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Hotels, dive operators, gear, and how to get here are on the Socorro Islands location page.
Overview
A long finger of solidified lava that juts off the east coast of Socorro Island and runs out into open water, its top shelf around 15-20m before the ridge plunges past 30m into the blue. Currents sweeping along the ridge feed a cleaning station that draws Socorro's exceptionally interactive giant oceanic mantas (Mobula birostris) - wingspans to 7m - which hover over divers' exhaust bubbles at arm's length. A resident pod of bottlenose dolphins routinely approaches divers, while schooling scalloped hammerheads, silky and Galapagos sharks patrol the deeper edge. The usual tactic is to wedge into the rocks out of the current and let the pelagic traffic come to you.
Briefing note
Inside Revillagigedo National Park / UNESCO World Heritage Site (2016), Mexico's largest fully protected marine reserve; access requires permits held by licensed liveaboards. Touching mantas and dolphins is prohibited. Strong along-ridge currents and occasional down-currents along the wall; the bottom drops well past 40m, so a reverse profile and good gas management matter. Most operators require 50+ logged dives and advanced/nitrox certification. Best plan is a negative entry onto the ridge, then shelter among the rocks and wait for mantas and dolphins to approach.
What you'll see
8 species curated- year-roundGiant oceanic manta ray
- year-roundBottlenose dolphin
- year-roundSilky shark
- year-roundGalapagos shark
- year-roundWhitetip reef shark
- seasonalScalloped hammerheadPeak: May · Jun · Jul
- seasonalHumpback whalePeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr
- rareWhale shark
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22–24 °C | 20–30 m | strong |
| Feb | 21–23 °C | 20–30 m | strong |
| Mar | 21–23 °C | 20–30 m | strong |
| Apr | 21–23 °C | 20–30 m | strong |
| May | 21–24 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| Jun | 24–27 °C | 20–30 m | moderate |
| Jul | 26–28 °C | 15–25 m | moderate |
| Aug | 27–29 °C | 15–25 m | moderate |
| Sep | 27–29 °C | 15–25 m | strong |
| Oct | 26–28 °C | 15–25 m | strong |
| Nov | 24–27 °C | 15–30 m | moderate |
| Dec | 23–25 °C | 15–30 m | moderate |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Next step
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