Valentina Liveaboard, Mexico

Name: Socorro Islands Exploration (San Jose Del Cabo - San Jose Del Cabo)
Start: 2027-03-27
End: 2027-04-05
Location: Mexico

9.1 Superb

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

from $ 429 / day Check dates

Deluxe Twin Cabin - MV Valentina Liveaboard

Deluxe Double Plus Cabin - MV Valentina Liveaboard

Valentina Double Cabin - MV Valentina Liveaboard

“Perfect trip, great dives, helpful and friendly crew, good food”
Giuseppe S, Italy

Highlights

Dive with sea lions and hammerhead sharks
Explore Socorro Islands for humpback whales
Excellent cuisine with Mexican, European, and Asian dishes

Enjoy spectacular diving in the Baja California Peninsular aboard the MV Valentina Liveaboard Mexico. The MV Valentina Liveaboard visits the abundant dive sites of the Sea Of Cortez from August to November, where divers can hope to see sea lions, huge schools of sardines and hammerhead sharks, and the amazing diving of the Socorro Islands to look for humpback whales, manta rays and whale sharks from November to May.

In 2013 the 38m M/V Valentina Liveaboard underwent a re-fit to ensure the highest standards. The MV Valentina Liveaboard has 10 air-conditioned cabins, each with an en-suite bathroom. The air-conditioned dining room offers excellent cuisine with a variety of Mexican, European, and Asian dishes, and also an open bar with a choice of various soft drinks, cocktails, liquors, and draft beer (some beverages require payment on site).

There is a large, partially covered sun deck for relaxation in-between dives or enjoying the stars in the evening. Let the MV Valentina crew take care of your needs and help you to create a diving liveaboard holiday to remember in the spectacular Baja California Peninsula. Book online today.

Choose your departure date

Date

Itinerary

Price

Select

15 Nov

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 4,300

FULL

29 Nov

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 4,300

FULL

11 Dec

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 4,300

Select Cabin available

27 Dec

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 4,300

FULL

08 Jan

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 4,300

FULL

20 Jan

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 4,300

FULL

30 Jan

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 4,300

FULL

11 Feb

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 4,300

FULL

23 Feb

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 4,300

FULL

15 Mar

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 4,300

FULL

27 Mar

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 4,300

FULL

08 Apr

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 4,300

FULL

Included: VAT, Port Fees, Drinking Water, Soft drinks, Tea & Coffee, Wine with Dinner, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Land Excursions, Beach Towels, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries.

Required Extras: Chamber Fees ($15 / trip), Fuel Surcharge ($25 / night), National Park Fees (MXN225-3,760 / day), Airport Transfer ($25-45).

Optional Extras: Gratuities, Alcoholic Beverages, Extra Dives, Nitrox ($25-30 / day), Nitrox Course ($355), Private Dive Guide ($150 / day), Rental Gear, Scuba Diving Courses, Snorkel Gear, Snorkeling Guide, WiFi internet ($80-150 / package).

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

En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers
Air Conditioned saloon
Sun Deck
Camera Station
Seaview Cabins
Non-Smoking Rooms
Custom built for diving
Charging stations
Indoor Saloon
Library
Outdoor Dining
Audio & video entertainment
Observation Deck
BBQ Area
Available for Charter
Local & International Crew
Snorkeling Equipment
Separate Rinse for u/w Camera
Leisure Deck
Daily housekeeping
Bar

Food & Drinks

Free Wine w/Dinner
Fine Cuisine
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Free Soft Drinks
Beer available
Wine Available
Full-board Option
Snacks All Day
Western Food
Local Food

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
DIN Adaptors
Rinse Hoses
Dive deck
Tenders for diving

Languages Spoken

The crew speaks English, Japanese, 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: 1999

Year renovated: 2013

Length: 38m

Beam: 10m

Cruising speed: 12 knots

Max guests: 20

Number of cabins: 10

Number of bathrooms: 10

Boat navigation and safety

Radar
Depth Sounder
GPS
Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
Life Vests
Fire Alarm & Fire Extinguishers
Oxygen

Valentina Reviews

9.1 Superb

Vessel

8.4
Crew

9.5
Food

9.8
Diving

9.3
Value

8.6

8.8 Fabulous
Ana V
Germany

An incredible dive trip
Diving Socorro Islands aboard Valentina Liveaboard was honestly one of the best dive experiences I’ve ever had. The crew was incredibly professional, attentive, and genuinely passionate about making every dive unforgettable. The diving itself was spectacular: giant mantas interacting up close, dolphins joining the dives, sharks everywhere, and the raw beauty of the Revillagigedo archipelago. Food onboard was also surprisingly great, with plenty of variety after long dive days.
Recommended for
The dives. Crew Service & Friendliness. Food.
25 May, 2026

