Nautilus Explorer Socorro

Overview

A luxury 40m steel hull long-range liveaboard refurbished in 2000, the Nautilus Explorer was custom designed for divers. The Nautilus Explorer was designed to be very safe with heavy, strong steel construction and extensive soundproofing. The vessel's construction provides for a remarkably easy ride while heavy-duty commercial grade systems ensure that you have a smooth-running voyage. A water level platform aft of the dive deck provides easy entry into dive skiffs, kayaks and Laser sailboat.

Imaginative and fresh cuisine is served with up to four meals a day, a choice of entrees and plenty of snacks. A mix of both buffet and table service is offered with a menu that combines North American and European tastes with a touch of Mexico. 

Accommodation

For a small ship, the Nautilus feels quite spacious. There is ample room to find a quiet place to read, chat, fill out your dive log or journal or work on editing the images you shot that day - whether in the separate dining room, main salon or one of the upper sundecks. And there is nothing like a soak under the stars in the sparkling clear fresh water in the hot tub after a day of diving. The main salon also serves as the ship's entertainment centre with comfy couches, a great library, a well-stocked bar and select evening video showings, presentations and slide shows.

Accommodation on the Nautilus Explorer suits all preferences, ranging from a luxurious premium suite on the wheelhouse deck, to a cost effective, mixed-gender triple occupancy stateroom on the lower deck.

All eight lower deck staterooms have private heads with separate shower stalls, central air conditioning and measure 90 sq. ft. Six of the staterooms have side-by-side beds. Two of the staterooms have large double beds and additional storage area. There is also one co-ed triple occupancy stateroom.

Three superior suites on the wheelhouse deck measure 145 sq. ft and have large exterior windows. They each have private facilities, a desk and either bureau or wardrobe. Two of these suites have doors that open directly outside. The third suite boasts a large flat screen TV and DVD player.

Emerald, the premium suite is also located on the wheelhouse deck and is twice the size of the others. It has a separate bedroom and lounge each with a large flat screen TV and DVD player, private facilities with a full-size bathtub and shower plus large private windows looking out on an ocean view. 

SPECIFICATION

• 40m long, 8.2m wide. 
• 11 - 12 mph cruise speed. 
• Steel hull and superstructure. 
• 7000 gallon fresh water capacity and 3600 gallons-per-day water maker allowing you to shower as often as you like. 
• Quiet twin 70 kw gensets operating 24 hours per day with precise voltage and frequency control.
• Ship's power is 110 volts ac, 60 Hz.
• Air-conditioning and heating throughout. 
• The Nautilus Explorer is a Millenium Boat Built and Launched in Vancouver, B.C. in 2000.

sAFETY

All safety equipment is first class and certified to the same exacting international SOLAS and ISM standards as the largest cruise ship.

Schedules & prices

Dive info

The wild, remote and exhilarating Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico are famous for their big animal encounters.

Commonly known as the Socorro - they are located in the Tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean, approximately 250 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, at the tip of the Baja peninsula. Socorro is just one of this group of islands which comprise of San Benedicto, Roca Partida and Clarion.

Socorro is the largest of the four islands and was discovered by the Spanish explorer Hernando de Grijalva in 1533. It has been home to a Mexican Naval Station since 1957. 

The area is famous for close encounters with the Giant Pacific manta ray, which can grow to 22 feet across. Divers will also see many species of shark and several hammerhead cleaning stations. Whale sharks can be found between November - December and late April - May. 

Pods of wild bottlenose dolphin are encountered on a regular basis, and from January – March the islands are home to a large population of humpback whales that visit the islands to breed and calve. Divers also frequently see extremely large tuna (the world record yellowfin is from these waters), wahoo, large schools of jacks and endemic tropicals found nowhere else in the world.

Best Times to Dive

November to May reflects the Socorro liveaboard safari season. The winter months of late January to early April are the best times to see humpback whales. This is when water temperatures are at their lowest (21 to 23°C). Outside of this time it is likely to be warmer (23 to 26°C) and a better time for manta rays and sharks. This is roughly the November to early January period and most of April and May.

Climate

The climate is tropical sub humid with summer rains throughout the archipelago. Socorro Island also has a tropical semi-dry climate zone and a subtropical sub humid climate zone with occasional summer rains. 

When To Go

The Socorro trips are only available from November - May, due to weather conditions. 

Water Visibility

The visibility throughout the liveaboard season (November – May) is variable with the lowest visibility occurring during November and December when it can drop from 30-40m to around 15-20m.

FLIGHT INFORMATION 

For trips to Socorro you will need to fly to San Jose del Cabo in Mexico. There are several flight options connecting via Mexico City or the USA and an overnight in either Atlanta, San Francisco or Los Angeles is required. Direct flights to Cabo San Lucas with AeroMexico are also available. 

PASSPORTS & VISAS

British passport holders visiting Mexico as a tourist don’t need a visa, but you do need a tourist card, which you can get on arrival by completing an immigration form available at border crossings or on-board flights to Mexico. Immigration officials at the port of entry may ask to see proof of your departure plans from Mexico before allowing you entry to the country, although this isn’t a formal entry requirement.

All non-US citizens opting to travel via USA will need to obtain a US visa or Electronic System of Travel Authorization (ESTA) at least 72 hours prior to travel. Travellers without the required visa or ESTA may be denied flight boarding. Citizens of 37 countries, including most European nations, Australia, New Zealand and Japan are eligible for the ESTA and can apply for these online. There is a charge of $14 and the issued authorisation is valid for 2 years and allows for multiple entries into US territories within that period.

Always check for last minute changes in entry requirements at the Foreign & Commonwealth website. Nationalities other than British citizens should check with their own consular office.

Please always check your own entry requirements, regardless of your nationality.

Passport Validity

Passengers travelling to Mexico must have a minimum of six months validity on their passport from the date of entry into Mexico. 

Note: If you are travelling to Mexico via the US, even if you are only transiting, you must check the US entry requirements. If you do not have the correct authorisation you will not be allowed to travel to or transit through the US.

AIRPORT TAX

There’s a departure tax of circa £50 when leaving the country by air. Some airlines include this in ticket prices.

VACCINATIONS & HEALTH INFORMATION

There are no compulsory vaccinations, but we recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A and rabies. The risk of malaria in Mexico is generally very low and therefore anti-malarials are not required for travel to the Playa del Carmen or Cozumel area. 

However, there is a moderate risk in some south western parts of the country. If you intend to travel beyond the Yucatan Peninsula we would recommend that you contact a travel clinic for the most up to date advice.

Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure. For the most up to date advice please consult your travel clinic. 

Further information regarding vaccinations for travel to this country can be found at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk and from your local healthcare provider.

Itineraries

Please note that liveaboard itineraries can change without notice. The itinerary will depend on several factors including, but not limited to, weather, diving ability of guests & the number of other boats already present at the various dive sites. All dive sites visited are subject to weather conditions and are at the discretion of your dive guides and vessel captain.

Socorro Islands liveaboards embark from Cabo San Lucas on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula and usually take around 24hrs to reach the islands.

Nautilus Socorro Island Itinerary - 8 or 9 nights

In addition to Socorro Islands, this vessel also offers Guadalupe Island trips: 

Nautilus Guadalupe Island Itinerary - 5 or 6 nights    

Reviews