first opportunity to talk through the week ahead with the dive guides and fellow guests.

Core Days
In the week that follows, the Nautilus Explorer liveaboard works through the southern Sea of Cortez with a flexible plan, one that allows the captain and guides to respond to conditions as they unfold. The goal is straightforward: put you in the water when and where you can snorkel with whale sharks. From late summer into early autumn, the waters around Bahia de Los Angeles and the plankton-rich areas north of La Paz draw these animals in noticeable numbers. Spotter planes sometimes assist in locating the aggregations, their pilots relaying positions to the bridge. When a whale shark is found, the procedure is quiet and respectful. Guests slip from the tender into the water and swim alongside at a measured pace, watching the animal's spotted pattern glide past as it filters the surface. The same upwellings that attract the sharks also bring other cetaceans into the area, such as fin whales and sperm whales are occasionally seen on the horizon, though their appearances follow no schedule.
Below the surface, the region offers a full spectrum of diving. At San Pedro Martir, an offshore seamount that rises from deep water, currents sweep across the peak and draw in schools of hammerhead sharks. They tend to appear along the edge of visibility, moving with a purpose that feels ancient. Grouper and snapper hold in the crevices, while yellowtail and tuna cruise the outer edges. At La Reina, the action is different: sea lions spin through the water column, mantas pass over the cleaning stations, and the rocky reef holds schools of barracuda that catch the light at certain angles.
Around Las Animas, the underwater terrain shifts to boulder fields and sloping walls. This is where octopus find their hiding places, where moray eels peer from shadows, and where the macro life rewards those who slow down and look closely. Nudibranchs and crustaceans move among the volcanic rock, their colors standing out against the dark stone. Hammerheads appear here as well on occasion, particularly when cooler water pushes in from depth. At San Franciscito, a pinnacle rises from the depths cloaked in black coral and gorgonian fans. Green turtles rest in the shallows above, their shells carrying the patina of age. The site has a stillness to it, a sense of depth that registers even in calm conditions.
Further north, Espiritu Santo and Los Islotes bring the sea lions. These colonies are lively places underwater. The younger animals in particular approach with curiosity, spinning and circling before darting away. The water around the rocks holds cardinalfish and damselfish in dense aggregations, and the jacks that patrol the edges keep things in motion.
Between dives, there is room to experience the Baja peninsula from a different angle. Shore landings on the islands themselves offer opportunities to watch blue-footed boobies on the cliffs, their courtship rituals unmistakable, or simply sit on the sand and let the light change. The Nautilus Explorer liveaboard carries kayaks and paddleboards for those who want to explore sheltered coves, though doing nothing at all is an equally valid option.

Day 8
The final morning finds the Nautilus Explorer liveaboard moored in La Paz. After breakfast, guests disembark and board the coach for the transfer south to Cabo San Lucas, arriving in time for afternoon departures.

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
This expedition begins with a late afternoon check-in at SeeCreatures in Cabo San Lucas. Once formalities are complete, you'll join the coach transfer north to La Paz. As you step aboard the Nautilus Explorer liveaboard, the crew welcomes you on the aft deck and shows you to your cabin. With luggage stowed and the vessel's provisioning finished, the yacht slips its moorings and heads out into the Sea of Cortez. Dinner is served as the light softens over the water, followed by a safety briefing and time to get acquainted with your fellow guests and the dive guides.