8.4 Very good
Daniel B
Australia

Well worth considering if you are wanting to see Mantas, Whale sharks, Hammerheads, wow
Great trip and highly recommended to those seeking to see some bigger animals
Recommended for
Wildlife. Staff. Other divers and friends.
26 Apr, 2026

10 Exceptional
Michael S
United States

Great choice for vacation
Diving, courteousness and attentiveness of the crew, fun, food, meeting new friends, fresh sea air and wet ocean water.
Recommended for
Hard to single out
03 Jan, 2017

9.6 Exceptional
monica R
Spain

That's great
Fantastic dives and excellent😊 guides
Recommended for
Crew, dives, companions
21 Aug, 2022

Translated from Spanish

10 Exceptional
Marcio G
Brazil

Fantastic dives, crew prepared to give you the best possible experience.
Dives well planned, crew prepared, guides very helpful.
Recommended for
1. Guides extremely prepared, 2. Rooma comfortable, 3. Food quality
26 Sep, 2018

9.6 Exceptional
Timothy F
United States

First class crew, diving team and facilities.
October 2021, water temperature was 85-86F. Everyone was super flexible and accommodating.
Recommended for
Diving with sea lion pups, night dive with mobula rays, and our final dive on Swany Reef.
30 Oct, 2021

9.6 Exceptional
john R
United States

Great way to meet Sea Lions
I had never been diving with Sea Lions before. On a liveaboard we were able to do 4 dives on Las Ilotes and also saw Sea Lions on several other sites in the Sea of Cortez. It really exceeded my expectations.
Recommended for
Diving with California Sea Lions. Very helpful, knowledgeable staff.. Great group of divers.
22 Oct, 2024

9.6 Exceptional
Storrer M
Switzerland

Amazing Trip
Excellent crew, Manta interaction, pelagic sightings
Recommended for
Crew, Manta interaction, dive spots
17 Dec, 2018

8.4 Very good
Erik H
United States

Great food and lots of fish
Water was super warm due to the Super Nino so we didn’t get to see all the fish we had hoped for; however, the crew was great and the food was fantastic. Highly recommend bringing your own gear as the rental gear was well used and I had two faulty regulators on this trip. The boat was dated but seaworthy and comfortable.
Recommended for
Food. Crew. Weather.
12 Oct, 2026

10 Exceptional
Pamela W
United States

Great crew, very professional, fantastic dive masters and wonderful diving, comfortable boat.
I liked the dive masters and people we dove with. Food was excellent too.
Recommended for
The crew, the diving and a comfortable boat.
11 Oct, 2021

130 reviews

9.1 Superb
130 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

10 Exceptional
Nicholas B
United Kingdom

Very professional and attentive crew.
The Cabo Pulmo dives were my best, the food was fabulous, the staff were always there to help with anything - nothing too much trouble, the sights above as well as underwater were beautiful. A memorable trip from someone who has done a number of liveaboard trips.
Recommended for
Friendly staff, problem-free trip, spacious boat.
18 Nov, 2019

9.6 Exceptional
Irene M
Switzerland

Liveaboard at its best
Although we could not do the planned programm due to strong winds, the crew arranged great dives. I enjoyed it very much - the price is well worth it!
Recommended for
1) diving with Sealions, 2) great staff, 3) excellent food
22 Dec, 2015

8.8 Fabulous
Alex F
United States

Great diving, crew, and experience
Great diving and DMs. Rest of the crew was also excellent. A little bit of an older boat with small cabins and so-so common space.
Recommended for
Dives, dive masters, crew
29 Mar, 2024

10 Exceptional
eleanor F
United States

Memorable trip aboard the Valentina
My daughter and I had a wonderful trip in the Sea of Cortez aboard the Valentina. The staff was welcoming, accommodating, and generally fun to be around. The accommodations were perfect, and the beds were comfortable. I loved having our own bathroom, which was well sized. There was enough room for our clothes in the closet and drawers. The food was great as well. Can’t wait to go back.
Recommended for
The amazing Dive guides- David, Memo, Lorenzo, and Fran. Wonderful Diving, with clear conditions, warm water, and a variety of landscapes, including caves, deep dives, shipwreck, and reefs. Wonderful service from all the staff and delicious food.
26 Oct, 2026

