Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What boats do you use for this experience?
Cantamar Liveaboards own a fleet of boats that are some of the most comfortable, safe and reliable vessels in the Mexican pacific.
• M/Y Cassiopeia, 140 feet long, built on 2005 and completely refurbished in 2017, she is the only Five Star diving liveaboard ship on the Mexican Pacific. With capacity of up to 26 divers in comfortable air-conditioned cabins each with private lavatory and shower, a very expert and dedicated crew, an onboard dive center, top of the range navigation and safety systems, M/Y Cassiopeia is out of this world.
• M/Y Southern Sport, renovated in 2017, she is an amazing 114 feet long liveaboard vessel. A well built Aluminum hull makes this boat fast and stable for up to 18 divers per trip in 9 comfortable air-conditioned cabins, most of them with private lavatory and shower. Expert and dedicated crew members assist the passengers at a spacious onboard dive center, while top of the range navigation and safety systems make M/V Southern Sport an amazing adventures boat.
How is diving on Socorro Island at Revillagigedo Archipelago?
The Revillagigedo Archipelago, which Socorro Island is part of, along with San Benedicto Island, Isla Clarión and Roca Partida, is located about 280 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Diving at these islands is compared to Cocos Island, Costa Rica and the Galapagos, Ecuador because of the macrofauna usually observed, and how remote and wild they are, they are called often “The Mexican Galapagos”.
It was declared “Natural Heritage Site” by UNESCO on July 17, 2017, and “National Park” by the Mexican government on November 25, 2017, the biggest in North America, giving it topmost protection from the country.
Because of weather conditions, diving on the Revillagigedo Archipelago is only available November thru May. Visibility is variable, depending on currents, winds, tides and rains. Sometimes visibility can be up to 200 feet on the Boiler or Roca Partida. Most of the reports of bad underwater conditions are in November/December and only in some sites.
Cantamar Liveaboard Safaris at Revillagigedo Archipelago feature three 60-minute dives a day, or four 50-minute or less dives a day, depending on weather, dive planning, and dive sites.
Surface water temperatures on November can be 80F (27C), lowering to 70F (21C) on January, then on April can rise to 75F (24C) to 78F (26C) on May.
What is included in the trip?
Accommodations onboard, all meals, non-alcoholic beverages, wine and beer in moderate quantities, weights, weight belts, tanks, dive master staff, cabin cleaning, towels. It is very important that all alcoholic consumption must be done after the diving day is over. You can bring onboard moderate quantities of your preferred wine, beer or liquor.
What is not included on the trip?
A port and National Park fee of USD570.00 is to be paid in cash while coming onboard, satellite internet (on MV Southern Sport), dive gear rentals, crew gratuities, gift shop purchases, airport transfers or hotel nights.
NITROX is available onboard at USD150 per week, per person. You can get a NITROX certification with our instructors while the trip is underway at USD125. Also not included, are gratuities for our hard-working crews, a good measure in Mexico is between 10 and 15% of your diving trip.
You can ask for steel air tanks for USD100 per week.
Requirements for SCUBA Diving in Socorro / Revillagigedo Archipelago
SCUBA diver certification is required. Have in mind that Revillagigedo Island is a challenging dive, especially on buoyancy control, please have enough experience for these trips. It is obligatory to carry a yellow or orange SCUBA Safety Sausage as part of your gear. Experience level is intermediate to advanced.
DAN or equivalent SCUBA diver insurance is obligatory, also travelers’ insurance policy that covers airline tickets, hotels and liveaboard fare, in case of cancellation of any reason, as they will not be reimbursed.
No night diving is allowed on the Islands. Last dive each day is 17:00. Deco diving is not allowed.
How to get to the Socorro Island at Revillagigedo Archipelago Safari?
Port of departure is Los Cabos, Baja California Sur. Arrival should be done one day before the ships´ departure to avoid missed or lost flights or luggage. We provide for shuttle between selected hotels and the boat dock upon reservation. Boat leaves port at 10:00. Getting to San Benedicto Island at Revillagigedo takes between 22 and 24 hours.
What is the best season for Socorro Island safari liveaboard?
Thru the season of November thru May, Mantas and Sharks are plentiful. Giant Mantas up to 22 ft. in wingspan are a regular on most trips. Revillagigedo is the place for shark lovers, presence of whitetip, blacktip, silky, dusky, Galapagos, tiger and even hammerhead and whale sharks can be observed.
Humpback whale sightings are during the cooler water months, February thru Mid-April. Newborn humpbacks have been observed in these years. Pods of bottlenose dolphins can be seen close to the islands from January to March.
What to bring onboard?
You should bring onboard your complete SCUBA diver gear set. Because of the water temperatures involved, we suggest a 5 to 7 mm wetsuit, also a SCUBA diver toolkit with O-rings, mouthpiece, mask straps, high-pressure hoses, etc. We suggest having your regulator serviced before the trip, and If you require rental gear, please let us know the list and sizes ahead of time so we can have everything ready for you.
Clothing onboard is very casual, t-shirts, shorts and sandals are ok, plus a light jacket. We have t-shirts available for purchase onboard M/Y Cassiopeia and M/V Southern Sport.
What documents do I need for entering Mexico?
If you are not a Mexican citizen, you are required to carry with you a valid passport, YOU NEED TO SUBMIT IT on your online check-in . An FMT form, or Mexican tourist visa is necessary ($25 USD), if you fly via Mexico City, it will be supplied on the plane and you must provide a copy of it. If you enter the country via San Diego, you must obtain your FMT at the border crossing in San Ysidro or CBX AND PAY FOR IT (there is a no-cost immigration form that allows you to visit LAND ONLY for 5 days, but if you are embarking on a ship, this no-cost document is not good). A copy of both documents has to be filed for each passenger boarding the vessel. Please scan and email your passport ahead of time so that we can file the manifest timely and avoid delays.