Core Days
During July and August, 2 of the Sea of Cortez's most emblematic visitors occupy these waters: orcas in the southern reaches and significant aggregations of whale sharks in the remote Bahia de Los Angeles to the north. The Nautilus Explorer captain and dive guides rely on daily reports, including support from spotter aircraft, to decide whether to push north first or concentrate on the south, always aiming to put you in position for the best encounters.
In the southern Sea of Cortez, attention turns toward locating orcas. Several pods are known to work these latitudes during the summer months, sometimes drawn by the presence of mobula rays or large schools of tuna. Encounters can never be promised, but when a dorsal fin breaks the surface, the day's focus shifts immediately. The crew operates within Mexican regulations, ensuring any time spent near them remains respectful and measured. The same southern waters hold other pelagic possibilities: at Las Animas and El Bajo, hammerhead sharks occasionally materialize from deeper profiles, their shapes appearing along the edge of visibility. At La Reina, giant mantas glide through cleaning stations, their wingspans stretching wide as they circle. Sea lions at Los Islotes offer reliable, spirited interactions between the bigger encounters; young animals in particular seem drawn to divers, spinning and circling before darting away.
When conditions point north, the Nautilus Explorer liveaboard sets a course for Bahia de Los Angeles. Here, up to 220 whale sharks often gather during summer, drawn by plankton-rich upwellings that concentrate near the surface. Snorkelling alongside these animals is a study in contrasts: their size is immense - some individuals stretch longer than the skiffs that carry you - but their movements are slow, deliberate, almost meditative. You slip into the water and swim at a measured pace alongside them, watching their spotted patterns pass beneath you as they filter the surface. Finback whales, second in size only to blues, are also seen in these latitudes, along with pilot whales and large pods of common and bottlenose dolphins.
En route north or south, the Nautilus Explorer liveaboard visits some of the Sea of Cortez's classic dive sites. Isla San Pedro Martir, sometimes called the jewel of the gulf, rises from deep water where upwellings fuel dense food chains. The diving here is defined by steep walls encrusted with gorgonians and black corals, while schools of creolefish and amberjacks move through in dense formations. The site holds the possibility of encountering sharks or large rays along the deeper ledges. Loreto National Park offers a mix of underwater topography: pinnacles that rise from sandy flats, rocky reefs where snapper and grouper hold, and even a shipwreck resting on the bottom. Between dives, you can step ashore on deserted beaches or hike into the desert landscape for a different perspective on the Baja peninsula.
At Espiritu Santo, the mood shifts. Here, calm coves invite kayaking and paddleboarding, or you can simply float at the surface and watch sea lions arc past in the clear water. The islands themselves are sanctuaries for birdlife, with blue-footed boobies perched on the cliffs and frigate birds wheeling overhead.
Evenings sometimes bring night snorkels when mobula rays are present, attracted by lights suspended off the stern. Watching them move through the illuminated water, their wingbeats slow and graceful, is a quiet, luminous counterpoint to the day's activity.

Day 11
On the last morning, the Nautilus Explorer liveaboard moors in La Paz. After a final breakfast on board, guests disembark and transfer by coach to Cabo San Lucas or directly to the airport.
Some trips use the port of Cabo San Lucas and some use La Paz so check exact port details above.

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, San Pedro Martir. Kayaking. paddle boarding. swimming, hike into the hills, whatever you want.

Day 1
The trip begins in Cabo San Lucas, where guests make their way to the Nautilus dive center to complete check-in formalities and confirm dive arrangements. Boarding takes place in the afternoon, allowing time to settle into your cabin and familiarize yourself with the vessel's layout. Dinner is served on board as the Nautilus Explorer liveaboard prepares to depart. Once everyone has eaten, the ship clears the marina and begins its overnight run toward the islands south of La Paz. The first morning will find you anchored in calm water, ready to begin.

Core Days
The week ahead traces a route through the southern Sea of Cortez, with the historic town of Loreto marking the northernmost reach of the circuit. This is an diving tour of variety. One dive might find you finning alongside a sea lion colony in clear shallows, while the next drops you onto a seamount where hammerheads sometimes materialize from the blue. Early dives often take place around the islands south of La Paz, including Espiritu Santo and Las Animas, where sea lions occupy entire coves and the water tends toward calm. At La Reina, a pinnacle rises from sand flats, and the action is constant: sea lions spinning past, schools of barracuda holding in the current, and the occasional green turtle cruising the edge of visibility. The guides pay close attention to conditions and marine activity, adjusting the schedule to put you in the water where the life is most present.
As the Nautilus Explorer liveaboard moves north toward Loreto, the character of the diving shifts. This stretch of the Sea of Cortez is defined by steep walls, rocky reefs, and pinnacles that rise from deep water, creating ideal conditions for both pelagic encounters and dense reef life. Strong nutrient flow supports large schools of fish, with snapper, jacks, grunts, and sardines among them, which in turn draw predators such as yellowtail, tuna, and reef sharks. From mid-May through July, Loreto becomes the stage for one of the region's most iconic natural events: mobula ray aggregations. Rays gather in synchronized formations over deep blue water, their wingtips occasionally breaking the surface as they move in unison. These encounters are a key highlight of the tour, though they unfold on their own schedule; patience and a quiet approach are rewarded.
Dolphins are frequently encountered throughout the region, often approaching with evident curiosity. Whale sharks appear during the warmer months, particularly in early summer when plankton concentrations increase near the surface. While sightings can never be guaranteed, Loreto is regarded as one of the more reliable areas in the gulf for these gentle giants during this window.
The liveaboard trip may also include offshore seamounts such as El Bajo, where hammerhead sharks are sometimes encountered on deeper profiles, particularly where currents draw cooler, nutrient-rich water up from the depths. Other sites offer calmer conditions ideal for extended bottom time and observing macro life such as nudibranchs, blennies, and crustaceans hiding among volcanic rock formations.
Beyond diving, there is time to slow down. The Nautilus Explorer liveaboard carries kayaks and stand-up paddleboards for exploring sheltered inlets, and shore landings offer opportunities to walk along quiet beaches or, for those inclined, hike into the hills for a different perspective on the landscape. Evenings in protected anchorages invite conversation on the sundeck or a quiet soak in the hot tub as the sky shifts through its colors.

