Posts Tagged ‘Hammerhead shark’

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Manta’s – Swimming Close and Gliding By, Like Stealth Bombers – The Canyon, San Benedicto

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

 

The sight of San Benedicto island rising up from the horizon was beautiful. A gorgeous sunset, the green flash, a warm hot tub and the promise of good things to come the next day. How many times has the diving been so good at the Canyon that we stayed the whole day? I can’t  believe it. We have had mantas harassing us all day, in a perfect way!  Swimming close and gliding by, fins pointed up and looking like stealth  bombers soaring through the air. They are so beautiful and its joyous  watching everyone’s expression as they come out of the water. Schools of  hammerheads, lots of silky’s, octopus, and dolphins swimming by the stern.  It was windy, dusty and a little choppy on the surface but the action below  was just incredible. The visibility started ok, and throughout the day got  better and better. Consistent diving was awarded with some great footage of  the mantas and hammerheads. The water was refreshing after basking in the  sun between dives and nothing could have gone better today than if it was  planned. I love days like this aboard the Explorer!

Captain  Kevin

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Posted in Animals, Captains Log, Destinations, dolphin, hammerhead, Hammerhead shark, Manta, Nautilus Explorer, Octopus, Revillagigedos, San Benedicto, Socorro | No Comments »

Shark tagged at Galapagos Sets New Migration Record for the ETP

Friday, May 13th, 2011

Nautilus Explorer continues to assist Charles Darwin Foundation with fascinating study on shark migration.
May11, 2011Puerto Ayora, Galapagos
The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), a founding member of the Migramar network of scientists focused on the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), and the Mexico-based research group, Pelagios, have identified a new shark migration record for this oceanic region. 

trayectoria-tiburon-eng

The Nautilus Explorer donated space for scientists to continue their research in the Clipperton area. In April, the Pelagios team found records of a silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) in the surrounding waters of Clipperton Island, 2200 km distant from its tagging location at Wolf Island in the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR). This charts the current record for shark migration in the Eastern Tropical Pacific monitored by the Migramar network. The crew on board the Nautilus Explorer serviced the underwater receivers and were able to download the data to help in the scientific research being conducted.

The record-setting female silky shark, measuring approximately 1.9 meters in total length, was tagged with an ultrasonic chip in the Wolf Island anchorage in March of 2010.  The shark remained in GMR waters for approximately two months where it was last detected on May 1, 2010.  Since then, its whereabouts remained unknown until its September 18, 2010 detection off Clipperton Island, where it remained for one month. These appearances were recorded via ultrasonic receivers placed by Migramar throughout the ETP.

Ongoing for four years, the shark-tagging project in Galapagos is a joint program of the CDF, the Galapagos National Park (GNP) and the University of California-Davis. It facilitates the capture of biological and ecological data to enhance conservation of ETP pelagic biodiversity.  Among the species currently under investigation are whale sharks (Rhincodon typus), hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini), Galapagos sharks (Carcharhinus galapagensis), silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis), and black-tip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus).

Although this individual is the only one of its species to be tagged thus far, its Clipperton registry supports the theory of a shark migration corridor within the Eastern Tropical Pacific.  The Migramar network has successfully tracked the movements of hammerhead sharks between the Galapagos, Cocos and Malpelo islands in the heart of the ETP, but never before outside this zone.  It is postulated that Clipperton Island serves as a midway resting place for pelagic fish along their migratory routes between the northern and central ETP. Clipperton Island is the only coral atoll in the ETP and is located approximately 1100 km from Tejupan, Michoacan, Mexico.  It is a French possession administered by French Polynesia.

Pelagios conducts a shark-tagging project in Mexico’s Gulf of California and Revillagigedos Islands, as well as Clipperton Island.  Migramar is a scientific network that studies the behavior, site fidelity and migrations of pelagic species such as sharks, rays and sea turtles.

In Galápagos, this project benefits from the support of Lindblad Expeditions, the Galapagos Conservation Trust and the Swiss Friends of Galapagos. In Clipperton, this project benefits from the support of the Nautilus Explorer.

