Diving in Socorro Island is a pelagic lover's paradise. As a lonely seamount far offshore, the island attracts a number of sociable species. Among them are large groups of giant manta rays (possibly the world's friendliest) who love to swim beside you often less than a meter away.
Play an epic game of pelagic bingo while diving in Socorro Island. Wild bottlenose dolphins seek you out to join them in their antics. Rather than swim away at the sight of divers, these dolphins are known to approach you and remain for several minutes.
Watch humpback whales breach the surface, or nestle into boulders to observe seven shark species - including the whale shark. Strong currents make diving in Socorro suitable for advanced divers only, but the rewards are immense.
The season for diving in Socorro is winter (November-May) as the only way to access the island is by liveaboard who only sail when sea conditions are calmest.
The weather is usually sunny around this time with occasional showers to keep things fresh. Waters range from 82ºF (28ºC) in November to 69ºF (21ºC) in February and back up to 68ºF (25ºC) in May. These rich winter months bring with them the main spectacles of Socorro Island diving: whale sharks, Pacific manta rays and thousands of humpbacks that come here to breed and calve. January-March is best for bottlenose dolphins.
Silky sharks, Galapagos sharks, white tips and silvertips are around all season. Plankton blooms that draw in these pelagic can lower visibility, but the breath-taking encounters are worth the trade-off.
Find. Book. Dive
Technical Diving
Freediving
Emergency First Response
FREE – Introduction to Scuba Diving Online
Marine Debris
Shark & Ray Protection
Adopt a Dive Site
