Socorro Vortex

The Socorro Vortex is a re-purposed Canadian coastguard vessel now running liveaboard diving tours to the locations of Mexico’s finest underwater experiences: Socorro and Guadalupe. Re-designed by the legendary Peter A Hughes, this 140 ft (42m) liveaboard aims to appeal to the most sophisticated and demanding of scuba divers.

Every space on the boat is roomy and furnished to a high standard. There in an air-conditioned lounge on the main deck. The upper deck has open-air dining and lounging spaces, and there is also a sun deck with comfortable sun loungers. There is a range of air-conditioned cabins all with en-suite bathroom facilities.

Complimentary services include free high speed internet and wi-fi, an open bar policy, and free nitrox.. In fact, Socorro Vortex is a nitrox-only liveaboard, emphasizing its focus on diver safety. Nitrox certification is available on board. There is even a helipad for emergencies!

Gourmet dining, top-of-the-line beds, linens, towels and bath robes all evidence the efforts made to provide the highest quality liveaboard experience to the maximum of 14 lucky divers.

Notes: Mexico is a popular destination with limited liveaboard spaces. We recommend you book well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Socorro diving experience: Open Water and minimum 50 logged dives. This is 'strongly recommended'.
Guadalupe required diving experience: For surface cages: no certification required. For submerged cages: Open Water and minimum 10 logged dives required.
Proof of nitrox certification is also mandatory on Socorro Vortex (unless you are taking the course on board or in surface cage only).

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, soft drinks, hot drinks, alcoholic drinks, transfers to the boat only from the host hotel, port and park fees, dives (as detailed in the cruises above - no night dives), experienced English-speaking divemaster(s), nitrox for EANx-certified divers, tanks, weights and weightbelts.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): 16% Mexican tax on cruise price (to be paid in advance), scuba equipment (US$ 340 per 8N Socorro trip), diving computer (US$ 145 per 8N Socorro trip), nitrox certification (US$ 150 to be paid in advance), dive insurance, re-compression chamber fee (US$ 15) . Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card).

Optional extras: Transfers from the airport to any hotel or direct to the boat (for Socorro cruises) to be paid in advance, transport from the boat after disembarkation (approximately US$ 35 each way), 15 liter tanks US$ 135 (to be paid in advance). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.

How to get there: Socorro: Socorro Vortex departs in the afternoon (around 19:00 hrs) from Cabo San Lucas for diving safaris to the Socorro islands. Guests fly into Los Cabos International Airport, approximately 45 minutes drive from Cabo San Lucas. You should plan to arrive the day before departure or no later than 13:00 hrs on the day of departure. You can be picked up from the host hotel (Bahia Hotel & Beach Club) around 17:45 on the day of departure. Guests of Socorro Vortex may use the host hotels facilities on the day or departure and disembarkation. The boat will spend the last night of the trip in the harbor and so guests may depart from 09:00 hrs on the last day.
Guadalupe: For liveaboard trips to Guadalupe Island, Socorro Vortex departs from Ensenada, Mexico. Most guests arrive in San Diego, California the night before departure and stay at the host hotel (hotel to be advised). On the morning of departure a luxury coach will pick guests up from the recommended hotel and transport you to Ensenada. Alternatively you can be picked up in Tijuana at the host hotel (Hotel Real Inn) between 11:00 and 11:30 hrs. The boat returns to port at approximately 12:00 hrs and the coach will arrive in San Diego between 16:00-18:00 hrs, depending on border traffic. It is recommended that you overnight in San Diego that night. If not it is strongly recommended that flights are scheduled for after 20:00 hrs on disembarkation day.
For more information see our Mexico tourist information section.

Non-diver rate: None

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): Please contact us if you do not wish to share a cabin.

Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 6 guests and 1 extra person can join the cruise in a Luxury stateroom free of charge (total 7 guests).

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 12 guests and 2 extra people can join the cruise in a Luxury stateroom free of charge (total 14 guests).

There are 7 cabins: 4 Luxury Staterooms (queen bed or 2 single beds) on the lower deck, 2 Junior Suites (king bed or 2 twin beds) on the main deck, and 1 Master Suite (California king size bed) on the upper deck. All cabins have air-conditioning and en-suite bathroom.

All the cabins have: No. of bathrooms / showers - 7 / 9 - hot water