Nautilus Explorer

Nautilus Explorer is a purpose-built steel-hulled Mexican liveaboard designed to accommodate up to 27 divers on safaris around some of Mexico's best dive sites including Socorro, Guadalupe and the Sea of Cortez.

Space has been maximized in the design to ensure that even with a full boat you can always find a quiet spot on this 116 ft (35m) long motor yacht. The air-conditioned saloon, dining area and sundecks are the main social spots. The saloon features comfortable seating, an extensive reading library and a well-stocked bar. Organized videos and presentations take place on board to expand your knowledge. On the sun deck there is a hot tub from which to sip a cocktail and gaze out from the liveaboard over the Pacific.

Accommodation ranges across 4 price brackets, including 2 and 3-share staterooms on the lower deck, and to the enormous Premium Suite with ensuite bathroom, TV, DVD, bath tub and large picture window. Homemade soups, bread and desserts compliment up to 4 meals a day with an emphasis on western cuisine with a few Mexican specialties to spice things up. Food, much like the overall diving safari experience of Nautilus Explorer, is enjoyable, varied and satisfying. Your safety in the water is a priority as evidenced by the use of Nautilus Lifeline lost diver devices.

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Notes: Mexico is a popular destination with limited liveaboard spaces. We recommend you book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Dive experience: All certified divers may dive on these liveaboard cruises. However this operator recommends...
Socorro cruises - Advanced Open Water certification (or equivalent) and 50 logged dives.
Guadalupe cruises - Open Water Diver certification for deep cages; no scuba license required for surface cages.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, soft drinks, hot drinks, transfers (for Guadalupe trips) to the boat from the hotel, dives (as detailed in the safaris above), experienced English-speaking divemasters (1 guide for 5 scuba divers), standard tanks, weights and weight belts, CD of photos/video at the end of the tour, complimentary photography workshop, Nautilus Lifeline marine rescue GPS, Dive Alert, SMB safety sausage, torch, tank beacon, Mexican taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (US$ 215 per week), dive insurance, park fees to be paid in advance (Socorro: US$ 192 per diving day), port fee per cruise (US$ 35). Note: park fees are waived for retirees and pensioners over the age of 60 years old. A 75% discount on park fees is available for active students and teachers. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card).

Optional extras: Transfers (for Socorro tours) to the boat/dive center from the airport (US$ 30), alcoholic drinks, steel and specialized tanks, nitrox fills for enriched air divers (US$ 20 per day), rebreather support (including zorb), gas mixes. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.

How to get there: Socorro: The MV Nautilus Explorer liveaboard departs in the evening from Cabo San Lucas for safaris to the Socorro islands. Guests fly into Los Cabos international airport (SJD) approximately 45 minutes drive from Cabo San Lucas and board the evening before the boat departs. You must meet at the Cabo Dive Center no later than 19:00 hrs on the evening of boarding. It is located next to the Tesoro Hotel on the walkway of Cabo marina. Ideally you should drop by the dive center as soon as you get to town to make sure you are fully prepared for the trip (including a complimentary photography workshop at 1 pm). Boarding is around 20:00 hrs. You should dine in Cabo before boarding the boat since only light snacks are served on the first evening. The boat will spend the last night of the trip in the harbor and disembark the morning of the last day.
Guadalupe: For dive charters to Guadalupe, Nautilus Explorer departs in the evening from Ensenada, Mexico. Most guests meet us in the afternoon at our dive center in Point Loma, San Diego. You must be there before 19:00 hrs for the departure of the luxury coach at 19:30 hrs. We recommend you come to the dive center earlier in the day to arrange any rental gear and ensure you are prepared for the cruise. You should dine in San Diego before boarding the coach since only light snacks are served on the first evening. The coach arrives in Ensenada around 21:30 hrs for departure that night. The boat returns to port at around 15:00 and the coach will arrive in San Diego around 19:00 hrs. Your return flight should not be scheduled earlier than 21:00 hrs.
Sea of Cortez: Check in on the start date of your cruise at the SeeCreatures Center, Cabo San Lucas to drop your luggage and arrange a pre-boarding antigen test. The day can be spent at your leisure but you must be back at the SeeCreatures Center at 16:45 hrs, ready to board at 17:30 hrs. The boat sets sail that evening and you can enjoy cocktails as you head north. The last dive of the trip will be at around 5 pm on the second last day of the trip. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving. You will disembark at around 8:30 hrs on the morning of the last day. We recommend you book any outwards flights on that day no earlier than 11:00 hrs.
For more details, including airlines, see our Mexico tourist information section.