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Posted in Animals, Clipperton Island, Destinations, Galapagos Shark, hammerhead, Hammerhead shark, Nautilus Explorer, Silky Sharks | No Comments »

We were lying on the bottom sneaking up to a cleaning station like a group of ninja’s. 50 hammerhead sharks showed up! Socorro Island. 08 MAY 2011

Monday, May 9th, 2011

Today was just a beautiful  morning dive. We were a quite big group all laying close to the. bottom sneaking up to the cleaning stations like a group of ninjas. The group were doing it perfect keeping down it gave fruit to a group of around a 50 hammerhead sharks came up over and over again over us making their silhouettes against the morning sun, at the same time a group of dolphins swam in to us and in between the hammerhead sharks…Hard to know which way to look.
The other dives as well gave hammer head sharks and as well we had a day of  giant mantas .
Good day
Surface conditions windy , sun and cloudy underwater 50-110 ft 15-35 m temp ca 76 F 25C

Sten

Perfecto!  First dive of this Socorro trip and we were greeted by 2 Giant  Mantas..gracefully swimming above, around and with us for the dive.  Water temp 74, viz great and the dive crew had us all well prepared and we had a great time.   There was a Hammerhead shark sighting and one man saw what he said the biggest lobster he’s ever seen.  As we surfaced and got back on the boat we divers  were greeted with glasses of water and fresh fruit , cooked to order breakfast with a beautiful array of fresh baked bread and scones.   The Nautilus Explorer is showing us a wonderful time.  When’s the next dive? : )

2dive4 aka: Mary from Sparks, NV 

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Posted in Animals, Destinations, dolphin, Giant Mantas, Guest Blog, Manta, Nautilus Explorer, Revillagigedos, San Benedicto, scuba diver, Socorro, Socorro Island | No Comments »

03 May, 2011 – A Giant Manta Ray with 14 ft wingspan had decided to perch itself on my head… – Isla Socorro, Mexico

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011

After a relatively slow day the previous day at Cabo Pearce on the east side of Socorro Island, yesterday we moved to one of our favorite divesites on the west side called Punta Tosca.

We arrived the night before last and after dinner we had our weekly snorkel with the silky sharks. With all of our deck lights shining brightly and attracting the smaller fish that the sharks and dolphins feed on, the big animals were not far behind. First we spotted one, then two, three, four and more 5-6 ft silky sharks circling the boat congregating near the stern where the light was the brightest. At this point we slipped into the water in snorkel gear and enjoyed the adrenaline inducing thrill of coming face to face with these sharks, as they swam directly to us trying to decide whether we were food or not. Luckily they decided on the latter, but not before lots of extremely close-up encounters! "It is a great feeling!", commented Martin from Switzerland.

The following day we did 4 dives on the lava flow that extends out from Punta Tosca and into the rich waters surrounding Socorro. The amazing encounters continued today, but this time with the Giant Pacific Mantas that make Socorro famous. We had many individuals in the area today, maybe up to 10 could be seen on the surface at times feeding.

Beneath the surface we enjoyed up to 4  giant mantas at a time following us and interacting with us as only these animals do. Approaching us at eye level, and holding eye contact for several seconds. Or swimming directly above us and stopping, so that they would start sinking towards our head.

There is no need to swim after the animals here or try to chase them, simply carry on with your dive and they will follow you, directly behind or above you.  At one point during my dive I had turned my attention away from the mantas, and was enjoying a juvenile galapagos shark circling below me. I felt something brushing my neck, and thinking it was a hose from my equipment I tried to push it away with my hand. Then I felt it again and proceeded to wrap my hand around it before realizing it was the tail of a Giant Manta Ray with a 14 ft wingspan which had decided to basically perch itself on my head! In addition to the Mantas, we had one dive with some great bottlenose dolphin interaction, as well as a big Tiger shark circling one group of divers several times, who managed to get a picture to prove their encounter with this infamous but elusive shark.

