Solmar V

MV Solmar V is a long established Mexican liveaboard operator which runs breath-taking Pacific Ocean diving cruises to the Socorro Islands and great white shark cage diving trips to Guadalupe. Stepping on board this 112 ft (34m) steel hulled liveaboard, you know a week of big fish action will soon unfold.

Solmar accommodates up to 22 guests in 12 cabins and has all the comfort and convenience you could ask for including TV and DVD player in each ensuite cabin, plus an air-conditioned dining area and saloon with communal TV and DVD player.

As you can imagine, the stunning underwater encounters mean that there are likely to be several photographers on board. For them there are camera rinse tanks, a camera table on the spacious dive deck plus a dedicated computer room to review the day's amazing encounters. The crew are also used to helping divers with even the most unwieldy of camera equipment.

There is also plenty of space outdoors to relax on the upper deck where you can laze in the sun or the shade. Guests socialize there, in the saloon, or in the camera room checking out each other's snaps. The cruise includes free beer and wine during dinner times.

Whether you are interested in diving Mexico's legendary Socorro Islands, or cage diving with mighty great whites in Guadalupe, the Solmar V liveaboard is always a good choice.

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Dive experience: Socorro: Divers must be Advanced Open Water certified (or equivalent) and have minimum 50 logged dives.
Guadalupe: For surface cages: no certification required. For submerged cages: Open Water and minimum 10 logged dives required. This is 'a requirement'.
Sea of Cortez: Open Water Diver license or equivalent required.
Nitrox only: Solmar is a nitrox-only liveaboard. All divers need to be nitrox certified to dive and unlimited nitrox is included for all bookings. Nitrox courses are available onboard.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner (dinner on Day 1 of Sea of Cortez trips is excluded), snacks, drinking water, hot drinks, soft drinks, beer and wine with dinner, transfers to the boat only from recommended host hotels in Cabo San Lucas, port fees, dives (as detailed in the cruises above), nitrox fill for enriched air divers, experienced English-speaking divemaster(s), Nautilus Lifeline, tanks, weights and weightbelts, Mexican taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Park fees (Socorro: US$ 178 per diving day, Sea of Cortez: US$ 50 per trip) to be paid in advance, scuba equipment (US$ 340 per 8N Socorro trip), diving computer (US$ 150 per 8N Socorro trip), dive and travel insurance (see our options) . 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. On all trips from 1 Jan 2023, there will be a mandatory US$ 200 fuel surcharge to be paid in advance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.

Optional extras: Shared transfers (for Socorro cruises) from the airport to hotel in Cabo San Lucas (US$ 35 per way) to be paid in advance, alcoholic drinks (spirits), torches, 15 liter tanks (US$ 150 per 8N Socorro trip) to be paid in advance. 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 Solmar V departs in the afternoon (around 3 pm) from Marina del Rey, Cabo San Lucas for diving safaris to the Socorro islands. Guests fly into Los Cabos International Airport, approximately 45 minutes drive from Cabo San Lucas. You should plan to arrive the day before departure or no later than 11 am on the day of departure. You can be picked up from the host hotel, Bahia Hotel & Beach Club between 1-1:30 pm on the day of departure. The boat will spend the last night of the trip in the harbor and so guests may depart from 9 am on the last day. For reasons of port authority security and protocols, night landings are prohibited and all passengers must disembark the day the trip ends. We recommend flying out in the afternoon to have a stress-free departure.
Sea of Cortez: For liveaboard trips in the Sea of Cortez, Solmar V departs from Ensenada, Mexico. Most guests arrive in San Diego, California the night before departure and stay at the host hotel (hotel to be advised). On the morning of departure meet in the lobby at 9:30 am and a luxury coach will pick guests up from the recommended hotel and transport you to Ensenada at 10 am. Alternatively you can be picked up in Tijuana at the host hotel, between 11-11:30 am. You will arrive in Ensenada at 1 pm. The trip ends at midday on the final day, then the coach will transport guests back to San Diego arriving 5-6 pm, depending on border traffic (arriving Tijuana 2 pm). It is recommended that you overnight in San Diego that night. If not it is strongly recommended that flights are scheduled only for after 8 pm on disembarkation day.
Guadalupe: For liveaboard trips to Guadalupe, MV Solmar V departs from Ensenada, Mexico. Most guests arrive in San Diego, California the night before departure and stay at the host hotel (hotel to be advised). On the morning of departure a luxury coach will pick guests up from the recommended hotel and transport you to Ensenada. Alternatively you can be picked up in Tijuana at the host hotel, Hotel Real Inn between 11-11:30 am. The boat departs Ensenada at around noon, and on the final day returns to port again around noon and the coach will arrive in San Diego between 4-6 pm, depending on border traffic (Tijuana 2 pm). It is recommended that you overnight in San Diego that night. If not it is strongly recommended that flights are scheduled for after 8 pm on final day.
For more details, including airlines, see our Mexico tourist information section.

