WITHOUT EXAGGERATION, THE SECOND DIVE TODAY AT SOCORRO ISLAND WAS THE BEST DIVE DAY OF MY LIFE. SOCORRO ISLAND, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO.

Today was an exceptional day and that is an understatement. Without exaggeration the second dive today at Socorro Island was the best dive of my life. To put that in perspective, I have dived all around the world on over 500+ dives. So what made it so spectacular?? The dive started out slow, watching octopus swim about, moray eels smile for the cameras then Juan and I drifted with the current looking for the elusive schools of hammerhead sharks. We hovered on the edge of the ledge in about 100 feet and waited, I thought to myself, could they really show up on cue?? And then, there they were! A small school of hammerheads drifted by us gracefully. WOW! Then, immediately following the sharks departure, we heard the squeaks and squeals of DOLPHINS! We looked around and saw a lone dolphin hovering 40 feet above us. We started heading back, albeit slowly, and sure enough, three dolphins stopped by to say hello. We stopped in our tracks to marvel at their beauty and intelligence. Then two of them decided it was time to PLAY with US!!!! Juan had the undivided attention of one dolphin and I had the undivided attention of the other. We each rolled and twisted and waved and made silly sounds and tumbled together some more. It was a spiritual experience to be in their presence. And if that wasn’t enough, a giant MANTA appeared and decided to hang out as well with me, Juan, and the two dolphins! The manta got eye level with me and decided to stay there brushing her graceful delicate wings against my arms and swimming alongside both me and Juan, all while we continued to frolic with the dolphins. While I am starting to get convinced that Juan, the Divemaster, can stay underwater forever, unfortunately my air started to get low, so we reluctantly made the decision it was time to depart the party. To our delight, the manta decided to escort us all the way back to the line, and stayed around while we completed our deco stop. It was a magical encounter and one I hope to never forget.
Tara, Boston MA
Hallo, hier sind Bernhard, Peter und Andreas aus Oesterreich! Nach einer etwas laengeren Anreise (4 Tage bis zum ersten Tauchgang J) koennen wir nur eines sagen: Die Muehe lohnt sich zu 100%! Riesenmantas gleich bei den ersten zwei Tauchgaengen in San Benedicto und die letzten beiden Tage in Roca Partida waren der Oberhammer. Ein, Stell-Dich-Ein der, Hai-Szene: Dutzende Weisspitzenriffhaie, zahlreiche Silber- und Galapagoshaie, Schulen von Hammerhaien und eine Interaktion mit Delphinen bei Tauchgaengen, die wir in freier Natur nicht fuer moeglich gehalten haetten. Wer aus Delphinarien ein Winken und diverse Kunststuecke kennt dem koennen wir nur eines sagen. In the middle of nowhere wo wir uns gerade befinden kommt das ganze noch um Dimensionen besser rueber J.
Auch konnten wir einige Wale aus ein paar 100 Meter beobachten, deren Gesaenge uns bei zahlreichen Tauchgaengen hier begleitet haben, dh auch fuer ein Dolby Sorround System war gesorgt.
Bedanken moechten wir uns an dieser Stelle auch gleich bei der Crew, die uns wirklich jeden Wunsch von den Augen ablest und bei den Dive-Guides, von denen wir die erhoffte Freiheit beim Tauchen erhalten. Auch die bunt gemischte Truppe an Tauchernationalitaeten versteht sich praechtig.
Heute legen wir noch Richtung Socorro ab, wo es nach genuegend Hai-Gewimmel jetzt wieder ein anderes Ziel gibt: Interacting with the huge pacific mantas.
To be continued.
Bernhard, Peter und Andreas.

By Nautilus Staff

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