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There are no people living on the Islas Revillagegidos other than the naval base on Socorro where we anchored to drop off Steve and to have our papers checked.
Socorro Island is home to a diverse group of island flora and fauna similar in bio diversity to that of Ecuador's Galápagos Islands. First discovered in 1533 by Hernando de Grijalva, Socorro was more intensely explored by Alfred Jackson Grayson in 1865, an avid ornithologist and explorer who discovered the endemic Socorro Dove. Soon after Grayson's exploration, the island's delicately balanced ecosystem was upset by a series of exotic species introductions. Humans began to settle the island, bringing with them domestic and farm animals as well as plants for agricultural use. | 
White-tip reef sharks on ledge in Roca Partida.
Photo by Steve Welch |
One evening two american biologist came onboard to tell us more about the Socorros Islands. They gave us an interesting slide presentation of their current projects in Socorro. Six months a year they come and live in the lonely navy outpost on Socorro Island to do research and I think they relished a chance to have a beer and talk to fellow Americans. They told us about the destructive sheep on the islands. Today, there may be at least 2000 feral sheep who wander freely over the southeastern part of the island and contribute to large-scale landscape degradation by overgrazing of the island's vegetation. This process has lead to large amounts of sediment runoff. Sediment that erodes from hillsides either fills in freshwater drinking holes on the island itself or eventually is deposited into the Pacific Ocean (where it disturbs the marine environment). Sheep also affect the vegetation in the area by disturbing the natural nutrient recycling process. As the plants die out, grass-like vegetation and exotic species replace them. Not a good development and they are trying hard to get rid of these sheep. 
And down they go! | Sheep are not the only introduced animals the island suffers from. Cats, rabbits and mice disturb the natural balance. Biologists come to Socorro to map this destruction and finding ways to diminish the damage that these animals do. Limited resources and manpower makes this a tough job. |
It is far more fun for them to study the humpback whales, which is their main reason to return to the Socorros every year. With strategically placed underwater microphones they have been recording the whale songs for years, trying to make sense of them. It was interesting to find out it is only the males that sing and that they sing variations of the same song. We'd been hearing them sing during our dives and it was fascinating to find out more. Groups of whales in the different parts of the worlds' oceans have their own song. The scientists are also in the process of tagging the animals for DNA samples. This in order to keep track of individual whales and hopefully figure out the many unanswered questions that still exist about the species. We learnt a lot that evening and realized the importance of these islands and the need to preserve them in the future.
The Solmar V makes her home in the marina of Cabo San Lucas. Cabo is located at the tip of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.
Many airlines fly to Cabo San Lucas from the USA. American Airlines, Continental, America West and Alaska Airlines to name a few.
Take a shuttle ($18) from the airport to the Solmar Suites. Beware of the time-share scams trying to get you to their resort by offering free meals and transportation. It takes about 25 minutes to get to Cabo San Lucas, stopping at the various resorts along along the coast to drop off passengers. It's a beautiful drive with views of emerald green ocean against a harsh desert background. It reminded me of the Red Sea. | 
The famous Arch in Cabo San Lucas on our way out. |
Make sure to arrive at the hotel no later that 2pm on the day of departure to meet your fellow divers in the restaurant/bar area. A representative of "Amigos del Mar", the dive shop that provides the dive masters to the Solmar, will meet you there. You will need to fill out the necessary paper work before your transfer to the liveaboard at 3pm. Departure time for the Socorros is at 4 pm.
The pool at the Solmar Suites | If you are planning to arrive the night before, book a room at the Solmar Suites. The hotel/resort is on the expensive side for what it has to offer in terms of service but it's conveniently located if you are going to board the Solmar and is operated by the same company. I stayed in a garden suite (US $170 high season) which was large and comfortable.
The nice pool and restaurant area are a pleasant respite from busy Cabo San Lucas and there is a very good sushi menu on offer. The hotel also has internet access at $6/hour, airport transfers ($17) and a luggage storage facility. Check out is at noon. |
The Los Cabos ("the Capes") region is home to the bustling towns of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. If you have time, visit San Jose del Cabo, which is the closest one to the airport and the more sedate of the two towns. It has a nice colonial center and Cabos' best restaurants and nicest shops. Among activities available there are horseback riding across the sandy beaches, golf and shopping in an authentic Mexican atmosphere.
Cabo San Lucas, with a population of 25,000, is the faster-growing of the two. In the past few years, swanky new hotels and sleek condos have been developed. Sport fishing put Cabo San Lucas on the map and it is now a popular spring break destination. This is where college kids and 20-somethings make an effort to get drunker than they've ever been. If you like to hang out at places with names like "Cabo Wabo", this is your spot. Just be warned: the ocean is dangerous. Under those serene-looking waters are riptides and deadly undertows. So, with few exceptions, swimming in Los Cabos is strictly in pools.
Bring a 5 mm wetsuit, up that to a 7 mm suit and hood if you tend to get cold easy. A safety sausage is useful as seas can be rough and it will make it easier for the panga driver to spot you after a dive. Comfortable clothes, plenty of sunscreen and a windbreaker are also a good idea.
Don't forget your scuba certification card and diver's insurance (DAN) as you will not be allowed to dive without it. The captain of the Solmar will keep your passport for the duration of the trip due to a check by the Mexican army at Socorro. | 
Solmar Suites entrance |
Bring motion sickness treatment as the sea can get rough during crossings.
Beware that you are not allowed to use gloves, dive lights or knives in the Socorros.
As photo and video opportunities are excellent in the Socorros you should bring a camera or video with housing. I noticed an increase in digital equipment on this trip so if you can, bring a laptop and additional tapes so you can make copies of your fellow diver's pics and footage.
Please contact Dive Global for more information on the Solmar V or visit their Web site directly.
Diving at the Islas Revillagegidos is only available November through mid-June due to rough ocean outside of this period. The water temperature is between 78 - 82 F in November, December, beginning of January and late April and May. In late January, February, March and the beginning of April the water temperature goes down to 70 - 74 F. The Humpback Whales visit Socorro during the cooler water months of February to mid-April to breed and calve, a great time to go!
Solmar V Web site...
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Solmar Suites on the beach |
Mantas of Mexico
Destination Mexico
Diving and Snorkeling in Baja California | Buy
To get more information on the Solmar V, contact Charlotte @ Dive Global
or visit the Solmar V Web site...
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