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Dive Review of Rocio Del Mar in
Mexico (Western)/Sea of Cortez

Rocio Del Mar, Oct, 2010,

by Bob DeFeo, CA, US (Contributor Contributor 19 reports with 7 Helpful votes). Report 5751.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 1 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Third visit in three months! Whales sharks for the 3rd month in a row. Huge pod of sperm whales (15) with calves 50 feet from the boat. Pod of 100 pilot whales surfing off the stern 10 feet away. Sea lions during many dives. Humboldt squid. I won't kill the reader with details on the Rocio del Mar's facilities, food, accomodations as I've covered those in two previous back-to-back month's reports. But all remains GREAT! Diving in late October without the full/new moon made for milder currents than those seen on the August and September trips. Water has cooled off considerably making a 5mm with hooded vest okay but I used a 7mm with hooded vest the last two days and for night dives and was more comfortable. Water temps were more even with less upwelling observed over September and August, 69-73 degrees. Air temps ran low 80's/high 70's daytime and mid 60's at night. Visibility varied considerably with a low of 10 feet to a high of 40-50 ft. Most dives had variations of 20-40 ft vis on the same dive. Saw many juvenile cortez angel fish in the yellow-polyped black coral forests. Octopus everywhere, Sea horses, frog fish, and some wonderfully colorful and large golden groupers. Some groupers were 100 lbs. Lobsters, nudibranches, hog fish, blenies, jaw fish, arrow crabs, grunts...see my previous reports on the Rocio del Mar---same delightful sightings. Once again the crew was an absolute 10 and they go well out of their way for guests. Catching & releasing a few humboldt squid and allowing guests to do the same if they wished--under supervision. Amazing animal to see up close! The life in this gulf is so incredibly prolific both in terms of quantity and quality. The Rocio del Mar is a treat for any diver who can handle sometimes variable and unpredictable currents. Like I said before, better book soon or you'll wait years for a spot as word spreads. Also want to add that there has been no traveler safety issues between the border and Puerto Penasco where the boat is berthed. Three times in three months and I have felt secure during each trip. So don't let the drug gang thing scare you way from this trip because it isn't present in the area. Feel free to e-mail if you want videos of the whales, dolphins, etc. or check out the Rocio del Mar's Facebook page and website. Boy! Another incredible trip and I will return when they start the Sea of Cortez trips back up in June. Rocio will be doing the Socorro Islands out of Cabo from late December through May 2011...maybe I'll go back there too:)
Websites Rocio Del Mar   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Monterey, Channel Islands, Puget Sound, Texas, Roatan, Hawaii, Kauai, Philippines, Indonesnia, Socorro Islands, Cayman's
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas calm, currents
Water Temp 69-73°F / 21-23°C Wetsuit Thickness 7
Water Visibility 10-40 Ft/ 3-12 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Safety sausage & dive computer required. Max depth 130 ft.
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks > 2
Turtles None Whales > 2
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 5 stars
Large Pelagics 5 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 5 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Large camera table with outlets on dive deck. Rinse buckets available. HDTV available for viewing. Solid set-up and great access. Crew extremely careful with cameras---best seen to date anywhere.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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