Nautilus Under Sea, Mexico

Name: Mexico Sardine Run / Magdalena Bay (Cabo - Cabo)
Start: 2026-10-17
End: 2026-10-23
Location: Mexico

9.0 Superb

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

from $ 281 / day Check dates

“This was our second trip on this boat and we have been 100% satisfied both times.”
Carolyn K, United States

Highlights

Ex-research vessel with unique history
Face-to-face encounters with Giant Pacific Mantas
Dolphins, whale sharks, hammerheads, and humpback whales

The latest addition to the Nautilus fleet in Mexico, the 27m Nautilus Under Sea offers divers spectacular dive tours to the Socorro Islands in Mexico. An ex-research vessel with her claims to fame, including being the support boat for the James Bond Movie "License to Kill" and a Deep Rover mission with Dr. Silvia Earle, as well as many research and photography missions, the former Under Sea Hunter, has now re-located to Mexico. She caters to 19 guests in 9 en-suite, air-conditioned cabins. The Undersea Hunter also offers plenty of room for relaxation, with a comfortable lounge and dining area and a large sun deck with loungers.

The dive deck offers ample space for kitting up and gear storage, as well as camera set-up and personal camera storage areas. The Nautilus Under Sea offers an amazing destination - the Socorro Islands. Diving the Socorro Islands, divers will come face to face with Giant Pacific Mantas, known as the friendliest mantas in the world! Also, there are sightings of up to 10 different kinds of sharks, dolphins, whale sharks, hammerheads, and humpback whales. Nautilus Under Sea offers 6-day trips with a pick-up in San Diego and leaving from Ensenada from July to November.

Don’t miss out on these amazing trips. Book online today to start your adventure.

Choose your departure date

Date

Itinerary

Price

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05 Jul

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,750

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12 Jul

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,695

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19 Jul

11 Days / 10 Nights

Children Special: 20% OFF for ages 12–15. Valid for a limited time only. T&Cs apply.

$ 3,095 Deal %

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29 Jul

11 Days / 10 Nights

$ 3,695

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08 Aug

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,345

FULL

15 Aug

11 Days / 10 Nights

$ 3,695

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25 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

Female Shared Cabin.

$ 1,845

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13 Sep

7 Days / 6 Nights

$ 2,145

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19 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,645

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26 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,545

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03 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,745

Select Cabin only 5 spaces left

10 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,645

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 (100-192 USD per day), Port Fees (35 USD).

Optional Extras: Travel Insurance, Gratuities, Airport Transfer, Hotel Transfer, Alcoholic Beverages, Nitrox, Nitrox Course, Private Dive Guide, Rental Gear, Scuba Diving Courses, WiFi internet.

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.

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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
Custom built for diving
Charging stations
Indoor Saloon
Audio & video entertainment
Observation Deck
BBQ Area
Available for Charter
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: 1968

Year renovated: 2016

Length: 105ft

Beam: 24ft

Top speed: 9.5 knots

Cruising speed: 9 knots

Engines: Twin Caterpillar 240 hp ( Total 480 HP )

Max guests: 19

Number of cabins: 9

Number of bathrooms: 9

Tenders: One 22 ft. heavy duty fiberglass dive boats One 17 ft. rigid bottom inflatable

Water capacity: 6000 gallons

Fuel capacity: 8000 gallons

Freshwater maker: 1800 gallons/day

Boat navigation and safety

Radar
Depth Sounder
GPS
Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
E.P.I.R.B. Distress System
Emergency Rafts
Life Vests
Fire Alarm & Fire Extinguishers
Oxygen
First Aid Kits
Satellite & mobile phones
Crew trained in first aid
Emergency flares

Nautilus Under Sea Reviews

9.0 Superb

Vessel

8.4
Crew

9.2
Food

9.5
Diving

9.3
Value

8.7

9.2 Superb
Richard L
Canada

Amazing Liveaboard Experience with exceptional diving
I would recommend this trip to any diver interested in exceptional diving.
Recommended for
The wildlife encounters were amazing, from pelagic mantas on almost every dive, to 5 different types of shark, some huge, and a school of 1000+ 50 kg to 150 kg yellow fin tuna. Amazing!. The crew was amazing. The captain's leadership in delivering customer satisfaction. From driving zodiac skiffs, to clearing tables on occasion, nothing escaped his attention to detail. All efforts directed at delivering the best experience possible for the divers. The passengers gelled rapidly, with participants from Argentina, Brazil, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Taiwan, Canada and the U S.
30 Jan, 2026

10 Exceptional
Philip K
Germany

Very friendly giant mantas
great islands great sea creatures great ship great crew great adventure
Recommended for
Giant Mantas. Hammerhead sharks. Dolphins.
07 Dec, 2025

9.6 Exceptional
Hélène P
France

Best diving trip with best crew
This trip to Socorro felt so special, we had an amazing crew taking care of us underwater and on the boat, we were diving so remotely that it felt really unique, the dives sites are magical. Really recommend Nautilus as it’s a really safe company and crew members are really awesome!
Recommended for
Amazing crew. Best diving experience. Excellent food.
21 Apr, 2026

