Mexico Liveaboards

Where's the best liveaboard diving in Mexico?

Undoubtedly, the Socorro Islands are the star of Mexico’s liveaboard diving destinations. While commonly referred to as Socorro, in fact Socorro is just one of this group of islands which also comprise of San Benedicto, Roca Partida and Clarion. The official name for this group of islands is the Revillagigedo Islands.

The area is famous for close encounters with the Giant Pacific manta ray, and these gentle behemoths are famous for being the friendliest mantas in the world, leading to superb encounters. Divers can also see many species of shark, dolphin and, seasonally, whale shark or calving humpback whales.

The Sea of Cortez offers more liveaboard diving opportunities between June and October each year. This unique body of water lies between mainland Mexico and the Baja California peninsula. Its warm waters have long been famous as a home for all manner of marine life, with exciting liveaboard itineraries available in recent years. Popular itineraries include the opportunity to dive and snorkel with mobula and orca, and the Magdalena Bay Sardine Run, Classic Sea or Cortez itineraries are also available, offering more relaxed and laid back liveaboard diving experience.

Mexico’s third liveaboard diving destination is Guadalupe. Located 150 miles off the west coast of Baja California, this is great white shark territory.

Please note, however, that The Guadalupe Marine Park is currently closed until further notice. Please contact us for alternative options.

When the park is open, great white shark encounters at Guadalupe Island are nothing short of spectacular. Guadalupe feels like a remote outpost at the end of the earth, but is actually quite easy to get to. It’s the best destination in the world for calm, clear water and a consistently high probability of multiple shark encounters per day.

The sheer number of animals in the bay is jaw-droppingly amazing. Guests are likely to see two to three on most dives. The bay itself is home to over 200 recognised individuals, ranging from 12 to 19 feet long! At times, guests have seen as many as nine sharks on one dive—and that’s because Guadalupe is just the sort of place where magic regularly happens in the water.

Even the island itself, 180 miles from the Mexico coastline, seems magical. The coast of Guadalupe is 25 miles of rocky cliffs, but above this is dense forest, giving it the feel of an exotic, South Pacific destination. You can expect between 35 and 45 metres of visibility. You can literally see the sharks come in from beyond the anchor line. Nothing but clear, cobalt blue water.

What to see when

The Socorro islands can be dived by liveaboard between November and May each year. The giant Pacific manta rays for which the islands are most famous can be seen at any time during this period. 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 tropical species found nowhere else in the world.

May and June in Socorro are known as the baitball season. As the name suggests, these months commonly see baitballs, which in turn atract predators looking for a meal.

For those looking to experience liveaboard diving in the Sea of Cortez, different species can be seen at different times. Multiple pods of orca visit the Sea of Cortez seasonally, and are noticeable from January, with the best months for sightings typically July & August. From the end of March through to early July, the Sea of Cortez also witnesses an incredible spectacle. During these months, vast schools of mobula rays gather and literally leap out of the water, behavior that can only be reliably seen in the Sea of Cortez. These two events combine neatly to become the focus of dedicated liveaboard adventures between April and August each year. Early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

Between October and December, attention turns to the blue waters off Magdalena Bay. Vast schools of sardines gather here, with inevitable consequences. Striped marlin circle and attack and great speeds, with bryde and humpback whales also getting in on the action. This region of the Sea or Cortez is also known for sea lions, mahi mahi, turtles and even mola mola. Trips focusing on the Sardine Run are primarily offers as snorkelling liveaboards as this results in the best encounters.

Closer to La Paz, whale sharks gather each year, with sightings possible from June to November, but the later months bringing more consistent opportunities.