A really great day of diving at Socorro Island, and with more great interaction expected tomorrow at San Benedicto.
Captain Gordon Kipp
Surface conditions: Mostly sunny, air temp 22-26C, wind 10 kts, seas calm in anchorage Diving conditions: Visibility 10-20m, water temp 23-24C, current mild to strong

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Posted in Animals, Captains Log, Destinations, dolphin, Galapagos Shark, Giant Mantas, Guest Blog, Hammerhead shark, Nautilus Explorer, Punta Tosca, Revillagigedos, San Benedicto, Socorro, Tiger Shark | No Comments »

An encounter with 50 silky sharks within inches of my camera lens. CLIPPERTON ATOLL APRIL 2010

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

 

We enjoyed having David aboard the Nautilus as much as he appreciated our efforts to provide a first class diving expedition. David was on our Clipperton Atoll Trip in April 2010 but we felt his story was worth sharing with you today. Enjoy his beautiful images as well!

31 dives / 31 hours underwater….15 days plus / 361 hours and a few minutes aboard the Nautilus Explorer….Diving the Revillagigedo islands and Clipperton Atoll…..All of it PRICELESS!!!

What a wonderful adventure! Allow me to reminisce about the 2010 Clipperton Atoll trip. Boarding the spacious Nautilus Explorer on the morning of April 10, I was greeted like a long lost friend. After stowing my gear, I began to relax and let the superb crew do their excellent job of assuring my safety, comfort, and gustatory needs.

After a day at sea heading south, we were greeted by a pod of dolphins in our bow wake as we arrived at San Benedicto island. Viewing the ‘Boiler’ dive site from the dive deck, we were treated to a mother humpback whale and her newborn, breaching close to the island. Underwater, the sounds of the humpback whale songs were absolutely awe inspiring! No giant Pacific mantas today, but there was a layer of krill on which the mantas feed. Sightings of a couple hammerheads were noted off in the ‘blue’. After diving the ‘Boiler’, we made our way to Socorro Island to check in/out with the Mexican authorities before departing for the two day journey to Clipperton Atoll.

Humpback-mother

Beautiful following seas and a stable platform (the Nautilus Explorer) insured that everyone was comfortable. This allowed for lots of R&R and a chance to get to know the other passengers. Dolphins played in our wake making for some great photo opportunities during the transit.

Dolphins-Clipperton

Arrival at Clipperton Atoll was with an unplanned fanfare of a fish bait ball undergoing predation by hundreds of boobie birds, dolphins, and sharks! A decision was made to attempt an in-water close-up of the bait ball action, but unfortunately the feeding frenzy was over before we could get in the water. However, lots of photos were obtained of the above water action!

Bait-Ball

Diving Clipperton Atoll on both the leeward and windward sides was punctuated by beautiful sunrises and sunsets. It is truly fantastic arising to experience the day’s first light with your new friends and have a crew member deliver refills of the morning java on the top deck…Thanks Katharine!!!

Clipperton-Sunrise

The dives around Clipperton revealed pristine coral, interesting night dives, lots of free swimming morays, endemic fish such as the Clipperton Angelfish, leather bass that could eat steel, yellow-fin tuna, schools of curious jacks, dolphins that accompanied dives, an extended open water freedive with 50-60 dolphins, schools of hammerhead sharks that numbered between 20-30 sharks, an encounter with 50 silky sharks within inches of my camera lens, lots of juvenile silvertip sharks, a huge ‘mama’ silvertip, Galapagos sharks, and a shark that even our shark expert Mauricio Hoyos wasn’t sure about (maybe we discovered a new shark species found exclusively around Clipperton Atoll???)! Mauricio was going to work on the correct identification once he got back to the mainland. A brief sighting of a large Tiger shark was reported as well. The guests had several encounters with the spines of the local urchins as well as some interesting action from the morays….right, Harry???

