Rocio Del Mar Liveaboard
Islas Revillagigedo on Rocio del Mar
In November of 2013 Cindy and I scheduled a live-aboard trip on the Rocio del Mar to the Islas Revillagigedo or Socorro Islands as they are more commonly known. This was our second attempt to visit these remote islands, our first thwarted by a rather substantial hurricane.
The Rocio del Mar is a staunch, custom built, 100-foot dive boat that has been in service since late 2008. Built, owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Lolo and Dora Sandoval, with long serving professional crew, it is, in my opinion the best live-aboard operating in Baja. Guest accommodations are ten comfortable, double cabins, each with AC, bathroom and shower. For the UW photographer there is a dedicated camera table on the dive deck along with camera work space and entertainment center in the second deck lounge. Both the individual cabins and the second deck lounge along with the dive deck camera table have outlets for charging cameras and other equipment at standard US 110 volts. For diving convenience, each diver has their own space and gear storage area with close access to the twin stairs leading to the panga boarding, swim step area. This access and dive deck area makes the Rocio the perfect vessel for dive adventurers. Gas choices aboard include Nitrox at 32 percent or air.
We departed from San Jose del Cabo and spent the next 26 hours running to the southwest in calm seas. Taking the opportunity to do a final equipment check still left plenty of time to get acquainted with new dive buddies and relax on Rocio’s spacious sun deck or lounge area or to just flake out in your cabin for a nap.
Bright and early on the second morning, we arrived at San Benedicto Island and into the water we went! First dive found us with turtles and white-tip sharks and the next dive we were in the water with mantas. From then on, over the next five days it was nothing but awesome diving. Dolphins, turtles, sharks – white tip, silver tip, Galapagos, silky and hammerhead – wahoo, BIG tuna, mantas, mantas, mantas, dolphin and finally we were visited by a very accommodating whale shark on our last day at Roca Partida. These along with the usual reef and rock suspects along with gentle seas made this a spectacular trip. All dives were from large rigid-hull inflatables with a typical ratio of four divers for each dive master. Except for the more rigorous dives when the dive briefing was more specific, buddy pairs have pretty much free rein to wander a bit and to chase the images they want.
As far as the amenities on Rocio they are excellent. Beginning with the stability of the vessel which provides the easiest ride I have ever encountered on a live-aboard vessel. That is not to say that the Rocio doesn’t move in the swell, but the vessel has a very gentle ride that is enhanced by the use of paravanes on long transits which makes for an easier more relaxing voyage. Food on the Rocio – what can I say but excellent and abundant. Poncho the Rocio’s chef provides amazing food, everything from snacks –fresh fruits, goat cheese, taco bites and more – to the amazing cooked to order breakfasts and the diverse and delicious dinners. On my several cruises aboard Rocio, it is SOP that the guests will give Pancho and his creations standing ovations several times over the course of the trip. The rest of the crew is first class as well.. Panga operators Julio and Everado have been with Rocio since she began operating and their skill and safety awareness make even the challenging dive easier and safer for the divers. Aurelio the Rocio’s engineer, is sort of the guy behind the scenes, but if there is a mechanical problem whether the ship’s equipment dive equipment or a funky strobe connection he can usually handle it.
Again, I’ll say for diving the Sea of Cortez or the Revillagigedo Islands there is not a better diving live-aboard experience to be had than the Rocio del Mar and her excellent crew.