10 Exceptional
Jane L
Canada

Fantastic trip
Loved seeing Mantas and dolphins. The dive leaders were exceptional and the food amazing. I’m vegan and the chef , Eduardo, went above and beyond to feed me well
Recommended for
The sea life, the crew, the boat
09 Feb, 2024

10 Exceptional
Rodolfo P
Chile

Best all round experience
The boat itself was very comfortable, but what stands out the most is the amazing wildlife, it was the best diving of my life. Also the crew was super friendly and professional. Francisca, Lorenzo and David were great. In addition, the food was the best i’ve ever had on a boat, shoutout to the chefs
Recommended for
Wild life. Friendliness. Food.
01 May, 2026

10 Exceptional
Richard B
United States

It was an amazing trip.
Awesome
Recommended for
Boat, crew, diving
09 May, 2015

8.8 Fabulous
Lee H
United Kingdom

Unforgettable Trip
An unforgettable trip aboard Valentina. The crew, Lorenzo in particular, were fantastic. With giant manta aplenty, schools of hammerheads and playful dolphins- diving Socorro should be at the top of every divers bucket list- cannot wait to return same time this year
Recommended for
Crew, Diving, Location
12 Jan, 2024

10 Exceptional
Samuel P
United States

We will book M/V Valentina again!
This was my first liveaboard dive trip so I wasn’t sure what to expect. (Spoiler: before disembarking I was already planning to book another trip on M/V Valentina for Isla Socorro!) Before we left port I got to meet Enrique, the owner of the vessel, and his assistant Fernanda, who jokingly called herself ‘The Robber.’ Before we arrived at the boat my girlfriend told me to keep my expectations low, based on her first liveaboard experience in the Red Sea a couple of years ago. We were both pleasantly surprised again and again by our experiences over the next five days and nights. The seven boat crew members and three divemasters who got underway with us made our entire experience onboard absolutely wonderful. There were 20 guest divers; 10 from South Korea diving with side-mounted tanks, and 10 of us recreational divers from across North America, Europe, and Japan. Three all-you-can-eat meals plus snacks were served daily in the air conditioned salon which seated all 20 guests at 2 tables. Every day started with coffee and a light continental breakfast available before dive #1, followed by a full hot breakfast, then dive #2. After that there was a snack before dive #3, and then a full lunch. Lunch time was usually an hour and then we’d go out for dive #4, followed by about an hour of free time to shower and get ready for a delicious dinner. Each night’s dinner had a different theme, and one was held outdoors on the top deck. Alcohol was always available in the evenings from a well stocked bar, but BYOB is allowed as well. Every day ended with a good night's sleep on comfortable mattresses in a spacious, individually air conditioned cabin. We had a full or queen size bed as the bottom bunk, and a twin on top. A freshwater sink and mirror were next to our closet for hanging clothes and a dedicated life jacket cabinet. I was surprised to find abundant storage space for luggage under our bunk: almost 5’ wide by 4’ deep by ~18” high. Our bathroom had a dedicated shower with enough headroom for a person several inches taller than 6'4”, and a household-style flush toilet instead of a standard marine toilet that requires manual pumping to flush and rinse the bowl. The diving setup was efficient and safe at all times. As a non-practicing PADI divemaster and cylinder inspector, I’ve seen shortcuts taken on other dive boats but not on M/V Valentina. Every equipment setup, adjustment, minor repair, and tank refill that I witnessed was done properly and safely. Each diver had a dedicated tank for the trip which was refilled in their assigned seat on the bench. I used a 100 cu. ft. tank and brought my own O2 tester for diving Nitrox, but the DMs also had two Quickstick testers and an air pressure gauge available on the center island in the dive prep area. Ingress down into the Zodiacs for each dive was only allowed when two crew members were below to assist with a safe transition. Egress from Zodiac back to the liveaboard was always done with a crew member manual assisting from above while two crew members held the inflatable boat close to the ship. What impressed me most was how many hats the boat crew and divemasters wore. They were always up and ready to go before the guests were awakened by the 6AM bell, and they were still performing shipboard duties as guests went to bed. I never figured out who expertly made our beds and refreshed our towels every day during a morning dive, but he did a great job. The divemasters who showed us families of sea lions on the surface and nudibranchs under water would also refill drinks during lunch and serve dessert after dinner. The two small boat handlers who ferried divers back & forth to each dive site would also sometimes clear dirty dishes after meals in between their sessions as Zodiac captains. The Steward, Engineer, and even the Captain would all gather on deck to handle lines from the returning Zodiacs full of divers. Nobody working on that vessel had just one job. Unusually w
Recommended for
Staff. Service. Space in cabins / bathrooms.
15 Oct, 2026

