Socorro: An Amazing SCUBA Diving Trip I Will Never Forget

In May 2021 I traveled to Mexico for my first international trip in nearly 15 months. I headed to Cabo San Lucas, where I relaxed for a few days before boarding the Nautilus Belle Amie for a 10 day trip to the Socorro Islands.

Officially known as the Revillagigedo Archipelago, the Socorro Islands are a group of four volcanic islands located in the Pacific Ocean, roughly 250 miles off the coast of Mexico. The islands are only accessible via liveaboard boat, and are all mostly uninhabited (aside from a Navy base on one). 

I knew that Socorro was home to giant pacific mantas (which are the largest of the rays) and I was very excited to swim with mantas again.  What I did not expect was to have my first underwater encounter with whale sharks!!! What unbelievable amazing gentle giants. 

On average, we had 4 dives each day. In addition to countless sightings of manta rays, we spent our days swimming with playful dolphins and several shark species, including schools of hammerheads. Given that the Revillagigedo islands are volcanic rocks and not coral reefs, missing from the dive sites were brightly colored coral and the fish they attract - but the huge marine life we did encounter on every dive was more than enough to leave me speechless. 

This trip proved to be the perfect “safe” escape, given that the boat operator, Nautilus Dive Adventures, had very strict COVID safety protocols in place. I highly recommend looking into these guys if you ever want to visit Socorro. 

Overall, it was an incredible trip. To see more from my epic adventure, click the video link below.