Non-diver rate: US$ 150 off the published price.

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 70% of the normal published price.

Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 10 divers and 1 extra person can join the cruise in a Standard cabin free of charge (total 11 guests or more).

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 20 guests and 2 additional persons can join the cruise free of charge (total 22 guests).

Socorro Islands (10 Days / 9 Nights - 23 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
You will be picked at either the San Jose del Cabo airport or from one of the 3 recommended hotels in Cabo San Lucas (between 13:00 and 14:00 hrs). A representative of Solmar V will wait for you and escort you to the boat, which is only a short ride away. The liveaboard usually departs from port at approximately 16:00 hrs, depending on guest arrivals.

Days 2-9
Diving the Revillagigedos Islands means to dive the wild, remote and unpredictable 3 islands that are home to giant manta rays, humpback whales, dolphins, tunas, 7 shark species and, some times, even orcas! San Benedicto is usually the first island visited and it's already a blast, with possible encounters with humpback whales, whale sharks, schooling hammerheads and oceanic mantas. Discovered by Spanish explorers, Socorro is also a great volcanic island that attracts lots of pelagics, while Roca Partida is a small pinnacle surrounded by large schools of trevallies and tuna. It also features large caves where whitetip reef sharks can be found sleeping. Galapagos sharks, silky sharks and giant manta rays are seen here very often!
Lots of fantastic underwater encounters, but also lots of food! Menus vary and feature a combination of American and Mexican cuisine, using fresh and local ingredients as much as possible. Breakfast features fresh tropical fruit platters, fruit juices, yogurt, pastries, a great variety of cereals, teas and Mexican-style coffee. Lunch is a 3-course meal, beginning with homemade soup followed by a main course, and then a tasty dessert. Afternoon snacks and cocktails will get you ready for dinner: fresh salad, then either chicken or fresh fish or beef, fresh vegetables and another handmade delicious dessert. All beverages, including beer and wine with your meals, are included in the liveaboard trip price.
On the penultimate day of the tour the boat will start its way back to the mainland.

Day 10
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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Socorro Islands (11 Days / 10 Nights - 26 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
Meet at the Marine Del Rey, where a representative of Solmar V will wait for you and escort you to the boat, which is only a short ride away. The liveaboard usually departs from port late afternoon, depending on guest arrivals.

Days 2-10
Diving the Revillagigedos Islands means to dive the wild, remote and unpredictable 3 islands that are home to giant manta rays, humpback whales, dolphins, tunas, 7 shark species and, some times, even orcas! San Benedicto is usually the first island visited and it's already a blast, with possible encounters with humpback whales, whale sharks, schooling hammerheads and oceanic mantas. Discovered by Spanish explorers, Socorro is also a great volcanic island that attracts lots of pelagics, while Roca Partida is a small pinnacle surrounded by large schools of trevallies and tuna. It also features large caves where whitetip reef sharks can be found sleeping. Galapagos sharks, silky sharks and giant manta rays are seen here very often!
Lots of fantastic underwater encounters, but also lots of food! Menus vary and feature a combination of American and Mexican cuisine, using fresh and local ingredients as much as possible. Breakfast features fresh tropical fruit platters, fruit juices, yogurt, pastries, a great variety of cereals, teas and Mexican-style coffee. Lunch is a 3-course meal, beginning with homemade soup followed by a main course, and then a tasty dessert. Afternoon snacks and cocktails will get you ready for dinner: fresh salad, then either chicken or fresh fish or beef, fresh vegetables and another handmade delicious dessert. All beverages, including beer and wine with your meals, are included in the liveaboard trip price.
On the penultimate day of the tour the boat will start its way back to the mainland.

Day 11
Arrival time at Cabo San Lucas is usually early morning. You will disembark 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

Day 1
Meet at the Marine Del Rey, where a representative of Solmar V will wait for you and escort you to the boat, which is only a short ride away. The liveaboard usually departs from port late afternoon, depending on guest arrivals.

