Dive Review of Nautilus Explorer/Gallant Lady in
Mexico (Western)/Sea of Cortez near La Paz

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Nautilus Explorer/Gallant Lady: "Sea of Cortez Gallant Lady", Aug, 2024, by Nicholas Zylstra, CA, US ( Reviewer 4 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 13119.
Photos Submitted with this Report Click on an image to see an enlarged version and captions
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Overall fun trip with plenty of stuff to see underwater. So many sea lions, especially at Las Animas, that was a highlight. Especially coming out of a big cavern with them buzzing around us. Would go back, but later, to ensure better viz and temps, probably September or October. La Nina made the water a bit cooler than normal apparently, and varied a lot depending on the dive. Bottom temp most dives was mid 70s but a few at 70 and a few shallower ones at 82, surface temps always 82-85. Viz was 15-25 feet most dives but had a couple with close to 60ft. Wore a 3mm full with 5/3 hooded vest every dive, got a bit cold or hot on some dives. Strong but manageable current on a couple dives, calm otherwise. Came up to a surprise bigger swell after one dive which lead to a sporty time getting back on the skiff and main boat. Varied diving from shallow hard coral reefs with lots of fish and critters, rocky shores with tons of sea lions, and some more open water trying to find things like hammers (only the guide saw a couple). Saw huge red snapper, longest and fattest moray I've ever seen out in the open (at least 8ft!), massive turtles on the fang ming wreck, many sea stars, electric rays, shrimp, nudis, and all sorts of critters, especially on the two night dives like squid, lobster, octopus, needlefish, and more. No mantas or mobulas. Saw a bunch of whale spouts in the distance from the boat one afternoon. One of the guides was super handsy with the critters, which was fun to see the interaction but also not great to see some of them disturbed (like an octopus trying to hide in its den). Not a ton of anything in any one place, except sea lions, but a good variety that kept it fun. Sea seemed healthy. Boat was a bit disorganized, lost the keys to the skiff and delayed leaving port 12 hours. Seemed like they were figuring out it as they went a bunch of days. Rarely stuck to the schedule they set for the day. But still offered 15 dives over the 4 full days of diving for the 5 night trip. So can't really complain. Dive guides were guides more than anything, people could mostly do as they please and it was generally easy diving. Some more competent people often split off from the group to go look at things. Food was amazing and the service of the hostess was as well, definitely one of the highlights. Apparently we got the good chef for our trip. My wife is quite the foodie/cook and she was impressed. Boat was generally pretty comfy. Had a leak in the downstairs hallway some of the trip but not a big issue. Diving from the skiff was pretty nice, guides brought our stuff onto it and we could gear up on the way to the site. Very relaxed.
Websites	Nautilus Explorer
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	51-100 dives
Where else diving	California, Greek Islands, Similan Islands, Roatan, Cozumel, Belize, Aruba, Curacao, El Hierro, Cabo Pulmo, Utah
Closest Airport	SJD	Getting There	Fly to SJD, bussed up from Cabo by dive op.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, choppy, currents
Water Temp	69-85°F / 21-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	15-60 Ft/ 5-18 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	None most dives, stay together the few dives with current.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	One large table with lots of charging outlets. One rinse bucket. Seemed to work fine for our group.

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Dive Review of Nautilus Explorer/Gallant Lady in Mexico (Western)/Sea of Cortez near La Paz

Nautilus Explorer/Gallant Lady: "Sea of Cortez Gallant Lady", Aug, 2024,

Photos Submitted with this Report

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):

Dive Review of Nautilus Explorer/Gallant Lady in
Mexico (Western)/Sea of Cortez near La Paz