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Dive Review of Rocio Del Mar in
Mexico (Western)/North Sea of Cortez, Midriff

Rocio Del Mar, Jul, 2014,

by Sandra Holloway, CA, US (Reviewer Reviewer 3 reports). Report 7696.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling 4 stars
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments
Great crew and great boat. I had a blast diving and photographing the sea lions (and had multiple opportunities to do so). Water temp in mid July was ~79-82ish. I dove in a thick skin / polartec with thin hood and thin gloves. A 2ml suit might be perfect. Lots of people in 3 ml and 5 ml suits - eventually got too warm and chose to dive in shorts. Clarity not so hot - but it was OK as the sea lions got quite close.

During July the boat leaves out of Puerta Punesco and dives the Midriff Islands (Northern Sea of Cortez). You can fly to Phoenix and then take a shuttle for 4 hours to the boat. ($125 round trip). Easy Easy Easy. Some people just drove to Puerta Punesco and left their car in a parking lot.

I've been on 14-15 liveaboards - mainly Dancer/Aggressor types and a few more regional type boats. The Rocio had the best physical layout and best, most cohesive crew, of any boat I have been on thus far. Lots of room - even with a full boat of 20 people. Rooms were small - but it worked out fine (a head / shower / sink in each room).

No civilization for the entire week. We didn’t see a single structure, human or another boat until the last day, in the Bay of Los Angeles (area with the whale sharks - 7 of them). I was quite surprised that an area - so easily accessible from Phoenix - was that remote. Amazing scenery.

Fish life only fair. Not much in terms of pretty reefs / corals or fish life. Some schools, a few turtles, not a single shark. GREAT fun with the sea lions (and multiple opportunities to dive with them). Think Cocos with sea lions instead of sharks (aka Pacific Diving).

Even though it was beastly hot outside (wonderful hot and dry breezes) bring a sweater for inside the boat. No issue whatsoever with rough seas during the week I was there - but I imagine seas could get rough. Our seas were like glass.

Crew was amazing. They worked long, long shifts and seemed to really enjoy they jobs and the guests. Crew knew our names, gear and cameras within the first day. A great experience. Far superior to any Aggressor / Dancer type boat (and crew). The Rocio is in a far superior league at a better price point. No chocolate on your pillow - but a cohesive, safety oriented crew. Better food too.
Websites Rocio Del Mar   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Cocos, Indonesia, Lembeh, Caymans, Maldives, Bonaire, Bahamas, Palau, Thailand, Mexico, Burma,
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 79-82°F / 26-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 1
Water Visibility 15-50 Ft/ 5-15 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions 60 minute dives
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Our boat was FULL of photographers (photo class took 1/2 the boat). Smallish camera table - but fully equipped. Good lighting. Lots of BIG systems and go-pros alike. Great subjects for video. Macro subjects included frog fish, seahorses, blennys. Wide angle subjects included whale sharks (7 of them), dolphins, sea lions LOTS. Not a lot of pretty reefs.
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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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