Quino el Guardian, Mexico

Excellent food and drinks

“Whale sharks, dolphins, sea lions, jawfish, incredible photo opportunities. Thank you for an amazing experience I will never forge…”

Andrew G, United States United States
Read 41 more reviews

Highlights

  • Choice of 3 incredible itineraries
  • Dive with the world’s friendliest mantas at the Socorro Islands
  • Custom-built for scuba diving and scientific research

Join the Quino el Guardian for an unforgettable diving vacation in Pacific Mexico. Custom built for scuba diving and scientific research, she easily caters to 16 divers with 4 quad cabins (two upper bunks and two lower bunks) and 1 double cabin (one upper bunk and one lower bunk), each assigned by gender.  All bunks have a privacy curtain and a storage drawer for each guest. There are 4 spacious community bathrooms equipped with full-size showers (also assigned by gender). Social areas include the indoor salon with comfortable sofas, a TV, and a computer table. Meals are served in the dining room, starting with an American Breakfast to fuel the morning and ending with homemade soups, salads, and fresh local dishes. Beers and wines are included. In between dives, guests can relax on the large partially shaded sundeck with lawn chairs.

The Quino el Guardian liveaboard offers divers the choice of four itineraries depending on the time of year.  The Socorro Islands are known for being home to the world's friendliest manta rays, 7-species of sharks, including schooling hammerheads, friendly bottlenose dolphins, whale sharks, and humpback whales.  The Sea of Cortez/Midriff Islands, where you can dive through untouched walls with abundant marine life, play with sea lions, and snorkel with whale sharks.  Sea of Cortez/Explore Baja, where divers experience over 700 miles of the Sea of Cortez, and Southern Safari, where divers are in the right place at the right time for Mobula rays, wrecks, whales, and more.  Divemasters lead all dives, and the diving takes place from two pangas with their own captains and sturdy, easy-to-use ladders.  The huge dive deck is well-organized for gear storage and has a spacious camera table.

Book online today to reserve your space aboard the Quino el Guardian liveaboard.


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Included: VAT, Alcoholic Beverages, Drinking Water, Soft drinks, Tea & Coffee, Wine with Dinner, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Kayaks, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries, Deck Towels.

Required Extras: National Park Fees (100-1,811 MXN per day).

Optional Extras: Gratuities, Nitrox (140 USD), Nitrox Course (200 USD), 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.

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Boat features

  • Camera Station
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Audio & video entertainment
  • Library
  • Air Conditioned saloon
  • Aircon Cabins
  • Sun Deck
  • Indoor Saloon
  • Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
  • Warm Water Showers
  • Outdoor Dining
  • Custom built for diving
  • Charging stations
  • Non-Smoking Rooms
  • Outside Showers
  • Kayaks On-Board
  • Separate Rinse for u/w Camera
  • Naturalist Itineraries
  • Dedicated Local & International Crew
  • Leisure Deck
  • Observation Deck
  • BBQ Area

Food & Drinks

  • Western Food
  • Local Food
  • Vegetarian Options
  • Beer available
  • Snacks All Day
  • Free Wine w/Dinner
  • Vegan Options
  • Free Soft Drinks
  • Wine Available
  • Set Menu Dinner
  • Fine Cuisine
  • Welcome Cocktails
  • Full-board Option
  • Al Fresco Dining

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

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

The crew speaks English and Spanish.


Gear Rental

There is diving gear available on this boat. Please provide your rental needs on the booking form. See below for further details on inclusions and pricing. Show prices.


Drawings & Vessel Layouts

#deckplan floorplan

Accommodation


Boat Specifications

  • Year built 1980
  • Year renovated 2015
  • Length 82ft
  • Top speed 10 knots
  • Cruising speed 7.5 knots
  • Engines 1 x Perkins
  • Max guests 16
  • Number of cabins 5
  • Number of bathrooms 4
  • Tenders 2 x Yamaha 75hp
  • Water capacity 25000 liters
  • Fuel capacity 40000 liters
  • Freshwater maker 7000 lts per 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
  • Fishfinder
  • Satellite & mobile phones
  • Search light
  • Engine room CCTV
  • Crew trained in first aid

Quino el Guardian Reviews

  • 8.9 Fabulous
  1. Vessel
    6.8
  2. Crew
    9.8
  3. Food
    9.9
  4. Diving
    9.4
  5. Value
    8.5
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Andrew G
  • United States United States
Diversity of marine environments, creatures huge and small

Whale sharks, dolphins, sea lions, jawfish, incredible photo opportunities. Thank you for an amazing experience I will never forget Photos from the trip here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/77218808@N08/albums/72177720311226393

Recommended for
Marine life, food, divemasters
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Sandra M
  • United States United States
Outstanding dive trip with amazing dive locations and great atmosphere onboard!

