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Website home>Liveaboards>Mexico>Solmar V

Solmar V
From USD 257 per day
Length
34m
112 ft
Max 22
Nitrox
LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE
At a glance...
  • Visits Socorro Islands, Guadalupe
  • All cabins with private bathrooms, TV & DVD
  • Camera: table, rinse tank, charging stations
  • Nautilus Lifeline GPS devices
  • Free beer and wine
  • Large boat with steel hull

Click on an image to enlarge


MV Solmar V is a long established Mexican liveaboard operator which runs breath-taking Pacific Ocean diving cruises to the Socorro Islands and great white shark cage diving trips to Guadalupe. Stepping on board this 112 ft (34m) steel hulled liveaboard, you know a week of big fish action will soon unfold.

Solmar accommodates up to 22 guests in 12 cabins and has all the comfort and convenience you could ask for including TV and DVD player in each ensuite cabin, plus an air-conditioned dining area and saloon with communal TV and DVD player.

As you can imagine, the stunning underwater encounters mean that there are likely to be several photographers on board. For them there are camera rinse tanks, a camera table on the spacious dive deck plus a dedicated computer room to review the day's amazing encounters. The crew are also used to helping divers with even the most unwieldy of camera equipment.

There is also plenty of space outdoors to relax on the upper deck where you can laze in the sun or the shade. Guests socialize there, in the saloon, or in the camera room checking out each other's snaps. The cruise includes free beer and wine during dinner times.

Whether you are interested in diving Mexico's legendary Socorro Islands, or cage diving with mighty great whites in Guadalupe, the Solmar V liveaboard is always a good choice.

 English spoken by divemasters  Divemasters hablan Espanol

Scheduled departures, prices, destinations, durations...
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 English spoken by divemasters  Divemasters hablan Espanol

More Trip Details...

Dive experience: Socorro: Divers must be Advanced Open Water certified (or equivalent) and have minimum 50 logged dives.
Guadalupe: For surface cages: no certification required. For submerged cages: Open Water and minimum 10 logged dives required. This is 'a requirement'.
Sea of Cortez: Open Water Diver license or equivalent required.
Nitrox only: Solmar is a nitrox-only liveaboard. All divers need to be nitrox certified to dive and unlimited nitrox is included for all bookings. Nitrox courses are available onboard.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner (dinner on Day 1 of Sea of Cortez trips is excluded), snacks, drinking water, hot drinks, soft drinks, beer and wine with dinner, transfers to the boat only from recommended host hotels in Cabo San Lucas, port fees, dives (as detailed in the cruises above), nitrox fill for enriched air divers, experienced English-speaking divemaster(s), Nautilus Lifeline, tanks, weights and weightbelts, Mexican taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Park fees (Socorro and Guadalupe: US$ 90 per diving day, Sea of Cortez: US$ 50 per trip) to be paid in advance, scuba equipment (US$ 340 per 8N Socorro trip), diving computer (US$ 150 per 8N Socorro trip), dive and travel insurance (see our options) . On all trips from 1 Jan 2023, there will be a mandatory US$ 200 fuel surcharge to be paid in advance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.

Optional extras: Shared transfers (for Socorro cruises) from the airport to hotel in Cabo San Lucas (US$ 35 per way) to be paid in advance, alcoholic drinks (spirits), torches, 15 liter tanks (US$ 150 per 8N Socorro trip) to be paid in advance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.

How to get there: Socorro: The MV Solmar V departs in the afternoon (around 3 pm) from Marina del Rey, 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 11 am on the day of departure. You can be picked up from the host hotel, Bahia Hotel & Beach Club between 1-1:30 pm on the day of departure. The boat will spend the last night of the trip in the harbor and so guests may depart from 9 am on the last day. For reasons of port authority security and protocols, night landings are prohibited and all passengers must disembark the day the trip ends. We recommend flying out in the afternoon to have a stress-free departure.
Sea of Cortez: For liveaboard trips in the Sea of Cortez, Solmar V 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 meet in the lobby at 9:30 am and a luxury coach will pick guests up from the recommended hotel and transport you to Ensenada at 10 am. Alternatively you can be picked up in Tijuana at the host hotel, between 11-11:30 am. You will arrive in Ensenada at 1 pm. The trip ends at midday on the final day, then the coach will transport guests back to San Diego arriving 5-6 pm, depending on border traffic (arriving Tijuana 2 pm). It is recommended that you overnight in San Diego that night. If not it is strongly recommended that flights are scheduled only for after 8 pm on disembarkation day.
Guadalupe: For liveaboard trips to Guadalupe, MV Solmar V 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 11-11:30 am. The boat departs Ensenada at around noon, and on the final day returns to port again around noon and the coach will arrive in San Diego between 4-6 pm, depending on border traffic (Tijuana 2 pm). It is recommended that you overnight in San Diego that night. If not it is strongly recommended that flights are scheduled for after 8 pm on final day.
For more details, including airlines, see our Mexico tourist information section.

Non-diver rate: US$ 150 off the published price.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travelers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of 70% of the normal published price.

Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 10 divers and 1 extra person can join the cruise in a Standard cabin free of charge (total 11 guests or more).