Non-diver rate: None.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travelers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of 25% of the Double stateroom published price.

Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 11 guests and 1 extra person can join the cruise in a 3-share stateroom free of charge (total 12 guests).
One of the lower deck staterooms can be used as a triple-share cabin - please request price details.

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Socorro (9 nights) - US$ 7,654, Socorro (10 nights) - US$ 7,578, Guadalupe (5 nights) - US$ 12,650.

Socorro Islands (11 Days / 10 Nights - 27 Dives)

Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, whales, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: San Benedicto, Roca Partida, Socorro Island

Day 1-2
The meeting point with Nautilus diving staff is in San Jose del Cabo, where boarding the boat is at 20:00 hrs. You must drop by the Cabo Dive Center when you get to town to make sure you are fully prepared for the trip. In case you arrive there early you can leave your bags in a local hotel, tour the town and have dinner before boarding the boat. You will leave port at around 21:00 hrs. Snacks will be available on the first evening as the boat gets underway. A safety briefing and a dive orientation will be conducted as the liveaboard makes its way to San Benedicto Island, arriving in the evening of the next day. There is no diving on Day 2. A hot cooked breakfast, a deli-style lunch, snacks and dinner will be served while at sea.

Days 3-10
The safari will include 4 dives per day, combining the very best of the Socorro Islands. A hammerhead cleaning station is located near San Benedicto, while oceanic mantas and dolphins will be the highlights of diving around Socorro Island. Socorro has also become known for the annual presence of whale sharks during November and December, humpback whale encounters from January to mid-April, and the big predator attraction of baitball season in May and June. Roca Partida is a little rock in the middle of the ocean, but below the surface it's an undewater volcano that attracts great shark and pelagic encounters. Galapagos sharks, silvertips, silky sharks, white tips, hammerheads, and lots of mantas. This cruise also includes an opportunity to snorkel with silky sharks.
The food served during your safari is a mix of Mexican and western style cuisine. A continental breakfast at 07:15 hrs features fresh baked goods, a fruit plate, homemade granola, cereals, yoghurt, toast, fresh orange or mango juice, and oatmeal. A cooked breakfast is usually served after the first dive and is a mix of buffet and cooked-to-order: eggs, cheese omelets, sausages, hash browns and toast. There is a great variety on offer for lunch, from homemade Italian pizzas and fish tacos, to quesadillas and fish burgers. At dinner a nice array of both Mexican and American style meals will be served, plated, or buffet style.
On the penultimate day of the tour the boat will start its way back to he mainland, so there is no diving on this day.

Day 11
Arrival time at Cabo San Lucas is usually at around 08:30 hrs. The operator will help you arrange taxi transfers back to your local hotel or airport after breakfast.

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Socorro Islands (9 Days / 8 Nights - 19 Dives)

Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, whales, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: San Benedicto, Roca Partida, Socorro Island

Days 1-2
The meeting point with Nautilus diving staff is in San Jose del Cabo, to board the boat at 20:00 hrs. You must drop by the Cabo Dive Center when you get to town to make sure you are fully prepared for the trip. In case you arrive there early you can leave your bags in a local hotel, tour the town and have dinner before boarding the boat. You will leave port at around 21:00 hrs. Snacks will be available on the first evening as the boat gets underway. A safety briefing and a dive orientation will be conducted as the liveaboard makes its way to San Benedicto Island, arriving in the evening of the next day. There is no diving on Day 2. A hot cooked breakfast, a deli-style lunch, snacks and dinner will be served while at sea.

