Dive Review of Nautilus Explorer in
Mexico (Western)/Cabo Pulmo

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Nautilus Explorer: "Serious issues, poor organization", Nov, 2020, by Sherry M. Wren, CA, US ( Reviewer 5 reports with 3 Helpful votes). Report 11496 has 2 Helpful votes.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	The first issue was the significant delay to getting on board the boat, there was no communication as to the reasons and once we got on board there were no snacks provided just a lukewarm glass of champagne. I was shocked to be told at our first dive briefing that we would be limited to 45 minutes of bottom time to be able to fit in 4 dives/day. It was also an extreme surprise to find out that there was no nitrox because a piece on the machine was broken and there was no backup. I will summarize the following issues with the diving operations below: 1. Tender is too large and difficult to use in rougher water, this cause significant safety issues for the passengers and crew, I was on board when the boat ripped off the back deck edges welded protection piece. 2. There was only 1 dive master, somehow playing follow the leader with 11 other divers is not what I expect for an operation of this caliber. 3. The tender drivers had no GPS and couldn’t find dive sites. This presented significant issues in that sites were missed and poor sites were then dived (without a current check by the guide). The trip did not showcase what is supposed to be the richness of the area. 4. Dives were always late, a schedule would be made and then nothing would happen for some unexplained reason. 5. The dive master did not have a dive light and the boat had none, I was asked if someone could borrow my light when I sat out a night dive. 6. The worst fiasco was what happened in Cabo Pulmo. For some reason even though this was advertised as a Cabo Pulmo trip we only had one day there. No arrangements had been secured in advance and the park requires reservations and use of their guides (not a new regulation so the company knew about this). The captain in his discussions with the passengers offered no solutions or plans until we insisted he contact the home office to help with a resolution. Eventually we were told that arrangements had been made and our group would leave the boat sharply at 7:30 AM and be fully geared up and ready. We sat there for multiple hours waiting and finally started very late. The organization of this was a disaster which it shouldn’t have been since the trip was not a surprise and is how the trip is marketed There were other issues which I will classify as issues with general operations. The boat appeared to have a crew that had not really worked on it together before and operations overall were not smooth. For early risers there was no access to coffee/tea until 1st breakfast was served, no post dive snacks most dives, water issues, and overall the communication from the crew and Captain was less than I expected. There were individual crew members that tried hard, the engineer, first mate, and main salon steward. I found our groups comments and requests ignored and discounted by the Captain and dive master. The best dive masters I experienced were the ones from other companies at Los Islotas and Cabo Pulmo dives.
Websites	Nautilus Explorer
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Indonesia, PNG, Australia, Solomon Islands, Red Sea, Philippines, Malaysia, Caribbean, Mexico
Closest Airport	Cabo San Lucas	Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy	Seas	calm, choppy, currents
Water Temp	80-82°F / 27-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness	5
Water Visibility	- Ft/ - M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	instructed to keep bottom times to 45 minutes
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals	N/A	Tropical Fish	N/A
Small Critters	N/A	Large Fish	N/A
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

Report currently has 2 Helpful votes

Subscriber's Comments

By peter bernstein in FL, US at Nov 16, 2020 08:19 EST

thanks for this info- I WAS planning a trip with them- will look somewhere else

By Ms Lynda Durfee in VA, US at Nov 20, 2020 14:56 EST

Wow. I hope you and other guests demand refunds (not credits) when you settled your account before the end of the cruise. I definitely will take this outfit off my bucket list!

By report author: Sherry M. Wren in CA, US at Nov 21, 2020 18:42 EST

I have received communications from the organization explaining why there were some issues and an apology. I would say their responsiveness has been good and from what I can tell this was a one off for the organization. I am going to go with them to Socorro in spring of 2020, I am willing to give them another chance.

By Ms Lynda Durfee in VA, US at Nov 21, 2020 21:25 EST

I assume you mean Spring of 2021! Please send a review afterwards. It's good to hear you apparently received a satisfactory response.

By David C Kinney in VA, US at Dec 05, 2020 14:59 EST

I am surprised by experience you had. I have been on the Nautilus Explorer to Socorro and the Nautilus Undersea also to Socorro and had great trips. Perhaps because this was a Western Mexico Cabo Pulmo trip they had some fill ins for the regular staff? Unacceptable to have those kinds of mishaps, delays, and short dive times. I was recently on the Valentina and Solmar and I recommend them as well. Did the Nautilus group sell this boat or bring in a new partner? Dave Kinney Vienna, VA

By report author: Sherry M. Wren in CA, US at Dec 06, 2020 15:03 EST

I think it was the fact that there was a last minute substitution of the crew. I am going to Socorro on the Explorer in April, I am willing to give them another chance, hoping this was a one off.

By Craig A Wood in PA, US at Dec 11, 2020 13:10 EST

I was surprised by your review. I had one of my best trips ever on the Nautilus Explorer to the Revillagigedos in May of 2019. My review is on UC. I wonder how much of this was due directly or indirectly to the Covid-19 pandemic. I look forward to seeing your review of your trip next April.

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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.

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Dive Review of Nautilus Explorer in Mexico (Western)/Cabo Pulmo

Nautilus Explorer: "Serious issues, poor organization", Nov, 2020,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Subscriber's Comments

Dive Review of Nautilus Explorer in
Mexico (Western)/Cabo Pulmo