Nautilus Explorer, Mexico

Name: Sea of Cortez Diving La Paz - Loreto Great Circle (Cabo San Lucas - Cabo San Lucas)
Start: 2026-09-13
End: 2026-09-20
Location: Mexico

8.8 Fabulous

Nitrox available
Jacuzzi / Hot Tub
En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers

from $ 231 / day Check dates

“The scuba diving was some of the best experiences of our diving lives.”
Giancarlo D, United States

Highlights

Dive with giant mantas and humpback whales in Socorro
Constructed with heavy steel and stabilizers for smooth ocean crossings
Certified by Transport Canada as the first and only SOLAS ISM passenger ship with the same safety certificate as the largest cruise ships in the world

Sister ship to the Nautilus Belle Amie, the 35m Nautilus Explorer Liveaboard was custom built for divers to explore the amazing sites of Guadalupe and the Socorro Islands, Mexico. Built by divers, for divers for stability, comfort, and safety, the Nautilus Explorer liveaboard comprises 13 cabins, ranging from a cost-effective mixed-gender triple occupancy stateroom to a luxurious premium suite. On the lower deck are 8 twin/double cabins and 1 triple cabin. The hot tub deck has 3 superior suites and the premium suite, which features a separate lounge and floor-to-ceiling picture window. All cabins are equipped with individually controlled AC and private en-suite bathrooms.

The Nautilus Explorer has many well-designed social areas. There are two upper-floor sun decks and a hot tub deck where guests can relax with a glass of wine or frosty beer under the evening stars. The main salon has large panoramic windows in front of the dive deck. It has couches, a dedicated PC and Mac computer for video editing, and a 42-inch plasma TV. Onboard dining consists of freshly made dishes, including homemade bread, pastries, and soups combining North American, European, and Mexican flavors.

The Nautilus Explorer schedules itineraries to the incredible sites of the Socorro Islands, famous for manta rays, humpback whales, and vast schools of fish. The back of the boat is home to the dive deck, with a 5-ton hydraulic crane, water-level platform, and reinforced steel deck for film and scientific crews. Nitrox is also available for certified divers, and the Nautilus Explorer is rebreather-friendly.

Book your Nautilus Explorer liveaboard today.

Choose your departure date

Date

Itinerary

Price

Select

03 Jun

9 Days / 8 Nights

$ 3,245

FULL

11 Jun

9 Days / 8 Nights

$ 3,245

FULL

19 Jun

9 Days / 8 Nights

$ 3,245

FULL

27 Jun

9 Days / 8 Nights

Male Shared Cabin.

$ 3,245

Select Cabin only 1 space left

05 Jul

11 Days / 10 Nights

$ 3,695

FULL

15 Jul

11 Days / 10 Nights

$ 3,695

Select Cabin available

25 Jul

11 Days / 10 Nights

$ 3,695

Select Cabin available

04 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

Family Fun in the Sun Adventure.

$ 1,895

FULL

25 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$100 OFF! Rates include discount. Valid for a limited time only. Male Shared Cabin.

$ 1,795 Deal %

Select Cabin only 1 space left

30 Aug

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,545

FULL

06 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,845

Select Cabin only 3 spaces left

13 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 1,845

FULL

Included: Drinking Water, Soft drinks, Tea & Coffee, Welcome Cocktails, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Special Dinner, Diving Package, Kayaks, Stand Up Paddleboard, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries, Deck Towels.

Required Extras: 5% VAT, Dive Insurance, National Park Fees (100-172 USD per day), Port Fees (35 USD).

Optional Extras: Gratuities, Hotel Transfer, Alcoholic Beverages, Nitrox (125 USD per trip), Nitrox Course, Private Dive Guide, Rental Gear.

Book now, pay later: You can easily place your booking online. We will then hold the spaces for you and you can confirm with a payment later.

* Extra fees are shown per person.

Pay by bank transfer or online with

Best Price Guaranteed

Boat features

Jacuzzi / Hot Tub
En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers
Air Conditioned saloon
Sun Deck
Camera Station
Stand Up Paddleboard
Nearly 1:1 Crew-to-Guest Ratio
Kayaks On-Board
Seaview Cabins
Paid Internet
Non-Smoking Rooms
Camera room
Custom built for diving
Charging stations
Indoor Saloon
Laundry Service
Audio & video entertainment
Observation Deck
BBQ Area
Available for Charter
Dedicated Local & International Crew
Snorkeling Equipment
Outside Showers
Leisure Deck
Daily housekeeping
Bar

Food & Drinks

Fine Cuisine
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Free Soft Drinks
Beer available
Wine Available
Fine Wines Selection
Welcome Cocktails
Snacks All Day
Buffet style
Western Food
Local Food
Set Menu Dinner

If you have any specific dietary requirements whilst on-board your cruise, you can add this to your special requests on step 2 of the booking form. We advise limiting these requests to religious beliefs or food allergies.