Days 3-8
The safari will include 4 dives per day, combining the very best of the Socorro Islands. A hammerhead cleaning station is located near San Benedicto, while oceanic mantas and dolphins will be the highlights of diving around Socorro Island. Socorro has also become known for the annual presence of whale sharks during November and December, humpback whale encounters from January to mid-April, and the big predator attraction of baitball season in May and June. Roca Partida is a little rock in the middle of the ocean, but below the surface it's an undewater volcano that attracts great shark and pelagic encounters. Galapagos sharks, silvertips, silky sharks, white tips, hammerheads, and lots of mantas. This cruise also includes an opportunity to snorkel with silky sharks.
The food served during your safari is a mix of Mexican and western style cuisine. A continental breakfast at 07:15 hrs features fresh baked goods, a fruit plate, homemade granola, cereals, yoghurt, toast, fresh orange or mango juice, and oatmeal. A cooked breakfast is usually served after the first dive and is a mix of buffet and cooked-to-order: eggs, cheese omelets, sausages, hashbrowns and toast. There is a great variety on offer for lunch, from homemade Italian pizzas and fish tacos, to quesadillas and fish burgers. At dinner a nice array of both Mexican and American style meals will be served, plated, or buffet style.
On the penultimate day of the tour the boat will start its way back to he mainland.

Day 9
Arrival time at Cabo San Lucas is usually at around 08:30 hrs. You will be transferred back to your local hotel or airport after breakfast.

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Magdalena Bay (8 Days / 7 Nights - 12 Dives)

Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, whales, seals/sea lions, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Snorkelling, free-diving and scuba diving in Magdalena Bay, SS Independence and USS Seawolf.

Day 1
Guests meet at the Nautilus dive center in Cabo San Lucas to check-in and collect any rental equipment, from 9 am to 4 pm. Then you will board the Nautilus Explorer in Cabo at 5:30 pm for a boat briefing of the features, facilities and safety measures on board. Enjoy a delicious lunch and dinner as you settle into your cabin and the boat gets underway for Magdalena Bay. The journey takes around 15 hours.

Days 2-7
During October and November, a magical event happens in the nutrient rich swirling blue waters off Magdalena Bay - the second largest sardine run in the world, where striped marlin gather to hunt on bait balls. This thrilling underwater action is spectacular. There is also an excellent chance of seeing California sea lions, dolphins, wahoo, pelicans, different species of gulls, boobies, frigate birds, shearwaters, and even the awe-inspiring albatross.
While it’s best to snorkel or free dive around the bait balls, there will be plenty of scuba diving opportunities on your week long trip with massive schools of fish, turtles and the wreck of a World War I submarine and the passenger steamship SS Independence. But wait, there is more! Humpback whales are on the move at this time of year and, if you are really lucky, we might even see orcas or blue whales!
The food served during your safari is a mix of Mexican and western style cuisine. A continental breakfast at 07:15 hrs features fresh baked goods, a fruit plate, homemade granola, cereals, yoghurt, toast, fresh orange or mango juice, and oatmeal. A cooked breakfast is usually served after the first dive and is a mix of buffet and cooked-to-order: eggs, cheese omelets, sausages, hashbrowns and toast. There is a great variety on offer for lunch, from homemade Italian pizzas and fish tacos, to quesadillas and fish burgers. At dinner a nice array of both Mexican and American style meals will be served, plated, or buffet style.

Day 8
Disembarkation time at Cabo San Lucas is usually after breakfast. The operator will help you arrange taxi transfers back to your local hotel or airport.

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Cocos Island (11 Days / 10 Nights - 0 Dives)

Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: zz

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Sea of Cortez South (Adventure) (11 Days / 10 Nights - 15 Dives)

Trip highlights: dolphins, manta rays, whales, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities, onboard experts on photography, onboard experts on wildlife and natural history

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: La Paz, Las Animas, La Reina, El Bajo, Espiritu Santo, San Franciscito, Loreto, San Pedro Martir, Bahia de Los Angeles. Kayaking, going ashore, hiking in the desert, snorkelling, paddleboarding, whatever you want.

Day 1
These cruises usually depart from La Paz, although there are occasional exceptions. You have the option to fly directly into La Paz, or into San Jose de Los Cabos with a coach journey provided to La Paz late afternoon. Cocktail hour starts as soon as you board! And as soon as we have completed provisioning, cleaning and any last minute engineering, we will be underway for a lovely dinner and safety briefing on our way to the Sea of Cortez.

