Dive Review of
Nautilus Explorer in
Mexico (Western)/Revillagigados Islands

Palau, Bali, Coco, Fiji, Galapagos, Red Sea, Australia, Papua New Guinea,
Hawaii, Multiple Caribbean Locations

Dive Conditions

130 feet, no gloves, but generally allowed to dive own profile.  Surface
immediately in the event visual contact was lost with wall or reef.    

Large dive deck and photo table.  Large dip tank for cameras only.  Crew
was careful with cameras and cooperative in handing up and down from dingy.  

Overall Rating

Website contains an excellent, up to date, Captains log, that let us know
exactly what to expect and the latest conditions.  Boat leaves from Cabo
San Lucas and the run to the Revillagegidos (Socorro) Islands takes about
24 hours.  Except for one site where we dove from the back of the boat,
diving was from a dingy.  
 
We found the boat to be in very good condition with an outstanding crew
that catered to every need.  At least two dive masters were in the water on
every dive and we were free to follow them or go on our own.  The primary
restriction, as we were frequently admonished, was that, due to the
currents around these small islands, if visual contact was lost with the
wall or the reef, we should immediately surface as the current could carry
us a long way quite quickly.  However, currents were generally manageable
as long as the diver stayed in protected areas near the walls and reef. 
There were two dingys in that water at all times and pick-ups were very
quick.  Water temps were in the low 70s F.

We went to see mantas and mantas we saw, as well as many sharks, including
silvertips, reef white tips, Galapagos and silkies.  We were told riding
mantas was not allowed, but petting mantas on the underside was permitted,
as the mantas seemed to enjoy it.  That appeared to be so, as the same
manta would sometimes make several passes just a few feet above us allowing
it to be petted.  Humpback whales were around us on a number of dives.  We
frequently saw them on the surface and could “feel” them singing underwater
as well as hearing them.  Large schools of jacks were common and a
surprising variety of reef fish was seen.  On one afternoon we had a visit
with a friendly dolphin that also seemed to enjoy being petted and swam
with us for 10 minutes or so.  Visibility was 50 to 100 feet.  

Boat was in excellent condition and the crew seemed very professional. 
Cabins were reasonably spacious for a live aboard, all with individual
heads and showers, and air conditioning that was controllable. Lounge and
dining area were spacious and comfortable.  Dive deck was larger than most
live aboards, with a large camera table on the dive deck.  Food was good to
excellent, with the usual goodies provided between dives.  Crew took good
care of cameras and handled them very carefully when handing down and up. 


The Nautilus Explorer and the diving get outstanding scores in all
categories.  
 

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