Diving at such remote locations only few people can access and being able to experience the pristine locations with such marine diversity and minimal human presence is hard to find these days. The whale shark snorkeling was such a special experience in such a unique location with the mountains and cactus everywhere. The crew was 10 out 10 outstanding, very accommodating and knowledgeable about the local area, diving and marine life. Extra thanks to our divemaster David who did a splendid job with our group. Furthermore to Josh and Cinco, 5 stars to the chief, remarkable meals for that small galley, always tasted delicious, could taste the dedication in the making of the food. Overall unforgettable trip, thanks to the captain and the full crew. Highly recommend for people who love to dive in remote locations and appreciate the hard work the crew does to make sure everyone is happy on board from full tanks to full stomachs.

Recommended for
Crew's Hospitality, Diving Locations, Food
  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Mason P
  • United States United States
Best diving of my life, crew worked really hard for me to have the best experience.

School of hammerheads Biggest and friendliest mantas I’ve ever seen.

Recommended for
Big animals, great boat crew, beautiful scenery
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Camille B
  • United States United States
Diving With "Beasts of the Sea."

Impressionable and in awe, this was my first liveaboard experience; the sheer magnificence and beauty of the rock formations, sea and innumerable giant creatures were jaw-dropping! Seeming to love their jobs, the staff was exceptionally cheerful, creating a family like atmosphere. Dives, presentations and meals were well planned. My diving confidence increased exponentially as a result of the attentive training.

Recommended for
Crew was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and entertaining. Flirty and playful, tens of dolphins encircled us and put on a show! A whale shark made a cameo appearence.
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Sabine P
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom
Absolutely phenomenal: the diving, the crew & the food <3

Mantas, sharks, dolphins, whales, lobsters, tuna, octopus, schools of fish, boobies, great food, connections and laughter with other divers and the crew

Recommended for
Dancing with the mantas, watching the whales from the boat, chatting and laughing with the other divers and the crew
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Sabine P
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom
Absolutely phenomenal: the diving, the crew & the food <3

Mantas, sharks, dolphins, whales, lobsters, tuna, octopus, schools of fish, boobies, great food, connections and laughter with other divers and the crew

Recommended for
Dancing with the mantas, watching the whales from the boat, chatting and laughing with the other divers and the crew
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Benjamin T
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom
Incredible crew

While the boat itself is a bit dated, this is easily made up for by the crew and the overall experience. The dive guides are all amazing with a great knowledge of the area. I was really surprised by how good the food was and the whole atmosphere on the boat was great. I would thoroughly recommend this trip to anyone.

Recommended for
The crew, the food and the diving
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Peter S
  • Germany Germany
It was a blast!

A great crew made everything to make it a fantastic experience for all guest and they did an outstanding job! The boat is a bit ‘aged’…

Recommended for
Diving, Crew, Food
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Kris R
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom
Amazing diving with a super friendly crew

Diving with dolphins, silvertips up super close. Diving with tiger sharks as well as the usual stars the oceanic mantas. The crew were really friendly, great dive operation and the food was excellent.

Recommended for
The diving, the food and the crew.
  • 8.0 Very good
  • Larysa N
  • Germany Germany
Great crew and diving, very uncomfortable boat

Amazing diving! Mantas, sharks, dolphins and many more. The food was mostly great and the crew was very helpful. The boat, though… I am used to more comfort on a liveaboard, and the difference is not just a bit, it’s MUCH less comfortable from what I would expect for the price. Cabins for 4 are very small, I was either with my feet or with my head in the wall, toilets are one floor up and it’s a big deal if it is nighttime and boat is moving (which is mostly the case at night on this trip).

Recommended for
Crew, Diving, Food