Days 2-10
This diving safari combines the very best of the southern Sea of Cortez. The sea is a diver’s paradise and, with its unique ecosystem and the overall natural beauty, it has earned UNESCO World Heritage Site status. July and August provide a unique opportunity to overlap the seasons when we traditionally encounter the most orcas of the year in the southern Sea of Cortez, with large numbers of whale sharks gathering up north in Bahia de Los Angeles. You will also see large pods of dolphins, California sea lions, turtles, different shark and whale species, hammerhead sharks around El Bajo and Los Animas, giant mantas at La Reina, night dives, huge schools of fish and vibrant marine life. Spotter planes are on-hand to enhance your adventure.
The food served during your safari on the Nautilus Explorer is a mix of Mexican and western style cuisine. A continental breakfast at 07:15 hrs features fresh baked goods, a fruit plate, homemade granola, cereals, yoghurt, toast, fresh orange or mango juice, and oatmeal. A cooked breakfast is usually served after the first dive and is a mix of buffet and cooked-to-order: eggs, cheese omelets, sausages, hashbrowns and toast. There is a great variety on offer for lunch, from homemade Italian pizzas and fish tacos, to quesadillas and fish burgers. At dinner a nice array of both Mexican and American style meals will be served, plated, or buffet style.

Day 11
Enjoy a final breakfast onboard, before disembarking in La Paz and being transferred back to your local hotel or airport in Cabo. Guests can fly out in the afternoon.
Some trips use the port of Cabo San Lucas so check exact port details above.

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Sea of Cortez South (8 Days / 7 Nights - 24 Dives)

Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, whales, seals/sea lions, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: La Paz, Las Animas, La Reina, El Bajo, Espiritu Santo, San Franciscito, Loreto. Kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, hike into the hills, whatever you want.

Day 1
The meeting point with Nautilus diving staff is in Cabo San Lucas at 16:30 hrs, to board the luxury coach to the port at La Paz. You must drop by the See Creatures Dive Center when you get to town to make sure you are fully prepared for the trip. Snacks will be available on the first evening and a safety briefing and a dive orientation will be conducted. The boat will leave port the following morning.

Days 2-7
The safari will include 4 dives per day, combining the very best of the southern Sea of Cortez. The sea is a diver’s paradise, and with its unique ecosystem and the overall natural beauty, it has earned UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Mid-May to July is a very special time with large aggregations of mobula rays. And when there are lots of mobulas, there are orcas!! There is a good probability that guests will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to snorkel with an orca. Mid-May and June is also peak season for the really big female whale sharks. You will also see large pods of dolphins, turtles, different shark and whale species, hammerhead sharks around El Bajo and Los Animas, giant mantas at La Reina, night dives, huge schools of fish and vibrant marine life. Spotter planes are on-hand to enhance your adventure.
The food served during your safari is a mix of Mexican and western style cuisine. A continental breakfast at 07:15 hrs features fresh baked goods, a fruit plate, homemade granola, cereals, yoghurt, toast, fresh orange or mango juice, and oatmeal. A cooked breakfast is usually served after the first dive and is a mix of buffet and cooked-to-order: eggs, cheese omelets, sausages, hashbrowns and toast. There is a great variety on offer for lunch, from homemade Italian pizzas and fish tacos, to quesadillas and fish burgers. At dinner a nice array of both Mexican and American style meals will be served, plated, or buffet style.
On the penultimate day of the tour the boat will start its way back to the mainland.

Day 8
Enjoy a final breakfast onboard, before disembarking in La Paz and being transferred back to your local hotel or airport in Cabo. Guests can fly out in the afternoon.

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(9 Days / 8 Nights - 19 Dives)

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: San Benedicto, Roca Partida, Socorro Island

Days 1-2
The meeting point with Nautilus diving staff is in San Jose del Cabo, to board the boat at 20:00 hrs. You must drop by the Cabo Dive Center when you get to town to make sure you are fully prepared for the trip. In case you arrive there early you can leave your bags in a local hotel, tour the town and have dinner before boarding the boat. You will leave port at around 21:00 hrs. Snacks will be available on the first evening as the boat gets underway. A safety briefing and a dive orientation will be conducted as the liveaboard makes its way to San Benedicto Island, arriving in the evening of the next day. There is no diving on Day 2. A hot cooked breakfast, a deli-style lunch, snacks and dinner will be served while at sea.