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 20 guests and 2 additional persons can join the cruise free of charge (total 22 guests).


 English spoken by divemasters  Divemasters hablan Espanol

Cabins, Berths, Showers, Bathrooms...
Solmar V has 12 cabins located on the lower deck. There are 6 Superior double/twin bed cabins and 4 Standard double/twin bed cabins and 2 single bed cabins. The Superior cabins are slightly larger. Each cabin has top-of-the-line 'Pillow-Top' mattresses and non-allergenic down alternative pillows and comforters.

All the cabins have:
  • Air-conditioning with individual controls
  • Portholes for natural lighting
  • En-suite bathroom with toilet and hot water shower, hand basin, toiletries and towels
  • TV, DVD player and music
  • Reading lights
  • Cabinet, shelves and mirror
  • 2 flat pin sockets for 110V electricity
  • Bedding
  • Life jackets
No. of bathrooms / showers - 13 / 12 - hot water

 English spoken by divemasters  Divemasters hablan Espanol

Crew, Facilities, Dive Courses...
The crew of 10 comprise:
  • Cruise Leader/Divemaster
  • 2 Dive Masters
  • Captain
  • Chef
  • Engineer
  • Cabin Steward
  • 3 Deck Hands (Pangeros)
Nitrox - 2 Motorized dive dinghies - Diving platform and kit up area with fresh water shower and towels - Camera table, separate rinse tank and charging stations - Main deck air-conditioned saloon and dining area with TV, DVD, music system, movie library, fish ID books - Satellite telephone - Partially-shaded sundeck with sunbeds and chairs - Water dispenser

 English spoken by divemasters  Divemasters hablan Espanol

Menu, Cuisine Type...
Dining on the Solmar V liveaboard, you can expect a range of international and Mexican dishes prepared using the freshest ingredients possible. Pre-breakfast before dive 1 is followed by a hit breakfast cooked to order, with a 3 course lunch and dinner served buffet-style. Beer and wine during meal times are free of charge.
  • Mexican and international meals.
  • Air-conditioned dining area with waiter service meals.
  • Pre-breakfast, breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are provided.
  • Snacks include ice cream, cookies, fruit, bread and toast.
  • Coffee, tea, drinking water, soft drinks, beer and wine during dinner, are all provided free of charge.
  • Spirits are available for purchase on board.
  • All dietary requirements can be catered for - please send advanced notice.
  • Cruise dining service begins with dinner at boarding.

 English spoken by divemasters  Divemasters hablan Espanol

Technical Specifications...
  • Built in year 1978, refitted in 2009
  • Maintained annually
  • Size - 34.1m x 7.6m
  • Weight - 140 tonnes
  • Top speed - 12 knots
  • Cruising speed - 10 knots
  • 2 x 500 HP Detroit engines
  • 2 x 75 KW Detroit generators
  • 2 x Ingersall Rand dive tank compressors
  • Enriched air nitrox system
  • 12 liter aluminum scuba tanks with DIN/yoke valves
  • Electricity 110 & 220V 24 hours per day
  • Water capacity - unknown
  • Fresh watermaker - 6,000 liters per day
  • Fuel capacity - 35,000 liters
  • Waste storage tank

 English spoken by divemasters  Divemasters hablan Espanol

Navigation, Safety Features...
  • SOLAS safety certified
  • 2 x Life rafts (40 pax)
  • 2 x 65 HP Mercury dinghies
  • Radios: 2 SSB (Icom & Stephens), 2 VHF (Motorola GM300 & Standard Horizon GX 1260S)
  • Standard Horizon GPS Chart 150 & CETREK 930 Cestar
  • Furuno radars
  • ECHOTEC video sounder & Furuno depth sounder
  • SIMRAD Robertson AP20 autopilot
  • 8 life rings with tethers and floats
  • Life jackets in each cabin
  • Searchlight and horn
  • Side scanning sonars
  • US Coastguard auto detection beacon
  • Sea Wave satellite phone & email
  • Furuno weather fax
  • Oxygen
  • Medic first aid box
  • Full alarm system
  • Fire extinguishers throughout, 2 fire hoses & firefighting suit with mask

 English spoken by divemasters  Divemasters hablan Espanol

Customer reviews:

Customer rating - Good
" The staff was super, and Danny is the glue to the operation.
The food was great, the food service needs a revision back to buffet style as they just can't seem to get the timing and serving down. Too many times divers were served at the same table 8 minutes apart and too late for the next dive.
The Solmar V has some issues - the anchor stopped working, an anchor was temp. abandoned, one cabin flooded due to plumbing, and the main cabin A/C worked at 50% the whole trip. To be sure the cabins are very small on this boat compared to other liveaboards.
2 things really stand out about Dive The World - the payment plan and the online chat. Sheldon was a great help to me personally. Solmar did not offer a payment plan, Dive The World did.
" - , United States, 6 December 2023 ...

Customer rating - Good
"The boat is small for 22 divers and cabins are equally tiny. Crew and dive staff are amazing as are all other aspects." - , Netherlands, 8 January 2020 ...


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