Diving

Nitrox available
Shaded Diving Area
DIN Adaptors
Rebreather Support
Rinse Hoses
Dive deck
Tenders for diving
Sidemount Diving

Languages Spoken

The crew speaks English and Spanish.

Gear Rental

Equipment is available for rent on this boat. Please provide your rental needs on the booking form. If the rental gear is not included in the price, you will need to pay for it on board the boat. Show prices

Drawings & Vessel Layouts

Cabin Types

Boat Specifications

Year built: 2000

Year renovated: 2015

Length: 132 feet

Beam: 27 feet

Cruising speed: 11-12 mph

Max guests: 25

Number of cabins: 13

Tenders: 38' skiff

Water capacity: Unlimited with high capacity watermakers

Freshwater maker: 3600 gallons per day

Boat navigation and safety

Radar
Depth Sounder
GPS
Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
Emergency Rafts
Life Vests
Fire Alarm & Fire Extinguishers
First Aid Kits
Satellite & mobile phones
Crew trained in first aid
Emergency flares

Nautilus Explorer Reviews

8.8 Fabulous

Vessel

8.1
Crew

8.8
Food

9.6
Diving

9.3
Value

8.2

8.8 Fabulous
Jeffrey C
United States

A trip worth taking.
Best crew experience on a liveaboard that I have had. Good diving experience
Recommended for
Fantastic Crew. Good diving. Cleanliness.
18 Jan, 2026

10 Exceptional
Julian S
United States

Once in a lifetime dive experience
Absolutely incredible and worth the 240 mile journey to the islands. Mantas almost every dive, and sharks pretty much guaranteed. Humpback whales and dolphins were also on some of the dive sites. Highly recommend.
Recommended for
Mantas, hammerheads, whales
21 Apr, 2021

10 Exceptional
Andrea F
United States

Outstanding
The special moments we got to share with the giant mantas and other sea creatures was truly unique to this area
Recommended for
The diving was incredible, the dive masters and crew were very helpful and the food was great
21 Dec, 2023

9.2 Superb
Richard W
Austria

Really expensive, but an unforgettable trip
The boat is no longer new, but in perfect condition.... The whole team did an incredible job, and the chef was great and very motivated. The dives themselves were as described by LifeAboard, the absolute highlight were three dives very close to a female humpback whale resting at Roca Partida with her playful baby, who did not let herself be disturbed by the divers - unforgettable!
Recommended for
Dive with Humpback + Baby, countless sharks, and the sight of "Roca Partida"
16 Mar, 2022

Translated from German

9.6 Exceptional
Patrick M
Ireland

Great diving, dive masters and team onboard.
The diving was excellent, the reviews about manta interactions and their curiosity was 100% true for my trip. Onboard the team, particularly Laura and Saki were great, very friendly and always happy to help. Our captain - Ramon, made sure we were always safe at sea. It’s worth saying that Socorro is a remote dive site and if you’re going later in the season expect bigger currents so if you’re affected by seas sickness then bring some meds!
Recommended for
1. Giant Mantas 2. Dolphins 3. Sharks
17 Jun, 2023

9.6 Exceptional
Fernando
Mexico

Amazing experience with very friendly and nice crew.
The overall rating for this trip would be 9.5/10. Everything was close to perfect. What I liked the most was the attitude that the dive masters and crew had during the trip. Very nice people always looking to help and make the trip more comfortable. Definitely will return in a couple years. Diving was obviously amazing.
Recommended for
Diving was amazing, dive masters and crew extremely nice and a very good boat.
14 Jan, 2020

8.4 Very good
Gražina B
Lithuania

Great trip
Good boat although a bit dated, but kept clean. Plenty of food at breakfast and lunch, dinner - not so much:) The cabins were cleaned everyday (beds were made and towels were changed). The staff is very helpful and supportive. The only negative moment was the last day of sailing, when the crew was cleaning all the boat.
Recommended for
Roca Partida dive site. Great breakfast. Friendly staff.
26 Jan, 2026

9.6 Exceptional
Matthew B
United States

Most amazing way to celebrate 20th anniversary!
So many Great White sharks of different sizes. We were able to renew of wedding vows on the dive deck and we were surprised by unexpected treats to help us celebrate our 20th anniversary. The Captain is amazing, not only in charge but welcoming and works along side the fantastic crew.
Recommended for
Many Great white sharks, the crew and Captain Lowe
12 Sep, 2018

