Socorro Liveaboards
Nautilus Explorer | Rocio Del Mar
Socorro's diving is best reached by live-aboard.
 Nautilus Explorer
A Safe, Comfortable, Well-Run Ship
The Nautilus Explorer is our third vessel, custom designed
from the keel up to our specifications as a small ship that provides maximum
comfort and reliability for our guests. Heavy-duty commercial grade systems
ensure that you'll have a smooth-running voyage with the highest possible
level of safety. While we choose our itineraries for calm seas, the Nautilus
Explorer's passive stability system ensures the smoothest possible ride
in all conditions.
Nautilus Explorer Specifications
116'
long, 27' wide: Small ship size with big ship feel.
Cruise speed 11 - 12.8 knots: Steady, smooth performance.
5/16th steel hull and main deck: Built-in strength
7,000 gallon fresh water capacity / 1,800 gallons-per-day water maker: Shower
as often as you like.
Twin 70 KW gensets: Quiet power with precise voltage and frequency control
for computers
Air-conditioning and heating throughout: Comfort in every climate.
Built at Sylte Shipyard in Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Launched Spring 2000
   
Scuba Diving Socorro Island
November through May is peak season for diving the Revillagigedos Archipelago, a pristine marine wilderness located 220 nautical miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas. These islands are of volcanic origin and Benedicto (which is the one closest to Baja California) actually erupted in 1952. The next and largest island in the chain is Socorro which is uninhabited except for a small Naval base and village. Roca Partida lies to the southwest and is little more than a large group of rocks awash on the edge of a 6000' abyss. The most distant island is Clarion, located about 370 miles from Cabo San Lucas.
The diving here is famous for extraordinary interactions
with giant manta rays and you will be able to get extremely close and have
numerous encounters with these gentle giants. For more details check out
the October 24, 2003 Captain's Log entry at www.nautilusexplorer.com. Water
temps range from 78 - 82 in November and then drop to 72 - 74 at the end
of January -- which is OK because that's when the humpback whales and their
babies show up. Surface conditions are just plain tropical paradise!
You can expect to see a myriad of colourful reef fish and large numbers of spotted trunkfish as well as whitetip, silky, galapagos and hammerhead sharks, eels, octopus and scorpionfish. This area also boasts some of the best sportfishing in the world and you may see bonitas, tuna, jacks and wahoo at places like Roca Partida. Vast numbers of marine birds nest around the islands, giant sea turtles lay their eggs on sandy beaches, sealions hang out on the rocky shorelines and California grey whales give birth off Clarion Island and have been reported as so numerous inside the coral reefs that it's difficult to skiff ashore! Please note that you will not be allowed to night dive in the Revillagigedo Islands (it's too sharky).
You should be aware that we will be making an open ocean crossing of 220 miles to reach Benedicto Island. We have collected 3 years of meteorological data from the military base at Socorro Island and found that the average winter winds were less than 10 knots. It's a downhill run leaving Cabo San Lucas and generally not a problem. There is the possibility of beating home against a leftover swell from storms further up the coast. Consequently, we schedule a 2 - 3 day weather window northbound on our longer trips which should ensure a decent ride. The best news is that smooth crossings with a gentle sea are the norm from November through May. Hurricane season generally runs from June through October.
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