10 Exceptional
Andrea F
United States

Another great trip to Socorro!
This was my second Socorro trip with nautilus and they are incredible. The dive guides are knowledgeable and patient, made me feel safe the entire time.
Recommended for
Crew. Food. Amazing dives.
24 Dec, 2024

10 Exceptional
Frank V
Netherlands

A trip to a super place in the world that we will not soon forget because of these people
impression of the trip was "WOW" the people make your trip we always say and these people certainly did, especially our host did his best to make everyone feel at home, the dive guides do their best to show everything underwater
Recommended for
Staff, food and diving were fantastic. Safety on board is very high and well arranged. Care for diving due to the weather was well arranged.
23 Apr, 2026

Translated from Dutch

9.2 Superb
Allain D
France

Some unforgettable dives
A beautiful voyage in the Sea of CortezSome unforgettable dives A good understanding between the divers
Recommended for
The Chef's Kitchen. Whale shark and seal encounters. The availability of the team.
19 Oct, 2025

Translated from French

9.6 Exceptional
Maxim B
Netherlands

Beautifull divesites, awesome crew, boat and group!
Incredible trip. Enjoyed every second of it, both below and above surface.
Recommended for
Dive sites and animals. Vibe on board (crew and divers). Food.
29 Apr, 2026

10 Exceptional
Bruno I
Switzerland

unforgettable experience
The underwater world has surpassed everything seen so far. The crew on the boat was super friendly, helpful and took care of the well-being of the guests. An all-round successful trip. Come back on this boat, the number of guests is ideal, so you don't get in each other's way under water.
Recommended for
Underwater world, food, service from the crew
22 Apr, 2023

Translated from German

9.2 Superb
Maria T
United States

amazing crew that went above and beyond
Nautilus Under Sea is a very comfortable boat, with nice cabins, lots of storage space and very nice bathrooms in cabins. Diving deck organization was perfect, enough space for everyone, large table for cameras. The diving crew was very helpful, enthusiastic, and managed the diving part in an extremely safe and organized manner. Even when the diving conditions were difficult because of the weather, they expertly got everyone in and out of skiffs. All in all, amazing experience of diving with mantas, dolphins, Galapagos, silky sharks and other marine life, which is abundant in the Socorro.
Recommended for
sharks, mantas, and crew attitude
03 Jan, 2018

10 Exceptional
Carolyn K
United States

For a relaxing vacation choose Nautilus Undersea
Overall a very organized and well run trip. This was our second trip on this boat and we have been 100% satisfied both times.
Recommended for
Amazing crew. Good food. Cabins.
14 Jan, 2025

59 reviews

9.0 Superb
59 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

10 Exceptional
Derek M
United States

Incredible week - go here to see the BIG stuff!
Had an awesome week! The best pelagic big stuff diving I've had anywhere in the world, mantas on every dive, hammerheads, close encounters with dolphins, tons of sharks and humpback whale watching from the surface. The crew was great, and were willing to take us on a launch between dives to go snorkeling with a school of false killer whales. The captain coordinated with other boats so that we were the only boat at Roca Partida (having multiple boats would have reduced our dives there).
Recommended for
Saw tons of pelagics and lots of fish life!. Awesome crew, they worked hard and put us in the best position for good diving.. Great people on the boat and time to share stories..
01 Feb, 2026

9.2 Superb
Jon H
United Kingdom

An outstanding experience, I'll definitely dive with Nautilus again.
Sea lions! Who knew they were so much fun under water :) Good viz and great diving all-round, covering an excellent range of sites (and more dives than advertised - 16 vs the 12). Sundowners and beers (from a very well-stocked bar) under the stars. All made extremely easy and enjoyable by the wonderful staff.
Recommended for
The staff were all fantastic, friendly, extremely professional but also engendered a relaxed, enjoyable experience. The vessel is in good repair, well set up for diving and relaxing. And the trip is all made very easy and efficient by the shoreside support.
31 Oct, 2022

9.2 Superb
Ernesto R
United States

Dive of a lifetime.
Some of the best diving I've ever done. Great staff with loads of knowledge. Calm seas. All types of sharks. Ah the whale shark tried to kiss me. If you see dolphins, instead of pointing a camera at them, play with them. Spin and flip. They'll join you.
Recommended for
Captain beto. Bati dive guide. Helpful staff.
12 Jun, 2026

8.8 Fabulous
Vlad P
Germany

Superb cruise
Great atmosphere on the boat, the dive guides are superb. 4 dives a day, we saw everything: hammerheads nearby, a whale shark, tiger shark 2 times, and then other sharks and mantas by the dozen
Recommended for
Solo dives. The best suites - Roca Partida, Cañon, Bo I ler.... Manras, sharks and dolphins all the time, very close.
02 Mar, 2026