8.8 Fabulous
Mario G
Germany

Very special dive experience
Good guidance at diving, some great underwater impressions.
Recommended for
Crew, especially Daniela and Felipe. Food variation. Good communication.
05 Jun, 2025

9.2 Superb
Ievgen P
Ukraine

One of the best LiveAboards I have ever had!
Experience with mantas is absolutely amazing!
Recommended for
Dive guides are involved with the see life!
21 Apr, 2021

96 reviews

8.8 Fabulous
96 Verified Reviews

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8.4 Very good
Brooke M
United States

A diving experience I will never forget.
All the fantastic sea creatures we were super lucky to see. Most the dive guides where fantastic. Even though we didn't need any help, I always felt that anything we would have needed was easy to ask for and everyone was more than happy to help.
Recommended for
Diving, Most Crew members, Diving group separation
27 Feb, 2020

8.8 Fabulous
Marc V
France

High expectations, met and exceeded
The manta and dolphin encounters are like nothing on the planet - animals have become used to the respect and love that divers feel for them and will come to play with you. The divemasters are about the best we’ve ever come across; friendly and always ready to help, and attentive to what the dive team was doing. Finally, the service from the hostesses and the chef, was simply amazing.
Recommended for
The animal encounters, the friendly and authentic crew, the awesome location
04 Jun, 2018

10 Exceptional
Brad G
Canada

Go Nautalis Explorer, you won’t be disappointed!
Very seldom do I write a review about an experience when travelling but every so often one comes along that I think deserves recognition. I travelled with my daughter on the trip to Socorros and it was first class from start to finish. The Nautalis Explorer was very well laid out , perfect for diving, the sleeping quarters were very comfortable and the food was great! The best thing about this trip, and I can’t stress this enough, was the crew on the Explorer! From the moment I arrived right up to the moment I left these people were amazing. They worked long hours and went above and beyond to ensure all the guests were happy. On a type of trip like this issues naturally arise and wether it be clients gear or special personal requirement they immediately took care of the situation and rectified the problem in a professional manner well always smiling. There is not one thing I could complain of about anyone on the crew, in fact at times I felt guilty as to how hard they worked well we just dove and relaxed. Thanks again to all the crew for making this trip so memorable! The diving was amazing to say the least, Mantas, Humpback Whales and sharks of all kinds including Hammerheads! Go Nautalis Explorer to Socorros, you won’t be disappointed!!
Recommended for
The crew, the diving & the food
18 Feb, 2022

10 Exceptional
Sanjay K
India

THE DIFFERENCE MAKER
Diving: Mantas (duh!) - have seen many before but the interaction in the sites like El Boiler and Roca Partida are second to none. Dolphins ( all over the place in El Boiler) Hammerheads ( Roca Partida) Tiger Shark and Whale shark ( if you are lucky - in El Bolier) Night Snorkel with Silky sharks Super awesome marine life in all sites Safety: Excellent emphasis given to safety and procedures on the dive. Non Diving: Round the clock service makes the whole diving at sea part a breeze Excellent Food: I am a vegetarian and I slept well fed on burger, steak and all other nights. Round the clock food. Look forward to the hot coco with Baileys post the night snorkel. Brilliant Staff: You are sure to make life long friends on this boat, so be ready to bawl like a baby when you are leaving. I am definitely not done with Soccoro or The Nautilus Fleet. I thought I would move on to the Galapagos or elsewhere, but there would be no reasons given the richness of dive experience that is available in this one package.
Recommended for
The boat ( spacious, very comfortable and easily a home) The staff ( diving and non-diving, easily the best staff I have dived with - so loving, caring and accomodating) The food
07 Jun, 2018

10 Exceptional
Kevin D
Mexico

Best dive trip ever
Incredible wildlife, great food, great cabin
Recommended for
Dive masters, Location, Comfort
17 Dec, 2021

9.6 Exceptional
Marshall M
United States

Best Liveaboard I've ever done with a crew that I'll stay friends with forever
The crew was so incredibly kind, helpful, and attentive to every little detail and need we had. They went above and beyond on everything we could have ever hoped for!
Recommended for
The crew, the sharks, the food
12 Sep, 2018

8.0 Very good
Nathaniel S
Mexico

Fantastic, highly recommended, a top ten on my list
The islands are fantastic, and the crew make the trip all that much better. The boat is comfortable and has a good back deck for scuba and camera gear
Recommended for
the dive locations. people. food.
17 Mar, 2026

