Main Menu
Join Undercurrent on Facebook

The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 | |
For Divers since 1975
The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975
"Best of the Web: scuba tips no other
source dares to publish" -- Forbes
X
 

Dive Review of Nautilus Explorer in
Mexico (Western)

Nautilus Explorer, Mar, 2010,

by DAVID SHEMTOV, LONDON, GB (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 21 reports with 4 Helpful votes). Report 5411.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling 3 stars
Value for $$ 3 stars
Beginners 2 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments We were lucky in so far that the ban on visiting Socorro imposed by the Mexican Navy was lifted on the 15th of March, enabling us to dive the waters off that island. The previous several charters were restricted to San Benedicto and when conditions allowed, Roca Partida.

Unfortunately, I found visibility and the limited sightings of mantas, sharks and dolphins disappointing. The best dives took place in Roca Partida. Due to anticipated conditions, we were able to dive that site only one day. I had one dive where a single manta made a close, majestic pass and a couple where dolphins interacted with us for a few minutes, but that was it in terms of diving. Yes, there were the grey tips, white tips, a few gallapagos sharks, a sad turtle that was harrassed by one of the divers, eels, jacks, tuna, etc. Some of us saw a couple of distant hammerheads. Still, many dives were very poor with little to see through the murk. These, like me, expecting a Darwin/Wolf or Cocos experience were disappointed. The crew was clearly trying hard, but certain things were beyond their control.

One time we could forfeit a dive and join five others on a 2 hour zodiac ride in search of humpback whales. We were allowed to go into the water with them and almost all of us had an opportunity see them while snorkelling. Visibility was poor. Conscious of the 2007 incident in the Silver Banks where a snorkeller was injured by an ascending whale, we were discouraged from remaining in the water when the whales rose. This, and poor visibility, made the encounters less satisfying for me than I had in Rurutu, French Polynesia, a few years ago.

Mike Lever, the owner, was not on board. This did not translate to any fall-off in service standards. If anything, I found the crew enthusiastic and helpful. I don't think they could have done more for us.
Websites Nautilus Explorer   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Palau, French Polynesia, Maldives, Cocos, Malpelo, Myanmar, Thailand, Red Sea, Mediterranean, Norway, Carribbean, Truk, Indonesia, UK...
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, cloudy, dry Seas choppy, surge, currents
Water Temp 23-26°C / 73-79°F Wetsuit Thickness 7
Water Visibility 10-40 Ft/ 3-12 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Pretty relaxed, but no deco. Availability of 10L steel tanks [at $36 extra for the trip] allowed for longer dives.
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins 1 or 2 Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales > 2
Corals 1 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 2 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics 4 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 2 stars Boat Facilities 5 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Setup is excellent, however visibility and sightings disappointing.
Was this report helpful to you?
Leave a comment (Subscribers only -- 200 words max)
Subscribers can comment here
 

Subscribe Now
Subscribers can post comments, ask the reviewer questions, as well as getting immediate and complete access to ALL 432 dive reviews of Mexico (Western) and all other dive destinations. Complete access to all issues and Chapbooks is also included.

 
Featured Links from Our Sponsors
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Reef & Rainforest, Let our experience be your guide -- Reef and Rainforest
Reef & Rainforest
is an agency for travelers that like to scuba dive. Let us plan your trip to view great white sharks & giant mantas in Western Mexico.

Want to assemble your own collection of Mexico (Western) reports in one place?
Use the Mini Chapbook Facility to create your personalized collection.

Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

Undercurrent Home


Get more dive info like these and other important scuba updates sent monthly to your email.
And a FREE Recent Issue of Undercurrent

Free Undercurrent Issue
Get a free
monthly email and
a sample issue!


Find in  

| Home | Online Members Area | My Account | Login | Join |
| Travel Index | Dive Resort & Liveaboard Reviews | Featured Reports | Recent Issues | Back Issues |
| Dive Gear Index | Health/Safety Index | Environment & Misc. Index | Seasonal Planner | Blogs | Free Articles | Book Picks | News |
| Special Offers | RSS | FAQ | About Us | Contact Us | Links |

Copyright © 1996-2024 Undercurrent (www.undercurrent.org)
3020 Bridgeway, Ste 102, Sausalito, Ca 94965
All rights reserved.

Page computed and displayed in 0.1 seconds