10 Exceptional
Andrea R
Mexico

It was incredible!
The entire crew worked incredibly well together and created such a fun, welcoming, and professional atmosphere onboard. We had an amazing experience onboard from beginning to end!
Recommended for
Marine life. Landscapes. Crew and people.
23 May, 2026

9.2 Superb
Anneke H
Germany

Great experience
Having so many mantas and went even lucky with hammerheads. The crew was always friendly and helpful
Recommended for
Mantas, hammerheads and great people
03 Dec, 2023

10 Exceptional
TARA L
United States

Best diving adventure I ever had! Giant Mantas, 6 species of sharks amazing crew and service!
It was great to spend the last of 2022 and the start of 2023 in such a beautiful place, with great dive buddies and excellent staff and divemasters
Recommended for
Location, Service from Crew, Big Animals
10 Jan, 2023

8.4 Very good
jemmel M
France

A life experience
Giant and social manta rays!
Recommended for
Unprecedented, never seen, so different
23 Jun, 2023

10 Exceptional
Thomas R
Germany

Spectacular shark encounters
The almost 6m tall "Lucy" and another female of almost the same size, which were often very close to the cages. Sighting of a total of almost 30 different great white sharks. The information from the professional crew about the sharks and their distinguishing features was also great. This gives guests the opportunity to photograph a shark that has not yet been registered and to give it a name. The spectacular jumps of the sharks out of the water were also sensational.
Recommended for
A great experience to experience the great white sharks so closely, the warmth of the crew and the possibility of unlimited cage diving.
15 Nov, 2018

10 Exceptional
Marie-Josee H
Canada

Adventurous, yet safe and confortable, unforgettable!
Whale shark, ball of fishes and swirdfish
Recommended for
The dive, the crew and the guests!
01 Apr, 2018

9.2 Superb
Bruce P
Canada

Excellent
Diving trip done in August 2025. We really enjoyed our time on the Nautilus Undersea. Crew was amazing and worked very hard at making we were happy and comfortable. Safety of guest was taken very seriously. Well organized. Swimming with Whale Sharks was great. We did one night dive and it was the best night dive we have ever done so far. Boat is a bit old but we were comfortable. No complaints at all. We are already planning our next dive trip in Socorro with them.
Recommended for
The crew. Diving. Food.
18 Aug, 2025

10 Exceptional
gregory M
France

the best of my life
huge pregnent femelles around the cage
Recommended for
the place,the boat,the staff
02 Nov, 2016

8.4 Very good
Justin J
United States

Great value
Was great to dive somewhere new
Recommended for
Diversity in sea of cortez. crew effort. lots of diving.
16 Sep, 2025

6.8 Review score
Martin S
Denmark

Long travel but worth it.
Tigershark, Dolphin, Hammerhead and more. Very remote location and a good spot for the big stuff.
Recommended for
In my book, the food on board earns a Michelin star or two. Now, I need to get my weight down again.. A warm and friendly vibe, thanks to the lovely people on board. Improving my Spanish – the devil is in the details. "...Kalimotxo/Calimocho" vs. "...Cola Mucho" - huh.
01 Jul, 2025

8.8 Fabulous
MARK B
United States

Absolutely a fantastic trip
The entire experience was once in a lifetime.
Recommended for
The mantas, dolphins and crew.
04 Feb, 2022

10 Exceptional
Philip H
United Kingdom

Fantastic diving at amazing locations
Fantastic diving at amazing locations. The boat is comfortable and there were no problems on our trip.
Recommended for
Amazing diving. Friendly and professional crew and dive guides. Other guests.
15 Dec, 2025

9.2 Superb
Fabian F
Argentina

Great experience on board
The encounter and interaction with the giant mantas is a unique experience!! But it doesn't have to be the only time, it already makes you want to return as soon as the last dive ends!
Recommended for
The best part of the cruise was the dives, all magnificent, always with wonderful sightings of mantas, sharks and much more. The quality of the attention on board by the entire crew, always very careful and hard-working, and finally the group of divers with whom we shared the cruise, we had a great time
02 Apr, 2019

Translated from Spanish

9.6 Exceptional
Philippe G
France

Fantastic Meetings with Great White Shark
- Hunting Great Whites- Blue Sea- again... Great White Sharks each Day
Recommended for
- Big Sharks / Nice Crewe and good Food / to be in Guadalupe
26 Aug, 2019

8.0 Very good
MARK E
United Kingdom

A pretty unique experience
The dive guides are very good, especially Rodolfo. They spot the sharks, mantas and dolphins usually before the group see's them. The food was also good, with no complaints of any illnesses. The boat and crew has a good attitude to safety and give some quite lengthy but essential safety briefings. My 2nd trip to Socorro, but hopefully there will be many more to come!
Recommended for
Wild dolphins that are tame and are not scared of divers. Manta's which love to hang around for most of the dive and interact with divers. Uncrowded dive sites with hardly any other dive boats around.
14 Jan, 2020