8.8 Fabulous
Gijs D
Netherlands

Great group, great crew & guides, great food, great diving.
Close encounter with a hammerhead. Playful mantas on every dive. The pattern of dive, eat, rest, repeat.
Recommended for
Mantas on every dive. Excellent food and great guides and crew.
03 Apr, 2019

7.6 Good
Julie P
Switzerland

Amazing food and crew, but dives were repetitive and the boat needs an upgrade
The highlights: - The food was absolutely amazing, with meals served on proper plates. - The crew was very friendly, helpful, and always available when needed. - The dive deck was well organized, and the panga drivers did a great job. - Visibility was excellent. The downsides: - The boat is in need of a refresh. The cabins are old and small, and our AC leaked throughout the entire trip. - There is limited space to relax between dives, with only one small couch in the dining area and another small couch in the shaded outdoor area. As a result, you end up spending quite a bit of time in your cabin. - We also had to pay a fuel surcharge that was not mentioned in the Sea of Cortez trip description. - The description mentioned whale sharks towards the end of the trip, but this was never part of the actual itinerary. Diving in October: Visibility was great, but in October, the diving was mainly focused on sea lions, with not many other encounters.
Recommended for
The food. The crew. The dive deck.
26 Oct, 2026

10 Exceptional
David I
United States

Sea of Cortez - Amazing experience with a great crew!
I spent six days on the Valentina diving the Sea of Cortez in mid-November. We departed and disembarked from La Paz. Although there is an airport in La Paz, flights are more readily available into Cabo SJD. La Paz is a two hour drive from the Cabo airport. The Valentina is 130 feet long and was last refit in 2013. The cabins are individually AC controlled with ensuite bathrooms. The public areas are comfortable. The food was superb and plentiful. The crew from the captain to the stewards was awesome. Very attentive to passenger needs both while diving and onboard the ship. The diving was great! Dives are conducted from zodiacs. The highlight was the sea lions at Los Islotes. Their playfulness and love for interacting with divers is legendary. We also encountered schools of Mexican Barracuda , Sardines and one group (6) Scalloped Hammerheads. We did two night dives with Mobula Rays in the same bay in about 20 feet of water. Lights are used to attract the plankton which brings in the Mobula.
Recommended for
Location, Crew & Food
29 Nov, 2022

10 Exceptional
Renato F
Mexico

Beyond our expectations..... EXCELLENT!!!
The diving is very good, the boat is a really strong safe, and stable ship. The food was excellent and always took care of us vegetarians. All the crew was always superb, kind, smiling and in a good mood, always taking care of us and our confort and safety. We will definitely recommend it and will be back.
Recommended for
The crew, the crew, the crew.
20 Sep, 2017

Best diving I’ve ever done.
The diving! I don’t have comments on the food or the boat because the diving was great and that’s what I was there for. The crew was great though. Always very helpful.
Recommended for
1. Mantas 2. Dolphins 3. Sharks
10 Jan, 2023

9.2 Superb
Ruth G
United Kingdom

Excellent food and great diving
Seeing the mother and calf Humpback whales undewater on my last day was for me an incredible experience. All the diving was great, there was a good mix of passengers all enthusiastic and friendly. The crew were very professional and helpful. The food was excellent 😊
Recommended for
Mantas, whales and sharks
07 Apr, 2023

10 Exceptional
Sarah W
United States

Wow Socorro didn’t disappoint
Amazing manta and dolphin encounters with some of the best people from all over the world.
Recommended for
Crew, other divers, marine life
30 Apr, 2018

9.2 Superb
Frank S
Germany

Unfortunately no sharks but a great liveaboard on an excellent boat
As described above, the overall impression of the "Valentina" was just great, underwater the big fish especially sharks were missing but the dives with the sea lions were an absolute highlight
Recommended for
Sea lions, school of baracuda, service & friendliness on board
09 Nov, 2018

Translated from German

8.8 Fabulous
Frederique S
France

Amazing
Extraordinary dives, like nowhere else,A top team, always available to please us, friendliness
Recommended for
The dives. Crew. The Socorro Islands.
05 Jan, 2026

Translated from French

10 Exceptional
Agnieszka S
Poland

Great experience
Everything was great
Recommended for
Diving - mantas and sea lions. Very friendly stuff. Nice boat.
27 Jul, 2024

9.2 Superb
SUZI B
United Kingdom

superb liveaboard, with dolphins diving
diving with dolphins, just a little disappointed to have seen fewer mantas than when I went there in 2010 But overall we had a great time Thank you
Recommended for
The chef's kitchen: superb - the crew and guides very professional and friendly
07 Aug, 2022