Day 8
On the final morning, after breakfast, guests disembark in the vessel returns to port in La Paz and arrange onward travel to the airport or a local hotel.

Sea of Cortez South

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, Espiritu Santo, Salvatierra wreck, Fang Ming, San Jose. Kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, hike into the hills, whatever you want. Backscatter Imaging workshop at SeeCreatures. 7-night trips also visit Loreto National Park: Coronado, Danzante, Carmen Island.

Day 1
efore boarding, stop by the SeeCreatures Dive Center in Cabo San Lucas to complete check-in formalities. If your schedule allows, join the complimentary Backscatter Imaging workshop held in the afternoon - a useful session for anyone wanting to get the most from their underwater photography setup. Boarding the Nautilus Explorer liveaboard begins in the early evening. Once provisioning is finished and final preparations are complete, the vessel departs for the Sea of Cortez. Dinner is served as the coastline recedes.

Core Days
Over the following days, the Nautilus Explorer liveaboard moves through the southern Sea of Cortez, a region where volcanic islands rise from deep water and nutrient-rich currents support dense marine life. The tours includes up to 4 dives per day, with sites chosen for both pelagic encounters and reef structure. Around Cerralvo Island and Las Animas, submerged pinnacles attract schools of jacks and bonito, while hammerhead sharks are sometimes seen along the deeper edges of these formations. At La Reina, the focus shifts to large marine life: giant mantas frequently visit cleaning stations on the rocky reef, their wingspans easily exceeding four metres as they circle slowly above the divers.
Espiritu Santo Island offers a contrast. Here, the protected waters around Los Islotes are home to a colony of California sea lions. Juveniles often approach closely, making for extended interactions in clear, shallow water. The island’s coastline also provides opportunities for activities between dives - kayaking along the cliffs, paddleboarding in sheltered coves, or hiking into the arid hills for views across the sea. The schedule allows for a beach landing at dusk, with drinks served as the sun drops behind the Sierra.
2 wreck dives add variety. The Salvatierra, a passenger ferry sunk as an artificial reef, rests upright on a sandy bottom, her upper decks now thick with filter feeders. The Fang Ming, a 65-metre Chinese trawler, lies in deeper water nearby, her hull intact and accessible to experienced divers. Both attract large schools of creolefish and snapper, with morays and scorpionfish occupying the wreckage.
For longer Nautilus Explorer trips, the route extends north into Loreto National Park. Around Coronado, Danzante, and Carmen Island, the diving is defined by steep walls and boulder-strewn slopes. Here, the water can be cooler and the currents more noticeable, but the reward is encounters with large aggregations of mobula rays from mid-May through July. During these months, the same conditions that draw the rays can also attract orcas, occasionally seen hunting in the area. Whale sharks are another seasonal possibility, with females over 10 metres sometimes appearing near the surface in early summer.
Throughout the week, the spotter plane assists in locating marine life, reporting the position of dolphin pods, whale activity, or ray schools. This information guides the Nautilus Explorer captain’s decisions, allowing the liveaboard to adjust course when something significant is seen. Between dives, there is time to review images in the saloon, discuss the day’s observations with the guides, or simply watch the desert landscape pass from the sundeck.

Final Day
he Nautilus Explorer liveaboard returns to Cabo San Lucas in the morning. After a final breakfast, guests disembark and transfers are provided to local hotels or the airport.
These trips use either La Paz or Cabo San Lucas as ports.