Quino El Guardian

Quino El Guardian is a re-purposed fishing vessel, refurbished in 2015 to become a Mexico liveaboard operated by the people behind Rocio Del Mar. This sturdy boat can accommodate up to 16 divers on budget liveaboard diving tours around Socorro Islands and the Sea of Cortez.

Quino El Guardian has 4 shared bathrooms rather than ensuite facilities, so it is not really a luxury option. However there is no better value-for-money option for diving the best sites of Mexico. Facilities include a saloon area and a separate dining area, both of which are air-conditioned. You can also enjoy the library of movies, books and magazines. The complimentary beer and wine throughout the trip is a nice touch.

You can relax in the communal places on the main deck or stretch out on a lounger on the sun deck, either in the sun or the shade. There are both 12 and 15 liter tanks on board, DIN adapters, nitrox, a large camera table and 4 bathrooms accessible from the dive deck and exit ladders on the dive dinghy.

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Notes: In the event of cancellation by the operator for any reason, there will be no reimbursement so the operator states that it is mandatory for all guests to have travel insurance coverage for this event.

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

Dive experience: The only requirement is an open water diving certification, although a minimum of 50 logged dives is recommended. Quino El Guardian always suggest that divers do their best to be comfortable at diving before coming on board.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, soft drinks, hot drinks, local beers and wine, dives (as detailed in the trips above), experienced English-speaking divemasters (1 guide for 8 divers), standard tanks, weights and weightbelts, port fees and Mexican taxes on cruise price.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): BCD, regulator/octopus set, surface marker buoy, dive computer, whistle, dive and travel insurance, national park fee: Sea of Cortez (US$ 6 per dive day) and Socorro (US$ 178 per dive day). 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 to the boat from the airport/hotel (US$ 150 per person return from Phoenix airport), nitrox fills for enriched air divers (US$ 140 per trip, except Magdalena - free!). 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: Quino El Guardian liveaboard departs in the morning from San Jose del Cabo for trips to the Socorro islands. Guests fly into the nearby Los Cabos international airport. You should plan to arrive the day before departure. Boarding begins at 17:00 hrs with departure in the late hours of the evening. The marina is 25 minutes from the airport and 5 minutes from downtown San Jose del Cabo. An airport shuttle service can be arranged. The boat will spend the last night of the cruise in the harbour and disembark the morning of the last day at 08:30 hrs.
Sea of Cortez: For diving tours to the Sea of Cortez, Quino El Guardian departs in the evening from Puerto Penasco, Mexico, on the northern coast of the Sea of Cortez. Most guests fly through Phoenix Sky Harbor airport, 4 hours drive from Puerto Penasco. An airport shuttle service can be arranged. Boarding is at 17:00 hrs and the boat departs at 18:00 hrs with the first dive at 07:00 the following morning. Guests disembark on the final day at 07:00 and should book flights from Phoenix no earlier than 14:00 hrs.
The last dive of the trip will be at around 17:00 hrs on the second last day of the trip. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving. 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 50% of the published price.

Dive clubs and group discounts: See whole boat charter rate below.

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 14 guests and 2 additional persons can join the cruise free of charge (total 16 guests).

Socorro Islands (Special Trip) (10 Days / 9 Nights - 21 Dives)

Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, whales, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics, onboard experts on sharks and manta rays

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
Quino el Guardian is located at the new marina in Puerto Los Cabos in San Jose del Cabo, which is 25 minutes from the airport. You will need to make your own way to the boat. Dinner will be served once all guests are on board. The captain and crew will welcome you and show you to your cabin. The liveaboard departs after midnight and you will arrive at San Benedicto in the evening of the next day. Meals will be served while at sea.