Silky-school

Clipperton-Silvertip

Dolphin-school

After completing 22 dives around Clipperton, we said good-bye to the atoll and headed back north towards the Revillagigedo islands. After two days transit we arrived to dive Roca Partida. Upon surfacing from a dive punctuated by seeing two 10 foot Galapagos sharks, scalloped hammerhead sharks, and my first giant Pacific manta ray of the trip, we were informed that there was a humpback whale and its calf that were literally hanging out at the swim platform of the Nautilus Explorer! Into snorkel mode we all went, and the mother/calf humpback pair allowed us a special treat with an in-water encounter that lasted over an hour!!!! Thanks to Captain Gordon for knowing exactly where to anchor the Nautilus Explorer!

Humpback-and-calf

Humpback-calf

After reluctantly weighing anchor, we made our way to San Benedicto Island to hopefully have more underwater excitement. The next morning dawned with us at the ‘Canyon’ dive site. Anticipation was high for giant Pacific manta ray encounters and we were not to be disappointed. As many as four manta rays played with us allowing for photo ops as well as gentle encounters with them. I always love peering into their eyes and hope for that special wink!

A glorious sunset with the Nautilus Explorer in the background was the perfect way to end the day and the diving on this trip. We all enjoyed the beauty from the skiff as well as drinks delivered especially for the sunset cruise.

Nautilus-at-Sunset

We were fortunate to have some “special” passengers aboard that were doing scientific research. Dr. Jeff Bozanic, Dr. Mauricio Hoyos, and Nicole Crane were all conducting different research on the trip. We were treated to presentations regarding their past and present research where we had the opportunity to gain insight into Great white sharks / Guadalupe Island, cave diving and finding new species of cave life (Remipedia), an excellent manta ray biology talk, a presentation on Antarctica diving, as well as findings regarding the fish surveys done while we were at Clipperton!

Clipperton-Silky

There was even a physician on board (me) that was able to extract a rather large hook from a sportfishing boat crewman’s hand that resulted in the largest ‘catch’ of tuna on the Nautilus Explorer (the fisherman ‘paid’ in freshly caught tuna!!!)…much to the chagrin of the other fishermen on board…sorry Harry and Sten!

All in all this was a GREAT adventure that was only possible because someone had the foresight to design, build, and staff the Nautilus Explorer for what is arguably the best liveaboard in the Pacific!

Thanks to Captain Gordon and first mate Sandy for a safe voyage with their excellent navigation skills and ensuring our safe voyage aboard the Nautilus Explorer. The hostesses, Kate and Katharine worked tirelessly to make sure that we never wanted for any creature comforts. Larry, the engineer, made sure that all things mechanical stayed that way. Bayu always greeted us with a smile and never forgot to pick us up in the zodiac after we surfaced from a dive. Divemasters, Polly and Grant, were pleasant, professional, and a pleasure to have in the water during the dives. How do you possibly not repeat a recipe with all the meals served over a 15 day voyage?….The answer is you ask Enrique the chef! The food he prepared was unbelievably delicious!!! And Sten…the Swede…What can I say?….Top divemaster….Guide Extraordinaire….My third time on the Nautilus Explorer with his expert divemastering…..I’d follow him to all the ends of the earth diving!!!!!!! Sten, you have my address!
My only regret is that I haven’t been able to accompany the Nautilus Explorer to her ‘home’ waters in Canada.
Again thank you and your staff for the privilege to be aboard for another fantastic, almost indescribable, and wonderful ADVENTURE…..a unique, rare opportunity to EXPLORE the planet in a way few people will ever experience!!!

David Massey, M.D.
Virginia, USA

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Posted in Animals, bottlenose dolphin, Clipperton Island, Destinations, dolphin, Greenling, hammerhead, Hammerhead shark, Humpback Whale, Moray Eel, Nautilus Explorer, Revillagigedos, Roca Partida, San Benedicto, scuba diver, Sea, shark, Silky Sharks, silvertip reef shark, Socorro, Socorro Island, The Boiler, The Canyon, Wahoo, whitetip reef shark | No Comments »

