Hiding in the fissures of the rocky reef are lots of lobsters. Galápagos and silkies are commonly in residence and this is one of the best sites in the whole archipelago to see tiger sharks. Punta Tosca is located on the west side of island – a top site for spotting humpback whales and expect plenty of shark action. Punta Tosca – Socorro Island The rugged, craggy reefs are full of nooks and crannies and although there is little coral there are lots of fish But don’t despair if the cetaceans are scarce –this is a great site for sharks, particularly whale sharks and there are plenty of giant manta rays. Nothing is better than spending your whole dive with 20 to 30 friendly dolphins. And if you are even luckier, they might be in the mood for company. Look around immediately you roll in – you might be surrounded by bottlenose dolphins. Your dive boat can find shelter in a calm cove that is surrounded by rocky red cliffs and you can head off in the dive RIBs to explore this exciting outcrop. Expect to see Galápagos and silky sharks patrolling the reef.Ĭabo Pearce – Socorro Island A whale shark, Socorro IslandĬabo Pearce is located on the east side of Socorro Island. Keep your eye out for schools of scalloped hammerheads out in the blue. Some days the giant mantas circle around waiting for their turn for the attentions of the king and clarion angelfish eager to devour any parasites. The Canyon at the south end of the island has two cleaning stations that are particularly popular with large pelagics. There is a strict no-touching and especially a no-manta-ray-riding policy enforced by all boats which allows the manta rays to control their level of interaction with the divers, rather than being harassed by the over-eager.Įl Canyon – San Benedicto Island A Galápagos shark in the Revillagigedos It is believed they enjoy the sensation in the same way as humans respond to tickling. It is not uncommon to have eight manta rays cruising the currents around El Boiler and visiting cleaning stations where clarion angelfish ( Holacanthus clarionensis) flock to them and begin a service of pecking parasites from the surfaces of their bodies.įor reasons unknown, the manta rays at San Benedicto appear to enjoy playing with scuba divers, swimming past at a slow speed and stalling above the divers’ exhaled bubbles. The sides of the pinnacle are patrolled by jacks and silky sharks. It is covered in patches of coral and is home to lobsters, octopus, and reef fish. Conservationists are pushing for the islands to be UNESCO World Heritage listed.ĭIVE SITES EL Boiler – San Benedicto Island Giant manta rays in formation at El BoilerĮl Boiler is a small guyot, roughly oval-shaped, more or less the size and shape of a football field, that rises from the bottom 35m below and reaches to just below the surface on the north-west coast of San Benedicto in the Revillagigedos. The islands are Biosphere Reserve and a Marine Protected Area with a complete ban on fishing within 12km of each island. In recent years, there have been many documented encounters between divers and humpback whales at Roca Partida in particular, where whales have shown an extraordinary tolerance towards scuba divers. Pacific creolefish ( Paranthias colunus ) form thick clouds in the upper water column which disappear with an audible whoosh at the arrival of yellowfin tuna.įrom February to April, humpback whales migrate from their high-latitude feeding grounds to utilise the Revillagigedo Islands as a breeding ground and for delivering and nursing their offspring. Roca Partida is a magnet for sea life in the area. It is situated upon a broad, flat-topped seamount, or guyot, in 80m of water, 30m height jutting from the sea and 100m wide. Whale sharks, bottlenose dolphins and oceanic mantas are Revillagigedo highlightsĪnd 120km to the west of Socorro lies a lonely pinnacle, Roca Partida.
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