The 112-foot Solmar V brings its passengers 250 miles south of Los Cabos to the Socorro Islands. There, divers have the opportunity to swim with dolphins, various species of sharks, migrating humpback whales and Giant Pacific manta rays whose winglike pectoral fins span 21 feet in length.
Divers can choose to dive from small watercrafts called pangas that remain above the divers or from the ship's dive deck. The ship also makse a stop at Guadalupe Island for diving in state-of-the-art submersible shark cages that are submerged 30 feet and provide a 360-degree view of 16-foot great white sharks.
Guests accommodations on the ship include staterooms with pillow-top mattress-covered beds, air conditioning, ensuite and television and DVD player. An eight-day diving adventure aboard the Solmar V is available from $1,795, all-inclusive, as of 2010.
Solmar V Administrative Office
P.O. Box 529
Topanga, CA 90290
310-455-3600
solmarv.com
The Baja Aggressor is a 130-foot yacht that will take divers on a number of different scuba diving adventures. Between January and June each year, the ship stops at the Socorro Islands, where divers may swim with schooling hammerheads, silver tip sharks, Galapagos sharks, bottlenose dolphins and the enormous manta rays.
Between November and December, the ship cruises to Magdelena Bay where divers swim with gray whales and their new offspring.
Finally, from July to November, the Baja Aggressor makes its way to Guadalupe Island where divers will submerse themselves in shark cages to a depth of between 5 and 20 feet for an up-close encounter with the great white sharks.
The Baja Aggressor offers week-long inclusive excursions from $1,995, 2010 prices.
Aggressor Fleet
Corporate Office
209 Hudson Trace
Augusta, GA 30907
706-993-2531
aggressor.com
The Nautilus Explorer ventures to a bay off Guadalupe Island where the population of great white sharks is no less than 94 at any time. Diving opportunities are virtually endless throughout this trip where the double-decker submersible shark cages are lowered every 30 minutes. Due to the dense population of sharks here, no chum (animal or vegetable matter, as chopped fish or corn, thrown overboard to attract fish) is necessary to bait the sharks and therefore their "visit" is much more relaxed, providing great viewing opportunities.
The Nautilus Explorer also travels to the Socorro Islands for divers more interested in interactive diving sessions. This trip typically offers 22 dives, as well as snorkeling at night to view hunting silky sharks.
Each of these trips on the Nautilus Explorer is available from $2,250, inclusive for a nine-day trip, as of summer 2010.
Nautilus Explorer
PO Box 97182
Richmond BC V6X 8H3
604-657-7614
nautilusexplorer.com