Days 3-8
The safari will include 4 dives per day, combining the very best of the Socorro Islands. A hammerhead cleaning station is located near San Benedicto, while oceanic mantas and dolphins will be the highlights of diving around Socorro Island. Socorro has also become known for the annual presence of whale sharks during November and December, humpback whale encounters from January to mid-April, and the big predator attraction of baitball season in May and June. Roca Partida is a little rock in the middle of the ocean, but below the surface it's an undewater volcano that attracts great shark and pelagic encounters. Galapagos sharks, silvertips, silky sharks, white tips, hammerheads, and lots of mantas. This cruise also includes an opportunity to snorkel with silky sharks.
The food served during your safari is a mix of Mexican and western style cuisine. A continental breakfast at 07:15 hrs features fresh baked goods, a fruit plate, homemade granola, cereals, yoghurt, toast, fresh orange or mango juice, and oatmeal. A cooked breakfast is usually served after the first dive and is a mix of buffet and cooked-to-order: eggs, cheese omelets, sausages, hashbrowns and toast. There is a great variety on offer for lunch, from homemade Italian pizzas and fish tacos, to quesadillas and fish burgers. At dinner a nice array of both Mexican and American style meals will be served, plated, or buffet style.
On the penultimate day of the tour the boat will start its way back to he mainland.

Day 9
Arrival time at Cabo San Lucas is usually at around 08:30 hrs. You will be transferred back to your local hotel or airport after breakfast.

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[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].

The Nautilus Explorer liveaboard accommodates 27 guests in 13 cabins, each with its own private bathroom. There are 9 cabins on the lower deck, each with portholes for natural lighting: 6 twin-bed staterooms, 2 double bed staterooms and 1 3-share stateroom.

There are 3 140 ft² (13m²) Superior suites with windows on the upper deck, either with a queen size double bed or twin beds. 2 have doors opening directly outside and the third has a large TV and DVD player.

There is also a huge Premium suite on the upper deck. This grand cabin also has a floor-to-ceiling picture window and a private bathroom with bath tub, as well as its own lounge with TV, DVD player and sofa.

All the cabins have: No. of bathrooms / showers - 14 / 15 - hot water

The crew of 10 comprise: Nitrox - 2 or 3 Motorized dive skiffs - 161ft² (15m²) Diving deck & 161ft² (15m²) platform with ladder, hot water showers and toilet - Camera table and separate rinse tank - 540ft² (50m²) Main deck air-conditioned saloon with TV, DVD, music system, computer, wifi (stabilized gyro satellite system) diving movies, and fish ID books - 689ft² (64m²) Restaurant with bar and water dispenser - Satellite telephone - 689ft² (64m²) Sundeck with sun beds and jacuzzi - 270ft² (25m²) Shaded open-air area

Nautilus Explorer takes pride in having a menu that is varied and uses the freshest ingredients possible. The chef makes his own soups, desserts, salad dressings, breads, buns and pastries. Each day consists of pre-breakfast, followed by a hot cooked breakfast, deli-style lunch and a plated evening meal. The cuisine is a mix of international favourites plus Mexican specialties. You can also enjoy a BBQ on the upper deck or onshore during your dive safari.

• Mexican and international meals - 6 different dishes per sitting.
• Air-conditioned dining area with buffet meals and waitress service.
• Pre-breakfast, breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are provided.
• Snacks include ice cream, cookies, fruit, freshly-baked bread and buns.
• Coffee, tea, drinking water and soft drinks are all provided free of charge.
• Beer, wine and liquor are available for purchase on board.
• All dietary requirements can be catered for - please send advanced notice.
• Cruise dining service begins at guest check-in.

Sample meals: A Dungeness crab feast; Nautilus burgers; the highest quality spring (king) salmon caught off the Queen Charlotte Islands; Beef, chicken and vegetarian tostadas ...

Customer reviews:

"Very good. Large cabin and good dive deck facilities. " - Dominic Toledo, Australia, 27 December 2019 ...

"Amazing experience. Excellent and professional staff. Very friendly.. seeing the great white was an unforgettable sight." - Rod Singh, Trinidad and Tobago, 19 September 2017 ...