9.2 Superb
Stefan H
United Kingdom

Excellent dive guides
I can’t say that this was the best diving ever, nor the most modern boat, BUT the dive team (Celi, Ima and Feli) were magnificent and really made the trip worthwhile. Swimming with whale sharks was extraordinary; as was playing with sea lions. Well organised and premium service.
Recommended for
Whalesharks. Dive Guides. Sundeck and lounge.
22 Oct, 2024

10 Exceptional
Giorgia M
Italy

Special
Diving with manta raysDiving with sharksThe whales that jumped around and their songs
Recommended for
Diving, kindness and helpfulness of all the staff, attention and punctuality in solving all my requests
21 Apr, 2021

Translated from Italian

10 Exceptional
Victoria S
United States

The trip of a lifetime!
What an absolutely amazing dive trip! Great dive sites, love the dive masters, the crew, captain, and of course, the chef!
Recommended for
Dives, food, and crew
19 Jun, 2023

10 Exceptional
Joanna Z
United States

The fun I needed
I just love diving. Plenty of cool people on the boat. They were divers, of course they were cool! Staff did all they could to make it easy for us. Loved it and ready to go back under now.
Recommended for
4 dives/day. The great staff. Excellent food..
06 Oct, 2025

8.4 Very good
Alexander B
Portugal

Nice trip with a very professional crew.
The boat is aged, but the diving operation is professional and organized.
Recommended for
Crew. Organization. Fate.
09 Mar, 2026

Translated from Portuguese

8.4 Very good
KWANGMIN L
South Korea

Best place to see mantaray
Socorro is a best place where you can easily meet the friendly mantaray. You can see manta every diving, and Mantas are around the divers. That one is enough to come here. And also Crews are so nice and kind. Food is excellent.
Recommended for
Diving, Crews, Food
06 Nov, 2022

9.2 Superb
Bruce P
Canada

Excellent week on Nautilus Explorer - Socorro
Excellent trip on Nautilus Explorer in February 2026. We saw plenty of sharks (white tips, Galapagos , hammerheads), dolphins and whale sharks. Great food and dive guide were good. Conditions of the sea was a bit rough on the sailing days but not Nautillus fault. Cabin E had bad smell (like sewage) but once we kept the vent above the sink closed we didn’t have problem with that bad smell anymore. Not a new boat but it was clean.
Recommended for
Dive sites. Well organized. Food.
24 Feb, 2026

9.6 Exceptional
Claudia R
Germany

Amazing experience
We did two days, 8 dives in Cabo Pearce with the Giant Mantas. There also was a big school of hammerheads and we were being surrounded by dolphins. The chef was brilliant. I don't know how he managed to serve 24 tenderloins simultaneously in exactly the way we had ordered it. The lectures were more than interesting.
Recommended for
Giant Mantas, Dolphins, Hammerheads
30 Dec, 2022

8.8 Fabulous
Stephanie F
United States

Other worldly experience.
It was amazing to see the giant manta just swimming right in front of you. They were so elegant and majestic. It was also fun to play in a pod of dolphins, and we saw schools of hammerheads. As my first liveaboard experience this trips was absolutely amazing. The dive masters were very experienced and did a great job keeping everyone safe. The crew was exceptional, and always had great food and conversation for us.
Recommended for
Dive masters, staff friendliness, making new friends from all over the world
01 Apr, 2020

9.2 Superb
Sebastián A
Costa Rica

An unforgettable experience in terms of abundance and interaction with marine life
Get to know a unique place in the world, well protected and meet people who share your passion. The food and service of the staff excellent, an unforgettable experience.
Recommended for
1. Abundance of marine fauna. 2. Interaction with marine fauna. 3. Excellent food and staff service.
12 Apr, 2024

Translated from Spanish

8.8 Fabulous
Thomas K
Germany

Awesome experience - for Manta lovers a must!
Mantas
Recommended for
Mantas, Food, Staff
03 Apr, 2019

9.6 Exceptional
Kale W
United States

Amazing
Amazing trip, great crew. Hope to do it again someday.
Recommended for
Crew, sharks, food
08 Nov, 2017

9.6 Exceptional
Charles W
United States

Trip of a lifetime!
Amazing first live aboard experience. The other divers said that this trip would spoil me, and was much nicer than other live aboards. Service was great. Food was awesome (though I wish they would have served more Mexican food). This is a very expensive trip (and does not include alcohol, gratuities, or equipment), so you are getting what you pay for. As to the diving, I went from April 1-9, 2018. Highlights of what I saw: hammerheads, dolphins, small whale shark (about 10 feet), a sailfish, many mantas, and a few other divers saw a tiger shark. Highly recommended!
Recommended for
The staff, diving, and other divers.
30 Apr, 2018