Guest Blog – Hammerheads, and what I am Certain was a Tiger Shark – Clipperton

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

Another sunny day at Clipperton. Today diving around the NE side of the island. A lot of activity on the reef for the pre-breakfast dive with White Tip Reef and Galapagos sharks cruising in. If you hung around too long a Moray would be over to check you out. Excitement on the third dive: hammerheads and what I am certain was a Tiger shark – a substantial outline with those silver and black stripes – just checking the video now – it cruised into the reef and skirted us and then back into the blue. Reports from the fourth dive include a turtle sighting ..
Nadine

Day started well, backward roll straight into the blue and a circling school of big eye jacks. On the second dive I saw a hammerhead, not in the blue but cruising on the reef at 26 metres. I sat out the 3rd dive which is not to be advised on Clipperton as I missed 2 more hammerheads!
But on 4th dive, with a great deal of fish activity, we saw another scalloped hammerhead but it was on the small side. Towards end of dive we also saw a wahoo above us near the surface.A hawksbill turtle was also spotted by another group.
The boobies as ever were a constant source of amusement. The crew and the food are also a constant joy!
Felicity

PS I’m on my 3rd day of not smoking and I haven’t killed my buddy yet!!!!

I went for a dive today, I hang out with Joel(one of the dive master) the whole dive. We saw chango(Sten)(the other dive master)playing with two moray, crazy monky(chango). Anyway I look up and I saw swimming by a hammerhead, I start to scream to get the attention of the divers that were close to me, and I did….I think that was funny.
Also I saw a  juvenile white tip shark,so cute…Joel was taking a picture of a flounder when a  moray come close to him and surprise him…..hahaha. He scared the moray away with his camera. Was a nice dive…….. Peter one of the guest had a thought, that  maybe I’m the only Mexican woman that has being diving in Clipperton in 2011. Cool ha!!!!!.

Hostess Silvia.

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Posted in Animals, Clipperton Island, Destinations, Guest Blog, Hammerhead shark, Moray Eel, Nautilus Explorer, scuba diver, Silky Sharks | No Comments »

Captain and Guest Blog – I’m pretty sure a dolphin tried to talk to me using his blowhole – Socorro March 29th

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

I’m pretty sure a bottlenose dolphin tried to talk to me today, using his blowhole.  I was in one of our tenders tied up at the divesite, waiting for the divers to come back. There were dolphins all around the divesite, coming up for a breath and then diving down to play with the divers. One time a dolphin came up right next to me in the boat, but when he expelled the gas through his blowhole he turned sideways a little so that his blowhole was partly submerged in the water, pointing it in my direction, and blowing out hard three times in succession, each time making a loud trumpet-like sound at me.  I’ve never seen a dolphin display this behaviour before and I’m quite sure it was some attempt at communication. The way he tilted his body sideways so that the blowhole was submerged just enough to create the trumpet-like noise was quite deliberate. Anyway, I did my best trumpet imitation back at him and he immediately descended back into the divers bubbles. I guess he didn’t like what I had to say.
Captain Gordon

Jeroen_Elout_Socorro_Island-226sm

Photo by Jeroen Elout

What a beautiful day, I do not know what to name first, started off with giant Mantas again, you start to look up and go oh, o.k. Manta again where are the dolphins and the whales ? Guess we are getting spoiled … Had a couple of big hammerheads but really shy. Some silver tips a little bit more curios a lot of small stuff again if you watch out for it like a big group of spotted puffer fish eating up the rest of a giant lobster head.

But definitely to personal highlights of our “diving life” was a group of six dolphins playing with us through out the whole dive. I realized  there are some a little bit shy always sticking to a more curious one, some were imitating our bubbles and some needed a little bit entertainment to stick to us otherwise they went of thinking probably boring divers-we play somewhere else…but maybe we are just interpreting a lot of human feelings into this always smiling face. I definitely felt touched by looking in their eyes.

