The Socorro Islands, also known as the Revillagigedo Archipelago, are a group of four volcanic islands in Mexico located 400 kilometers off the west coast of Baja California, in the Pacific Ocean. The richness of its waters creates a great habitat for pelagic creatures and the largest ocean predators. It can be compared to two well known paradises for shark diving or whales sightings: Galapagos and Cocos Island.
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In this archipelago, a Biosphere Reserve, commercial fishing is prohibited and the results of it are clear: huge schools of fish and great abundance of sharks, with up to 7 species of sharks living in these islands lost in the middle of the ocean.
The only way to get to these islands is by liveaboard, where you can spend the best diving vacations among grey sharks, silky sharks, tiger sharks (rare, but some show up), white tip sharks, the largest whale sharks in the ocean, black tip sharks and huge schools of hammerhead sharks, sometimes in groups of up to 60.
Many divers are also attracted to Socorro by manta rays. Huge specimens of these animals, with wingspans of over 7 meters, come to these islands to feed and divers can swim peacefully with them. Socorro is a diving destination for the greatest lovers of marine life.
Revillagigedo Islands, magnet for the largest pelagic creatures
Marine mammals also pass through this archipelago on their migrations. It is common to sail between the islands in the company of bottlenose dolphins, with whom you can later dive. During the winter, humpback whales find these islands an ideal habitat for breeding and reproduction as they travel to the cold waters of Alaska.
You'll also find the largest oceanic tunas, schools of mackerel numbering in the thousands, and even colorful tropical fish such as triggerfish, Moorish idols, trumpetfish, or the precious clarion angelfish, a fish endemic to Socorro Islands.
Socorro Island diving areas
San Benedicto Island
San Benedicto Island is a small island with a very popular dive site. Manta rays, hammerhead sharks, silky sharks, dolphins and humpback whales gather to feed on a small pinnacle that rises from the Pacific Ocean. Read more about San Benedicto Island>>
Socorro Island
Socorro Island is the largest island in the Socorro Island Archipelago and has become a renowned manta ray diving destination. On this island you'll experience the amazing feeling of diving with mantas, which are very curious about divers in this area. A real pleasure that is not easy to find anywhere in the world. Read more about Socorro Island>>
Roca Partida
This little rock is the main destination for whale shark diving in Socorro. Here, where you can make a few dives around the pinnacle, all you have to do is hang in the blue and watch the ocean go by. Read more about Roca Partida>>
Clarion Island
Diving at Clarion Island is similar to Socorro Island, with an abundance of pelagic life, but this island has something special. It is home to an endemic species, the Clarion Angelfish, a beautiful and colorful inhabitant of the archipelago that tries to clean the huge stingrays that visit the island. Read more about Clarion Island>>
