Giant mantas and hammerhead sharks at San Benedicto Island

Location: The Canyon,  San Benedicto Island, Socorro, Revillagigedos, Mexico

Well here we are once again off San Benedicto island in the Revillagigedo archipelago, having just wrapped the first day of diving with our new guests! The run down from Cabo San Lucas was pleasant and uneventful, with the occasional humpback whale sighting breaking up the endless blue scenery. We arrived on schedule for a  morning dive at the south end of San Benedicto Island, at the Canyon. This is our favorite “checkout dive” as it is sheltered from current, surge and big seas. But that doesn’t mean it’s a boring scuba dive! This narrow ridge of rock that balances precariously on a sheer precipice into the abyss can attract all sorts of animals, especially giant mantas and hammerhead sharks. The hammerheads were a little shy but still making their appearances, and the manta rays came by for a friendly visit on our very first dive. The visibility was excellent in the morning, but our luck didn’t hold as an unkind wind blew some volcanic ash into the water from the crater above us, cutting visibility down to about 10 metres by the last dive of the day. Regardless, 3 dives at the Canyon has whetted our appetites for the 5 days of diving ahead, and we’re hoping our first glimpses of giant mantas and hammerheads are a good omen of things to come!  Divemaster Sandy

Weather:  15 kts of wind from the NE, little swell and some chop, broken clouds and sun

Water: Temp 24C 73F, mild surge, mild current, visibility 30-100 feet

By Nautilus Staff

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