Christine-Hagen

Photo by Christine Hagen

Finally we went whale watching with the zodiac and while snorkelling we had twice a mother and calf in the water with us although we had to be a little bit sportive to get to them it was a moment we will never forget and on video or camera the best picture is in our head of a comparably small calf swimming besides its huge mother moving silently beside us and then with a wave of their fluke disappearing into the depth of the ocean again-leaving us behind-startled-full of emotions and overwhelmingly happy…
Annette and Birte from Germany:

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Posted in Animals, Captains Log, Destinations, dolphin, Guest Blog, hammerhead, Humpback Whale, Manta, Nautilus Explorer, Revillagigedos, scuba diver, Sea, Socorro, whales | 1 Comment »

Captain’s Blog and Video – schooling hammerheads and friendly giant pacific Mantas – Socorro

Thursday, March 24th, 2011

 

Enroute to Socorro from the Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico
After a few days exploring the Sea of Cortez we are now back in the open Pacific ocean and again in search of more big animals. We emerged from the Sea of Cortez near Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and gradually began feeling the change in motion of the Nautilus as we passed from the more sheltered waters into the gently rolling swell of the Pacific. With a fairly large swell forecast we first headed westward, and not in the direction of the Socorro Islands, in order to gain a better angle on the expected swell. We are now back on course with the big rolling swells passing under us from the stern making for a very comfortable ride. Our first stop tomorrow morning will be the island of San Benedicto, well known for its schooling hammerheads and friendly giant pacific Mantas. With 10 days of diving still left in this expedition we will have lots of time to explore all 4 of the Socorro Islands, including the rarely visited Clarion Island. Updates from Isla San Benedicto to come tomorrow, so stay tuned!
Captain Gordon Kipp
Weather: Swell WNW 10ft at 15seconds, wind N 10-15kts, skies mostly clear, air temp 22C

We recently received this video from a guest who came on board the Nautilus, and we just  HAD to share it with everyone – Free diving with the Mantas, take a look:

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Posted in Animals, Destinations, dolphin, Giant Mantas, Guest Blog, hammerhead, Manta, Nautilus Explorer, San Benedicto, Sea of Cortez, shark, silvertip reef shark, Socorro, whitetip reef shark | No Comments »

Special guest –  Dr. Ingrid Visser – world renowned whale expert  -  Captain and crew blog – FEB 18, 2011

Sunday, February 20th, 2011

I recieved a huge Welcome Back to the Nautilus  Explorer upon my return from holidays!  It was great to hug the crew and meet new friends.  Even our departure from the beautiful beaches of Cabo showed us something new.  An anchoring cruiseship, a massive yacht with a helicopter on its back deck and about 5 miles out a very active Sperm whale strutting its stuff.  Dolphins shows escorting us into San Benedicto and then breaching baby humpbacks as we settled into our special spot ‘The Canyon’. Diving at the Canyon was superb with a school of Hammerhead sharks, giant mantas and the songs of the humpbacks echoing in our ears.  Large shadows silently cruising over our heads, a few of the divers even seeing the whales through the greenish water.  All on the first 2 dives!!!  Our scuba diving karma is pretty good today!!

Off to Roca Partida we sailed.  The wave action at Roca was bigger than Captain Mike had forecast using his weather models shoreside and threatened to shut down our operations.  But there were more breaching whales and the sun was shining and turning into such a great day that we just didn’t want to throw in the towel and give up.  Being ever so patient, and devising an unorthodox system of getting into the dive boats, we managed to get the divers over to the Roca Partida site where they were rewarded with Galapagos sharks, Silky Sharks, Whitetips, and the ever enchanting sounds of the magnificent Humpbacks swimming by.  Those who chose to wait for smoother times were rewarded with breaching whales, and a special presentation from our special guest Dr. Ingrid Visser, a whale expert with extensive experience in Orca Whale behaviour.

Its only day 2 of diving folks and I assure you it has been nothing short of exhilerating!  Looking forward to the next dive, tomorrow and the great days lying ahead.

Captain Kevin

After joining the Nautilus Explorer in Cabo San Lucas for the first time I can honestly say that I have yet to work with such a excellently put together crew. The weather has been awesome with a warm sun and favorable seas.  The diving so far has been amazing and I am sure that it will continue throughout the trip. The ship is in excellent shape and makes for an awesome work environment. The humpback whales seem to have been following us from the start and I am looking forward to our upcoming special “whaling day”..

