Socorro Liveaboard - Nautilus Under Sea

The World’s Friendliest Giant Mantas

You can see giant mantas in many places around the world. But nowhere else boasts a population of giant mantas that literally seek out interaction with divers and snorkellers. While mantas are the main reason to voyage out to Socorro, there are lots of other animals to see, including schooling hammerheads and silky sharks, plus 10 other species of sharks, bottlenose dolphins that consistently hang out with divers at certain dive sites, large schools of pelagic fish, and, in season, humpback whales.

Where is Socorro?

Socorro Island is a one day sail south of Cabo San Lucas, which is located at the southern end of Baja Mexico. We specialize in big animal diving at the cleaning stations of San Benedicto, Socorro, and Roca Partida.

Experience Manta Love

The behavior these giant mantas exhibit is almost inexplicable. These gentle giants with a wingspan up to 20 feet consistently approach divers for intimate eye-to-eye encounters. If you are able to be calm and still in the water, you are almost sure to experience what we call “manta love.”

Loads of sharks

You may also see up to 10 varieties of shark: schooling scalloped hammerheads, solitary giant hammerheads, Galápagos, whitetip reef, silver-tip, silky, tiger and oceanic whitetips. The list also includes whale sharks and dusky sharks and on occasion even a thresher shark.

There is more

Your journey with us will include four dives per day (subject to weather and unforeseeable circumstances)—each an opportunity to encounter resident pods of playful dolphins.

The Boat

The Nautilus UnderSea is a legendary liveaboard with a rich history, originally launched in 1968 as a submarine support vessel before gaining fame as the Undersea Hunter exploring Cocos Island and the South Pacific. After a major refit in 2017—including an extended hull, modern superstructure, bulbous bow, and stabilization system—the UnderSea was transformed into a comfortable and reliable vessel for expeditions to Socorro and beyond. Despite its compact size, it offers a spacious layout, warm atmosphere, and a dive-focused experience.

Accommodating up to 19 guests in 9 ensuite cabins, the UnderSea features a range of room categories, including a wheelchair-accessible stateroom, an affordable triple, and a premium suite on the sun deck with hot tub access. Divers enjoy a huge dive deck, camera stations, and a water-level platform, along with amenities like satellite internet, a fully stocked bar, nitrox, and rebreather support. It’s an intimate, adventure-ready liveaboard with the soul of a diving pioneer.