Days 3-9
This is a Citizen Science expedition. These trips include an onboard marine biologist specializing in subjects such as manta rays, sharks, humpback whales, pelagics, marine mammals, marine, reef and invertebrate ecology, diving science and medicine, and more. Activities include animal identification and tagging, fish/animal counts, census monitoring, human and climate impact studies, etc. You can be involved as much or as little as you like, including hands-on research, and you will enjoy interactive evening presentations by the scientists.
Diving at the Socorro Islands is an unforgettable experience due to its large animal encounters. Mantas rays, dolphins, humpback whales (during the winter months), and 7 different types of sharks, including hammerhead sharks, can be seen during your diving safari. Schools of trevallies, barracuda and tuna will be seen on each of the 2 or 3 dives during the first day, while 4 dives will be the norm for the rest of the tour, although there are no night dives on the schedule. You can also expect 3 dives while at Roca Partida.
There are 3 main meals a day, starting with a breakfast of pancakes, waffles, muffins, toasts, eggs, fresh fruit and juices, hot chocolate, coffee and tea. A hot soup is followed by a main course for lunch: burgers, fish tacos, fresh vegetables and fruit, and pasta salads. Dinner features a fresh vegetable salad, fresh seafood dishes, and pasta of pork, chicken, or meat. Don't miss the desserts as they are made daily. Hot and cold beverages are available throughout the day. You can also enjoy the complimentary beer and wine with dinner.
On the last day of the tour the boat will start its way back to Cabo San Lucas and spend the night in the harbor.

Day 10
A continental breakfast will be provided on the final morning of the trip before all guests disembark by 08:30 hrs. The crew can assist you on making arrangements for transportation to the airport or your hotel.

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Socorro Islands (10 Days / 9 Nights - 21 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
Quino el Guardian is located at the new marina in Puerto Los Cabos in San Jose del Cabo, which is 25 minutes from the airport. You will need to make your own way to the boat. Dinner will be served once all guests are on board. The captain and crew will welcome you and show you to your cabin. The liveaboard departs after midnight and you will arrive at San Benedicto in the evening of the next day. Meals will be served while at sea.

Days 3-9
Diving at the Socorro Islands is an unforgettable experience due to its large animal encounters. Mantas rays, dolphins, humpback whales (during the winter months), and 7 different types of sharks, including hammerhead sharks, can be seen during your diving safari. Schools of trevallies, barracuda and tuna will be seen on each of the 2 or 3 dives during the first day, while 4 dives will be the norm for the rest of the tour, although there are no night dives on the schedule. You can also expect 3 dives while at Roca Partida.
There are 3 main meals a day, starting with a breakfast of pancakes, waffles, muffins, toasts, eggs, fresh fruit and juices, hot chocolate, coffee and tea. A hot soup is followed by a main course for lunch: burgers, fish tacos, fresh vegetables and fruit, and pasta salads. Dinner features a fresh vegetable salad, fresh seafood dishes, and pasta of pork, chicken, or meat. Don't miss the desserts as they are made daily. Hot and cold beverages are available throughout the day. You can also enjoy the complimentary beer and wine with dinner.
On the last day of the tour the boat will start its way back to Cabo San Lucas and spend the night in the harbor.

Day 10
A continental breakfast will be provided on the final morning of the trip before all guests disembark by 08:30 hrs. The crew can assist you on making arrangements for transportation to the airport or your hotel.

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Sea of Cortez North & Midriff Islands (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: Isla Ángel de la Guarda, Isla San Pedro Mártir, Isla Salsipuedes, El Pescador and Isla Las Animas in Bahia Los Angeles

Day 1
Quino el Guardian is located at the Marina Fonatur in Puerto Penasco, Mexico, which is about 4 hours from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. You will need to make your own way to the boat. The boat leaves port early evening. Dinner will be served after a warm welcome by the liveaboard captain and crew who also show you to your cabin.