Days 2-8
Diving the Revillagigedos Islands means to dive the wild, remote and unpredictable 3 islands that are home to giant manta rays, humpback whales, dolphins, tunas, 7 shark species and, some times, even orcas! San Benedicto is usually the first island visited and it's already a blast, with possible encounters with humpback whales, whale sharks, schooling hammerheads and oceanic mantas. Discovered by Spanish explorers, Socorro is also a great volcanic island that attracts lots of pelagics, while Roca Partida is a small pinnacle surrounded by large schools of trevallies and tuna. It also features large caves where whitetip reef sharks can be found sleeping. Galapagos sharks, silky sharks and giant manta rays are seen here very often!
Lots of fantastic underwater encounters, but also lots of food! Menus vary and feature a combination of American and Mexican cuisine, using fresh and local ingredients as much as possible. Breakfast features fresh tropical fruit platters, fruit juices, yogurt, pastries, a great variety of cereals, teas and Mexican-style coffee. Lunch is a 3-course meal, beginning with homemade soup followed by a main course, and then a tasty dessert. Afternoon snacks and cocktails will get you ready for dinner: fresh salad, then either chicken or fresh fish or beef, fresh vegetables and another handmade delicious dessert. All beverages, including beer and wine with your meals, are included in the liveaboard trip price.
On the penultimate day of the tour the boat will start its way back to the mainland.

Day 9
Arrival time at Cabo San Lucas is usually early morning. You will disembark after breakfast.

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Sea of Cortez South (8 Days / 7 Nights - 22 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: Sea of Cortez: Isla Las Animas, Isla San Jose, Isla Cerralvo, El Bajo, Cabo Pulmo National Park, Espiritu Santo

Day 1
Meet at the marina in San Jose Del Cabo, where a representative of Solmar V will wait for you and escort you to the boat, which is only a short ride away. The liveaboard usually departs from port late afternoon, depending on guest arrivals.

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, schools of hammerheads , silky 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, orcas, blue whales, bull sharks, mobula rays and sea lion colonies will be fond memories from this fantastic vacation.
Lots of fantastic underwater encounters, but also lots of food! Menus vary and feature a combination of American and Mexican cuisine, using fresh and local ingredients as much as possible. Breakfast features fresh tropical fruit platters, fruit juices, yogurt, pastries, a great variety of cereals, teas and Mexican-style coffee. Lunch is a 3-course meal, beginning with homemade soup followed by a main course, and then a tasty dessert. Afternoon snacks and cocktails will get you ready for dinner: fresh salad, then either chicken or fresh fish or beef, fresh vegetables and another handmade delicious dessert. All beverages, including beer and wine with your meals, are included in the liveaboard trip price.
On the penultimate day of the tour the boat will start its way back to the mainland.

Day 8
Arrival time at San Jose del Cabo is usually early morning. You will disembark after breakfast.

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Sea of Cortez (15 Days / 14 Nights - 42 Dives)

Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, whales, seals/sea lions, turtles, 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: Sea of Cortez: Isla Las Animas, Cabo Pulmo National Park, Espiritu Santo: Roca Swany + Ferry Salvatierra, Fang Ming + C59; La Reina, La Reinita, San Francisquito, Loreto: Isla Danzante, Isla del Carmen, Isla Coronado; Isla San Pedro Martir, Isla Salsipuedes, Angel de la Guardia. Snorkelling with whale sharks in Bahía de los Ángeles.

Day 1
Meet at the marina in San Jose Del Cabo, where a representative of Solmar V will wait for you and escort you to the boat, which is only a short ride away. The liveaboard usually departs from port late afternoon, depending on guest arrival times.

Days 2-14
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; its waters host super-pods of dolphins, mobula rays, orcas, sea lions, and nearly 900 fish species, including 77 found nowhere else. This vibrant marine ecosystem is also a vital habitat for blue, humpback, grey, sperm, pilot, Baird's beaked and Bryde whales. This 15-day, 14-night adventure offers a rare opportunity to explore one of the most diverse underwater worlds, encountering everything from nudibranchs, seahorses, frogfish, blennies, and jawfish, to Mexican horn sharks, schools of hammerheads, silkies, bull sharks and whale sharks.
Lots of fantastic underwater encounters, but also lots of food! Menus vary and feature a combination of American and Mexican cuisine, using fresh and local ingredients as much as possible. Breakfast features fresh tropical fruit platters, fruit juices, yogurt, pastries, a great variety of cereals, teas and Mexican-style coffee. Lunch is a 3-course meal, beginning with homemade soup followed by a main course, and then a tasty dessert. Afternoon snacks and cocktails will get you ready for dinner: fresh salad, then either chicken or fresh fish or beef, fresh vegetables and another handmade delicious dessert. All beverages, including beer and wine with your meals, are included in the liveaboard trip price.
On the penultimate day of the tour the boat will start its way back to the mainland.

Day 15
Arrival time at Puerto Peñasco is usually early morning. You will disembark after breakfast.
Note that this trip sometimes runs in reverse, so check for the exact port details of the trip.

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Socorro Islands & Magdalena Bay (15 Days / 14 Nights - 28 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 Santa Margarita (USS H-1 or Indiana), Magdalena Bay, Revillagigedos: San Benedicto, Roca Partida, Socorro Island. Free diving with striped marlins.

