Dive Review of Rocio del Mar in
Mexico (Western)/Sea of Cortez Midriff Islands

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Rocio del Mar: "Whale Sharks snorkel last day", Aug, 2024, by Tracy E. Johnson, CA, US ( Contributor 14 reports with 3 Helpful votes). Report 13069 has 1 Helpful vote.
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
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	I am 82 and thought I’d quit diving 2 years ago but my son wanted me on this trip and since he is now “my rescue diver”, I decided to go. We had a pickup at Phoenix Airport by Head Out to Rocky Point vans for what turned out to be a 5 1/2 hour trip to the Rocio Del Mar. There were multiple bathroom stops along the way. One stop was near a super market where the liquor selection was quite good and is suggested if you want cocktails on board. Hot tip is to bring foam beer holders if you like to keep your beer cold. Plenty of beer and wine on board. Worst part, was clearing Mexico customs which took over an hour in 100 degree heat. They only allowed 3 at at time in the air conditioned office followed by a suitcase search outside. Return through US border control was very fast. On board we set up our equipment and had the best fire and safety briefing ever. Fireproof bags are provided on the camera table and that is the only area you can charge your batteries. Divers are assigned to a dive master for the week and groups are dispatched at about 15-20 minute intervals on zodiacs for a short ride to the dive sites. All dives are led by the divemaster. Its important to know that the only communication is through the ships satellite phone and the chamber is a long ride away. The zodiac drivers do a remarkable job getting people to and from boat. I was probably the most oddly dressed diver with a sharkskin outfit and a shorty on top (easier to get in and out of). Water varied from 74-85 with the 85 being only on one dive. Most people walked with their equipment (fins are preloaded) from the equipment area to the zodiac, I elected to have them carry my tank and BCD to the zodiac as did a few others. At the end of the dive, hand your weights up and then the BCD. Crew will carry your tank back on board. Food was very good with continental breakfast served before first dive followed by full breakfast after that dive. The entire crew was very attentive, especially Cinco on the kitchen and stateroom staff. Rooms are small with ceiling fan but adequate with ensuite bathrooms. Unfortunately the bath rooms are not air conditioned and can get quite hot. We did 4 dives a day with the last dive being a night dive if conditions warrant. On this trip there was only one night dive. Visibility was somewhat limited on most dives due to the plankton. Saw lots of Sea Lions and a huge school of dolphins. One night we spotted a sailfish off the swim step. On the last day we snorkeled (the only time we snorkeled) with Whale Sharks which has been on my bucket list for a long time. I always envisioned lazily swimming around a whale shark. Doesn’t work that way, the boat (local tour boat) matches the sharks speed and drops you off a little ahead of it. You have to really kick to swim with this fish for a short while.
Websites	Rocio del Mar
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Ixtapa, Mexico, Panama, Bahamas, Hawaii, Fiji, Bora Bora, Curacao, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman, Guadaloupe, St. Lucia, Columbus Isle, Matinique, Key West, Easter Island, Roatan, Bali, Cabo San Lucas
Closest Airport	Phoenix	Getting There	From Phoenix take a 4 1/2 hour van ride to Puerto Paenasco
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, choppy, surge
Water Temp	75-85°F / 24-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	20-70 Ft/ 6-21 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	All dives with divemaster 50 minutes max
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	> 2
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	1 or 2
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Plenty of power outlets, air hose and fireproof bags on camera table. Large rinse tank for cameras.

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

Subscriber's Comments

By Jay Jones in CA, US at Mar 16, 2025 17:43 EST

Glad to hear you are still diving, Tracy. We're still doing it as well in the 80th percentile. You have us by a year. Jay Jones

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Dive Review of Rocio del Mar in Mexico (Western)/Sea of Cortez Midriff Islands

Rocio del Mar: "Whale Sharks snorkel last day", 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):

Subscriber's Comments

Dive Review of Rocio del Mar in
Mexico (Western)/Sea of Cortez Midriff Islands