White tip Reef Sharks at the Revillagigedo Islands
Giant Pacific manta rays, sharks and whale sharks are just the beginning of the remarkable sea life at the Revillagigedo Islands (sometimes called the “Socorro Islands”).Recently, our company president Don Hirschaut, had the opportunity to revisit the Revillagigedo archipelago (home to Socorro, San Benedicto, Clarión and Roca Partida Islands) a chain of islands of volcanic origin located approximately 250 miles south ofCabo San Lucasin the Pacific Ocean. This location has sometimes been called the “Mexican Galapagos” for its unique ecosystem.
Traveling aboard the state-of-the-art Nautilus Explorerdive boat, the 8-day journey allowed participants to experience some of the most memorable marine animals in the world in a setting of dramatic beauty. These pristine islands are protected, with restricted access granted to a limited number of permit holders.
Don at Roca Partida in the Revillagigedo Islands
The professional crew of the Nautilus Explorer lead the 8-day live-aboard dive trip with a total of 23 divers. After a full 24 hours of travel from Cabo San Lucas and checking in with the Mexican Navy upon arrival, one of the first stops for the divers was “the Boiler.” This dive site on San Benedicto Island is a traditional cleaning station for giant manta rays.
Another outstanding dive site was Roca Partida. This very small islet is marked by two distinctive peaks. The surrounding waters teem with marine life. The divers spottedwhale sharks and dolphinsin the waters.
Whale shark in the waters of the Socorro Islands
Also spotted in the surrounding waters were yellowfin tuna, hammerhead sharks and numerous other species of fish.
The islands are also the nesting site of a number of seabirds, including the Nazca Booby, the Northeast Pacific Brown Booby, the Sooty Tern, Brown Noddy and others.
Dolphins in the Pacific Ocean at the Socorro IslandsDon (right) with his friend Oscar of Cabo Expeditions, in front of Roca PartidaHammerhead SharkUrchins offer vibrant colors under the seaWhale shark in the waters off of the Revillagigedo IslandsGiant Pacific Manta RayWhale shark
Book your stay at select villas for travel between 6/1/25 - 9/30/25 and get a 5th Night Free!