Day 1
Meet at the Marine Del Rey, where a representative of Solmar V will wait for you and escort you to the boat, which is only a short ride away. The liveaboard usually departs from port late afternoon, depending on guest arrivals.

Days 2-14
Explore 2 of the world's most stunning marine destinations in a single journey. This itinerary combines the thrill of a Sardine Run in Magdalena Bay with top world-class diving in the Socorro Islands. This adventure offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the Mexican Pacific, perfect for experienced divers and marine life enthusiasts.
Witness the breath-taking natural phenomenon of the Sardine Run, where gray whales, humpback whales, blue whales, marlins, mobulas, and sea lions hunt massive schools of sardines. 3 full days will be spent in Magdalena Bay, following the baitball action and free diving with striped marlins. Animal spotting is done aboard small pangas operated by local companies, allowing for an authentic and sustainable snorkeling experience while supporting the local community.
Diving the Revillagigedos Islands means to dive the wild, remote and unpredictable 3 islands that are home to giant manta rays, humpback whales, dolphins, tunas, 7 shark species and, some times, even orcas! San Benedicto is usually the first island visited and it's already a blast, with possible encounters with humpback whales, whale sharks, schooling hammerheads and oceanic mantas. Socorro itself is a volcanic island that attracts lots of pelagics, while Roca Partida is a small pinnacle surrounded by large schools of trevallies and tuna. It also features large caves where whitetip reef sharks can be found sleeping. Galapagos sharks, silky sharks and giant manta rays are often seen here.
Lots of fantastic underwater encounters, but also lots of food! Menus vary and feature a combination of American and Mexican cuisine, using fresh and local ingredients as much as possible. Breakfast features fresh tropical fruit platters, fruit juices, yogurt, pastries, a great variety of cereals, teas and Mexican-style coffee. Lunch is a 3-course meal, beginning with homemade soup followed by a main course, and then a tasty dessert. Afternoon snacks and cocktails will get you ready for dinner: fresh salad, then either chicken or fresh fish or beef, fresh vegetables and another handmade delicious dessert. All beverages, including beer and wine with your meals, are included in the liveaboard trip price.
On the penultimate day of the tour the boat will start its way back to the mainland.

Day 15
Arrival time at Cabo San Lucas is usually early morning. You will disembark 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].

Solmar V has 12 cabins located on the lower deck. There are 6 Superior double/twin bed cabins and 4 Standard double/twin bed cabins and 2 single bed cabins. The Superior cabins are slightly larger. Each cabin has top-of-the-line 'Pillow-Top' mattresses and non-allergenic down alternative pillows and comforters.

All the cabins have: No. of bathrooms / showers - 13 / 12 - hot water

The crew of 10 comprise: Nitrox - 2 Motorized dive dinghies - Diving platform and kit up area with fresh water shower and towels - Camera table, separate rinse tank and charging stations - Main deck air-conditioned saloon and dining area with TV, DVD, music system, movie library, fish ID books - Satellite telephone - Partially-shaded sundeck with sunbeds and chairs - Water dispenser

Dining on the Solmar V liveaboard, you can expect a range of international and Mexican dishes prepared using the freshest ingredients possible. Pre-breakfast before dive 1 is followed by a hit breakfast cooked to order, with a 3 course lunch and dinner served buffet-style. Beer and wine during meal times are free of charge.

• Mexican and international meals.
• Air-conditioned dining area with waiter service meals.
• Pre-breakfast, breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are provided.
• Snacks include ice cream, cookies, fruit, bread and toast.
• Coffee, tea, drinking water, soft drinks, beer and wine during dinner, are all provided free of charge.
• Spirits are available for purchase on board.
• All dietary requirements can be catered for - please send advanced notice.
• Cruise dining service begins with dinner at boarding.

Customer reviews:

" The staff was super, and Danny is the glue to the operation.
The food was great, the food service needs a revision back to buffet style as they just can't seem to get the timing and serving down. Too many times divers were served at the same table 8 minutes apart and too late for the next dive.
The Solmar V has some issues - the anchor stopped working, an anchor was temp. abandoned, one cabin flooded due to plumbing, and the main cabin A/C worked at 50% the whole trip. To be sure the cabins are very small on this boat compared to other liveaboards.
2 things really stand out about Dive The World - the payment plan and the online chat. Sheldon was a great help to me personally. Solmar did not offer a payment plan, Dive The World did. " - Mitchell D Stuve, United States, 6 December 2023 ...

"The boat is small for 22 divers and cabins are equally tiny. Crew and dive staff are amazing as are all other aspects." - Duncan Wright, Netherlands, 8 January 2020 ...