Days 2-7
The Sea of Cortez has a very diverse marine life on show, with several species of nudibranchs, blennies, jawfish, several rays and guitarfish. Schools of fish will also entertain you and the other divers while underwater, looking for eels, octopus, seahorses, frogfish, Mexican horn sharks and more. Pilotfin and sperm whales are also often seeing from the boat when sailing in between dive sites. Jacques Cousteau once described the Sea of Cortez as the world's aquarium, due to its untouched walls and reefs that host an incredible abundance of fish species. Whale sharks, mobula rays and sea lion colonies around the Midriff Islands will be fond memories from this fantastic vacation.
There are 3 main meals a day, starting with a breakfast of pancakes, waffles, muffins, toasts, eggs, fresh fruit and juices, hot chocolate, coffee and tea. A hot soup is followed by a main course for lunch: burgers, fish tacos, fresh vegetables and fruit, and pasta salads. Dinner features a fresh vegetable salad, fresh seafood dishes, and pasta of pork, chicken, or meat. Don't miss the desserts as they are made daily. Hot and cold beverages are available throughout the day. You can also enjoy the complimentary beer and wine with dinner.
Spend the last day of the tour snorkelling with whale sharks at Bahia de Los Angeles before the boat starts its way back to Puerto Penasco and spends the night in the harbor.

Day 8
A continental breakfast will be provided the last morning of the trip before all guests disembark. The crew can assist you in making arrangements for transportation to the airport or your hotel.

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Socorro Islands (13 Days / 12 Nights - 30 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
Quino el Guardian is located at the new marina in Puerto Los Cabos in San Jose del Cabo, which is 25 minutes from the airport. You will need to make your own way to the boat. Dinner will be served once all guests are on board. The captain and crew will welcome you and show you to your cabin. The liveaboard departs after midnight and you will arrive at San Benedicto in the evening of the next day. Meals will be served while at sea.

Days 3-12
Diving at the Socorro Islands is an unforgettable experience due to its large animal encounters. Mantas rays, dolphins, humpback whales (during the winter months) and 7 different types of sharks, including hammerheads, can be seen during your diving safari. Schools of trevallies, barracuda and tuna will be seen on each of the 2 or 3 dives during the first day, while 4 dives will be the norm for the rest of the tour, although there are no night dives are scheduled. You can also expect 3 dives while at Roca Partida, where tons of fish and sharks (whitetip, silvertip, silky, Galapagos, but also hammerheads and whale sharks when conditions are right). A unique experience!
There are 3 main meals a day, starting with a breakfast of pancakes, waffles, muffins, toasts, eggs, fresh fruit and juices, hot chocolate, coffee and tea. A hot soup is followed by a main course for lunch: burgers, fish tacos, fresh vegetables and fruit, and pasta salads. Dinner features a fresh vegetable salad, fresh seafood dishes, and pasta of pork, chicken, or meat. Don't miss the desserts as they are made daily. Hot and cold beverages are available throughout the day. You can also enjoy the complimentary beer and wine with dinner.
On the last day of the tour the boat will start its way back to Cabo San Lucas and spend the night in the harbor.

Day 13
A continental breakfast will be provided on the final morning of the trip before all guests disembark. The crew can assist you on making arrangements for transportation to the airport or your hotel.

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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].

Quino El Guardian has 4 air-conditioned 4-share cabins all on the lower deck.There are 4 shared bathrooms on the main deck. Another twin bed cabin is available for full charters.

All the cabins have: No. of bathrooms / showers - 4 / 4 - hot water

The liveaboard crew of 8 comprise: Nitrox - 2 motorized dive dinghies - 365ft² (34m²) dive deck & 194ft² (18m²) platform with ladders, 4 hot water showers & toilets - Camera table, separate rinse tank & charging stations - main deck air-conditioned saloon with TV, DVD, music system, movie library, fish ID books, general books - main deck dining room - Satellite telephone - Partially-shaded sundeck with sun beds & mattresses - 2 drinking water dispensers

The dining experience on board Quino El Guardian liveaboard begins with dinner on the check-in day. All meals are plated and served and all dietary requirements can be catered for with advance notice. You can enjoy pre-breakfast before dive 1 followed by a cooked breakfast and then lunch and dinner. The menu consists chiefly of western food and flavoursome Mexican dishes. There may also be special meals served on the sun deck.

• Mexican & international meals - 3 different dishes per sitting.
• Waiter served air-conditioned dining area.
• Pre-breakfast, breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Snacks include ice cream, fruit, bread and toast.
• Coffee, tea, drinking water, soft drinks, beer & wine are all provided free of charge.
• All dietary requirements can be catered for - please send advanced notice.
• Cruise dining service begins on boarding.