SOCORRO ISLANDS | REVILLAGIGEDO 2029
Giant mantas, sharks & pelagics at one of the most remote locations in the world
11th to 19th June 2029
Socorro Islands | Mexico | Nautilus Belle Amie
The Ocean’s Giants Await
There are very few places in the world that have stayed with me the way Socorro has. After leading my first expedition there in 2023, I came home knowing it wouldn't be my last. Quite simply, it's some of the best diving I've ever experienced, and Roca Partida remains my favourite dive site anywhere in the world.
In June 2029, I'll be returning to the Revillagigedo Islands aboard the Nautilus Belle Amie for another dedicated underwater photography and dive expedition.
Lying hundreds of kilometres off the Pacific coast of Mexico, the islands are wonderfully remote. Days are spent surrounded by open ocean, visiting volcanic islands and isolated pinnacles that attract an extraordinary concentration of pelagic life. Every dive has the potential to be different. Giant oceanic mantas are the stars of Socorro, often choosing to spend long periods interacting with divers, while several species of sharks, bottlenose dolphins, whale sharks (if we're lucky), large schools of jacks and tuna, silky sharks, Galápagos and hammerhead sharks, silvertips, whitetips, rays and clouds of reef fish all make this one of the richest marine ecosystems on the planet.
For underwater photographers, it's a place that offers endless opportunities. The encounters are often close, the subjects are diverse, and the dramatic volcanic seascapes provide an unforgettable backdrop. Whether your focus is wide angle photography or simply spending time in the water with some of the ocean's most iconic animals, Socorro delivers experiences that are difficult to compare with anywhere else.
This expedition is designed for divers who want more than just a dive trip. It's an opportunity to spend time in one of the world's great pelagic destinations with a small group of like-minded people, sharing incredible encounters, improving your photography, and experiencing a place that has genuinely become one of my favourites on Earth.
I can't wait to return, and I'd love to share it with you.
** All underwater images taken by Vanessa Torres Macho on our 2023 expedition to Revillagigedo
Schooling Silky sharks at Roca Partida
Giant manta at Cabo Pearce
Giant manta & clarion fish at Cabo Pearce
Giant manta at Roca O’Neill
White tip at Roca Partida
White tips at Roca Partida
Diving Socorro
The Revillagigedo Islands are one of the few places in the world where every dive feels like it could surprise you. One moment you're surrounded by giant oceanic mantas, the next you're watching pods of bottlenose dolphins weaving effortlessly through the blue or a school of hammerheads appearing out of the distance.
The dramatic pinnacle of Roca Partida is home to swirling schools of jacks, tuna and creolefish, while whitetip reef sharks rest beneath the ledges and silky, silvertip and Galápagos sharks patrol the water column. San Benedicto is renowned for its close encounters with giant mantas, whose curiosity often leads them to spend long periods interacting with divers, while the volcanic walls of Socorro Island offer encounters with turtles, eagle rays, dolphins and an abundance of reef life. If luck is on our side, we may also encounter whale sharks or migrating humpback whales during our crossing.
What makes Socorro so special isn't just the diversity of marine life, it's the quality of the encounters. The islands' remote location, more than 400 kilometres from mainland Mexico, has created one of the Pacific's healthiest pelagic ecosystems, where animals behave naturally and interactions often happen on their terms.
Whether you're hoping to capture the perfect wide angle image or simply experience some of the world's finest pelagic diving, Socorro Islands offer the kind of encounters that stay with you long after you've surfaced.
$5289 USD per person includes:
What’s included
8 nights aboard Nautilus Belle Amie- twin double share in lower deck stateroom
Transfer to & from vessel from SeeCreatures in Cabo San Lucas
5 days of diving- up to 4 dives per day
Tanks, weights & guiding services
Meals, snacks, soft drinks, tea & coffee
Cabin & deck towels
National Park Fee
Underwater Photo Workshop (pre trip) + images review on location
Expedition t-shirt
Underwater Photography Workshop: all Aquatic Imaging Australia expeditions include a pre-trip workshop to get the best out of your setup. If you’re joining us as a photographer, we will help you nail the perfect shot in this wildlife experience.
Exclusions: Flights to & from Australia, passport/Visa fees, travel insurance, excess luggage fee, transfers from airport, nitrox, scuba gear, wifi & $35 USD (cash) park fee to be paid onboard.
Underwater Photography Workshop: all Aquatic Imaging Australia expeditions include underwater workshops and mentoring. Read more below.
Booking conditions to secure your spot a $1000 USD deposit is required; visit our website, email us at info@aquaticimagingaustralia.com.au or click on ‘Book Now’ below.
Minimum requirements:
70 logged dives, last dive within 6 months from the commencement of trip
Comfortable following a dive plan with a buddy
Used to currents and thicker wetsuits
Advanced certification or equivalent
Personal dive computer
Personal smb & spool and knowledge on usage
Travel/Medical insurance
Dive insurance
Vanessa- image taken by Talia Greis in Sydney
Your Expedition Leader
Vanessa is a passionate award winning underwater photographer, scuba instructor, technical diver and freediver. One of her greatest passions is shooting large animals so Socorro Islands fits right in her agenda. This time it will be even better!
Her 23 years of diving are marked by growth as a diver and working hard to perfect her craft. This enables her to bring you the best tips to create your best images regardless of the environment and feel comfortable in the water at the same time.
Our vessel- Nautilus Belle Amie
Our Vessel: Belle Amie
The Nautilus Belle Amie is a 135 foot, luxurious, modern vessel custom built for divers. On board you'll find comfortable lounges, a spacious dining area and a partially shaded sun deck with a hot tub, while excellent soundproofing and ample fresh water mean you can enjoy a restful night's sleep and a hot shower after every dive. All cabins have individually controlled air conditioning & ensuite bathrooms.
Built to international SOLAS safety standards, the Belle Amie is one of the safest and most respected liveaboards operating in the Pacific.
It has a dedicated photography area with ample spaces for even the largest rigs, as well as multiple charging ports.The dive deck is spacious and comfortable to store your dive gear after every dive.
Our last expedition in 2023
Who is this trip for?
This expedition is designed for divers, underwater photographers and ocean lovers who want to experience one of the world's great pelagic destinations.
Bring your wide angle lenses for encounters with the giants of Revillagigedo Islands. Socorro offers encounters that will stay with you long after the dive ends. Photographers and non photographers alike are welcome!
As a diver, you should be comfortable in open ocean conditions and have experience with currents and liveaboard diving. The minimum requirements are Advanced Open Water (or equivalent), at least 70 logged dives, and having dived within the previous 6 months. Some dives may involve strong currents and negative entries, so confidence and good buoyancy skills are important.
Underwater Photography Workshop
Learn the art of capturing remarkable images during eight days of diving and adventure. This expedition will allow you to progress and finesse your creativity and technique.
For those jumping on the photography train, this expedition will begin with a phone or face to face consultation with Vanessa; a quick healthcheck on your gear and comfort shooting underwater.
Before departing and for those in Sydney, we include a half day dry workshop which will provide you with practical techniques. This is a perfect opportunity to learn how to make your current setup work for you and get those desired images. Stop, think and shoot followed by review and applying feedback.
Throughout the expedition there will be opportunities to review images and plan ahead to get the most out of every dive. We know the struggle, we promise, we have been there before.
Choose adventure, wildlife and nature with us.