Power onboard the boat?
Southern Sport: 110 Volts AC 60 Hz. Plugs type A and B (USA/Japan) are compatible. Most universal adaptors can work with this configuration.
M/Y Cassiopeia : 220V 50hz F-type available
White Shark Safari at Guadalupe Island
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What boats do you use for this experience?
Cantamar owns a fleet of liveaboard boats which are some of the most comfortable, safe and reliable vessels in the Mexican pacific.
• M/Y Socorro Aggressor, 140 feet long, built on 2005 and completely refurbished in 2017, she is the only Five Star diving liveaboard ship on the Mexican Pacific. With capacity of up to 26 divers in comfortable air-conditioned cabins each with private lavatory and shower, a very expert and dedicated crew, an onboard dive center, top of the range navigation and safety systems, Socorro Aggressor is out of this world.
• M/Y Southern Sport, renovated in 2017, she is an amazing 114 feet long liveaboard vessel. A well built Aluminum hull makes this boat fast and stable for up to 18 divers per trip in 9 comfortable air-conditioned cabins, most of them with private lavatory and shower. Expert and dedicated crew members assist the passengers at a spacious onboard dive center, while top of the range navigation and safety systems make M/V Southern Sport an amazing adventures boat.
How is diving at Guadalupe Island?
Guadalupe Island is located about 165 miles west of Ensenada, Baja California, featuring crystal clear waters around it that make it the top spot in the world to cage dive with the magnificent Great White Shark at very close range. Average Water visibility is between 75 and 100 feet, with temperatures ranging between 64 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (17 to 24 degrees Celsius).
All diving is undertaken from cages attached to our boats, both Surface (for non-certified divers) and Submersible (for certified divers) give you an almost 360-degree view of all the action happening underwater. Air is surface supplied using a “hookah” device, so you have unlimited air for the time of your experience with the Great White Sharks. Even after 3 days of diving, the experience will still be amazing!
What is included in the trip?
Accommodations onboard, all meals, non-alcoholic beverages, wine and beer in moderate quantities, weights, weight belts, hookah usage, dive master staff, cabin cleaning, towels.
What is not included on the trip?
Port departure fee and Natural Park fee of USD 330 to be paid in cash while coming onboard, satellite internet (on M/Y Cassiopeia), dive gear rentals, gift shop purchases, airport transfers or hotel nights. Also, not included, are gratuities for our hard-working crews, a good measure in Mexico is between 10 and 15% of your diving trip.
Do I need to be a certified SCUBA diver?
No certification or previous training is needed to dive in our surface shark cages. On the surface experience with Great White Sharks at Cantamar Liveaboards, a “hookah” system provides air thru a hose to a diving regulator, while you stay safely inside the diving cage beneath the surface. Our staff is integrated by diving instructors and expert divers, who will guide thru safety guidelines and usage of the gear. You don´t need to swim, however you need to be comfortable underwater, while using a mask and breathing thru a mouthpiece. If you have ever done a snorkeling experience, you will be fine doing the Great White Shark adventure on Cantamar Liveaboards.
In case you want to use our submersible cage, your diver certification card is a must.
Do I need insurance?
DAN (Divers Alert Network) insurance or equivalent is mandatory, as well as travel insurance with full coverage of expenses as in the remote case that a liveaboard trip cancellation occurs, as there will be no reimbursement.
How to get to the Guadalupe Island Great White Shark Cantamar Safari?
We provide a shuttle from San Diego, CA and from Tijuana, México. Arrival should be done one day before the ships´ departure to avoid missed or lost flights or luggage.
Boat leaves at noon from the port of Ensenada, located 68 miles from the México – US Border. Both San Diego International (Lindbergh – SAN) and Tijuana International (Abelardo L. Rodríguez – TIJ) are excellent choices for getting in and out of the area.
What is the best season for Guadalupe Island Great White Shark safari liveaboard?
Season begins in August and goes thru October. Adult male sharks can be up to 15 feet long (4.5 meters) while females can be up to 20 feet long (6 meters). You must understand them as wild and free animals, however we find Great White Sharks every time we visit the Guadalupe Island waters.
What to bring onboard?
Because of the water temperatures involved, we suggest a 5 to 7 mm wetsuit, booties and your own mask. If you require rental gear, please let us know the list and sizes ahead of time so we can have everything ready for you.
Clothing onboard is very casual, t-shirts, shorts and sandals are ok, plus a light jacket. We have t-shirts available for purchase onboard M/Y Cassiopeia and M/V Southern Sport.
What documents do I need for entering Mexico?
If you are not a Mexican citizen, you are required to carry with you a valid passport, PLEASE EMAIL A COPY OF IT PRIOR TO THE TRIP. An FMT form, or Mexican tourist visa is necessary ($25 USD), if you fly via Mexico City, it will be supplied on the plane and you must provide a copy of it. If you enter the country via San Diego, you must obtain your FMT at the border crossing in San Ysidro AND PAY FOR IT (there is a no-cost immigration form that allows you to visit LAND ONLY for 5 days, but if you are embarking on a ship, this no-cost document is not good). A copy of both documents has to be filed for each passenger boarding the vessel. Please scan and email your passport ahead of time so that we can file the manifest timely and avoid delays.