Text and images by Boogs Rosales
Aerial view of San Benedicto Island, one of the REVILLAGIGEDO ISLANDS
It can be argued that the title for best dive destination in the Eastern Pacific is shared by three remote volcanic island chains that are all typically visited via long-range liveaboards. The most popular of the three is the Galápagos Islands off Ecuador, known, of course, for Charles Darwin’s historic visit that played a vital role in everything we know about evolutionary biology, followed closely by Cocos Island off Costa Rica, which is famous for being the inspiration for Jurassic Park’s “Isla Nublar”.
The least known and last to make it to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2016 (compared to Cocos in 1997 and Galápagos in 1976), is a group of four islands approximately 480 kilometres southwest of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula collectively known as the Revillagigedos. More commonly referred to as Socorro, which is actually the name of its largest island, the archipelago has slowly made its way onto divers’ bucket lists in recent years, and has even been dubbed “The Mexican Galápagos”, despite it being a top tier destination in its own right. But unlike the Galápagos and Cocos, the draw of Socorro is not its terrestrial features or schooling hammerheads (not that they can’t be found there) – it is the giant oceanic manta ray (Mobula birostris).
Oceanic manta at The Boiler, an iconic sight for meeting these amazing creatures
ALMOST GUARANTEED SIGHTINGS
Not to be confused with the well-loved reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) we find in the Maldives and Palau, the oceanic manta is a significantly larger ocean-going species (as the name suggests) that is far less commonly seen by divers. Socorro is the only place on Earth where such encounters are virtually guaranteed.
Selfie with a manta
We owe their presence to a number of factors, mainly the underwater canyons and seamounts that serve as a pitstop in the vast blue desert that is the Pacific Ocean, as well as the convergence of major nutrient-rich currents that attract all kinds of pelagic marine life. It’s also a great place for the mantas to get cleaned by the endemic clarion angelfish, with which they share a symbiotic relationship.
MEMORIES FOR A LIFETIME
If the promise of oceanic manta ray interactions is not enough to warrant a visit to Socorro, there are also routine dolphin sightings in certain sites. There are very few places where encounters with bottlenose dolphins while scuba diving are this reliable, and it’s fairly typical to come across a friendly pod that hangs around to tease divers, seemingly asking for belly rubs. Whether it is playful behaviour or sheer curiosity, these unparalleled opportunities set Socorro apart from other dive destinations. In Socorro, it’s not unusual for divers to be rewarded with oceanic mantas, dolphins, and even schooling hammerheads all on the same dive. But a trip to Socorro isn’t just an opportunity to see these magnificent animals; it’s a chance to connect with them on a profound level, to create memories that will last a lifetime. This is an experience I’ve consistently had the pleasure of reliving on each of my visits to these magical islands.
A small pod of friendly dolphins come to greet us
GETTING THERE
Liveaboards leave either from Los Cabos or La Paz, both located in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Visitors will need a permit to dive in Socorro, which the liveaboard operators can arrange.