Chief Engineer Cody

Day three finds us at Roca Partida, a beautiful yet inhospitable rock island rising out of the sea. This little rock is devoid of plants or trees however it is home to hundreds of sea birds and as a result the rock is stained covered with guano. We will spend two days diving and exploring the waters around Roca Partida searching for whales, giant mantas and sharks, tuna, wahoo and all the other animals we have come to almost expect at this magical place. Upon first approaching the island, the crew and guests were excited to see a pair of humpback whales breaching off the starboard bow– how such large mammals can throw their bodies out of the water with such grace and ease marveled us and we rushed for our cameras in hope to capture the moment.

By dive three on day one, the guests were out and milling around on the boat deck talking animatedly about the white tip reef sharks and the large gallapagos shark they saw and how a giant manta chose to come in to the divers for some very closeup interaction. Good visibility, clear water, sun and blue skies have followed us ever since we left the pelicans in Cabo San Lucas and so far it`s been a great trip.

Tonight we are blessed with a beautiful sunset, a tangerine ball melting into the sea and as one curtain falls, another opens. As we finish securing the inflatable boats to the top deck, a full moon rises over the twisted rock crevices of Roca Partida, it`s a magic sight and one that stays with me long after.

Great food, awesome teamwork, beautiful sights, exciting dives, challenging waves– things are looking great so far. I look forward to more great experiences and adventures aboard the Nautilus Explorer.

- You only live once, but if you live right, once is enough. – Unknown

Deckhand, Chris

As we depart from Cabo San Lucas on a 12 days trip we headed to the first destination San benedicto on our way there we were welcome by a school of dolphin as they proform a jumping show and giude us to the canyon which was our first stop as we position ourself to anchor on the horizion we saw whale just doing there early morning yoga as the mother and calf teaching her young to breach that just drawed every one attention to get up and leave there breakfast and get a belly full of whales jumping as they came our way as we did the first dive at the canyon everyone came back with a smile and could not believe that on the check out dive they would get to see 6 to a dozen hamerhead and the manta that just put the iceing on the piece of cake we stayed there for the day as everyone just gathered at the bar for cocktail hour and odered drinks just celebrateand cheers  the wonderfull dives that they had we continue our journey to the Boiler the weather was cool in the morning but as the sun rised and peak  over the dead swells and san benedicto island we were ready for the first dive we all go in as the water temp was 23 c it seem cold for the first not knowing that we were invited by 3 giant mantas we all had fun just watching they play and swim in between the divers at that time the coolness of the water was not even remembered or and issue as the divers fucus on the marvallous mantas  another unforgetable day we headed to Roca partida the crossing was calm as we approach the bbobies were on there early hunt as the friget birds just wait for the boobies to get back with there catch we had encounter with hamerhead ,silver tips,and golopago shark,as the white tips slept as it appears that they had a long night we stayed for two days visibility was 80-100 ft we cotinue to the island call Clarion  island we check in with the navy we headed to the south side where there was this amazing struture call the castle and beside it there is a next stuture look like a mayan temple we dive around the point there was some nice spures that go from the about 2 meters to 35 meters  we saw 3 turtles but the visibility was not as great so we were on a exploration we came across this pinacle that was like3\4 of a mile from shore so we anchor and went diving just to be greated by a swarming jack that seem like they have never seen divers before lots of ocotupus ,leather bass ,nice swim through that was invadide by lobsters stayed for the day the next day we head to the other tip of the island  were all the divers got in to explore were some divers got to intarack with dolphin were the others just got to find one of the best pinacle that start for about 2meters from the surface  with huge school of goatfish ,grunts ,jacks ,southern stingray just laying on the bottom just enjoying the sand as comouflage as the diver pass , a school or hamerhead we stay for the day it was to good to leave on the last dive there was a swarming of silkys ,silver tips the water temp was 23 c visibility was 30 to 40 feet     Divemaster Juan

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Posted in Animals, Cabo San Lucas, Captains Log, Clarion Island, Destinations, dolphin, Galapagos Shark, Guest Blog, Hammerhead shark, Humpback Whale, Nautilus Explorer, Orca, Roca Partida, San Benedicto, shark, Silky Sharks, sperm whale, The Boiler, The Canyon, Tuna, turtles, Wahoo, whales, whitetip reef shark | No Comments »

Back on board the Nautilus Explorer and loving it! Socorro Island. First mate and guest blog. 05 FEB 2011

Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

Having taken extended leave from the Nautilus Explorer, it’s a great feeling to be back on board and working in the beautiful Revillagigedo archipelago. There’s nothing like some honest work, old (and new) faces and the sea air to blow off the cobwebs – not to mention the old familiar aches and pains as muscles atrophied from laziness are forced back to work!

Of course, the biggest highlight for anyone onboard the Nautilus Explorer, crew or guest, is the opportunity to see and interact with some of the most beautiful and awesome marine life in the world. It had been some months since I’d seen my old friends, the giant Pacific manta rays, and they welcomed me back in style. Deckhand Gabe and I went for a swim this afternoon, he with nothing more than a mask and fins, and I with scuba gear and a camera. The conditions were great, and no less than three giant manta rays were there at the Boiler to greet us. Swimming in the big blue and trying to capture that magic moment when Gabe and the mantas seemed to dance together (bravo on your freediving skills, Gabe!) was a fitting welcome to the Socorro islands. Spending 40 minutes with three 20-foot giant mantas at arm’s length isn’t such a bad way to spend your first dive back!

Fortunately, all our guests are buzzing with similar stories of interaction, and not just with giant manta rays – dolphins, hammerhead sharks, and other favorites are making strong appearances as well. With 7 dive days to go on this trip, we can only imagine what other encounters await us. We’re looking forward to finding out together!

Sandy Curtis

First Mate

Nautilus Explorer

Feb 05 2011

Slovenian underwater team very satisfied in San Benedicto. Been waiting for a breathe of ocean air for too long. Two dives today. One manta, hard skin, one fast heart rate. Two kayaks. One quiet volcano. One humpback whale in the distance…too far. No problem, they ll be around in the next days. Getting dark now. One beer…. today was a good day.

Cao mami, vse u redu, vse super pod in nad vodo, se vidmo… Jure & co.

Heute haben wir unsere ersten Tauchgaenge bei San Benedicto Island gemacht. Leider war die Sicht nicht ganz so gut wie wir es und erhofft hatten, aber dafuer kamen die Mantas ganz nah zu uns! Ausserdem haben wir Hammerhaie, Silberspitzenhaie und zwischendurch noch ein paar Lobster, gruene Muraenen, usw. gesehen, fuer den ersten Tauchtag nicht schlecht!!!

Juergen und Ute

wir sind nun den zweiten tag auf see. wunderschoene tauchgaenge mit mantas. die waren wirklich zahm, kamen von sich aus zum spielen zu uns, schwammen mit uns, liessen sich sogar beruehren. toll ! zum abschluss des tages ein bier im whirlpool, perfekt.

martin

die mantas lassen sich nicht lange bitten. sie paradieren wie diven auf dem roten teppich. fotografieren oder geniessen … das ist eine schwierige entscheidung.

christian

Es ist einfach unbeschreiblich! Ich tauchte lange dicht unter einem Manta, den wir den schwarzen Baron genannt haben, und war ihm so nah, dass ich sogar seine Parasiten sehen und beobachten konnte. Dabei tut es mir um die vielen anderen tollen Meeresbewohner leid, die sich bei Sonne auch reichlich gezeigt, aber wenig Beachtung gefunden haben.

Detlef

Socorro Islands With Nautilus Explorer Slideshow: Affordable’s trip from Dallas, Texas, United States to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico was created by TripAdvisor. See another Cabo San Lucas slideshow. Take your travel photos and make a slideshow for free.

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Posted in Animals, Captains Log, Destinations, dolphin, Giant Mantas, Guest Blog, Hammerhead shark, Manta, Nautilus Explorer, Revillagigedos, San Benedicto, Socorro Island, The Boiler | No Comments »

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