Valentina Liveaboard, Mexico

Name: Socorro Islands Exploration (San Jose Del Cabo - San Jose Del Cabo)
Start: 2027-03-15
End: 2027-03-24
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

24 Oct

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 2,890

FULL

31 Oct

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 2,890

FULL

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

FULL

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

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.

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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

9.4
Value

8.6

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

8.0 Very good
Emily B
United Kingdom

Brilliant for sea lions. Don’t expect to see whale sharks.
We loved diving with large numbers of sea lions and a night dive with mobula rays. Unfortunately there were no sharks which we were advised is due to El Niño (warm water). The whale shark snorkel advertised on the itinerary is not actually part of the trip which was disappointing. The food on board was amazing, all the crew and dive masters were very friendly and helpful. The boat itself is really spacious and we liked our double cabin.
Recommended for
Sea lions. Night dive with mobula rays. Amazing food.
16 Oct, 2026

10 Exceptional
Ian S
United States

I had a very positive experience on the boat
The Cabo Pearce dive site was spectacular. I ate vegetarian and the chefs made me great dinners . Juan was so friendly with everyone and just a great guy with positive energy.
Recommended for
1) Diving was awesome 2) the food was outstanding 3) Diago was a really great guy
06 Jun, 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
Breanna D
United States

Phenomenal trip all around!
This was our first liveaboard and it was absolutely incredible. The crew is beyond accommodating, friendly, and knowledgeable!! The food was outstanding; we were not expecting to have such incredible meals and drinks! Our cabin was great, nothing crazy, but did have excellent AC and water pressure! The crew would clean and make beds every morning! Everyone was so good about checking in on us. The dive sites made the trip!! We had mantas swimming over us, playful seals, octopus, schools of hammerheads, beautiful corals, nudibranchs and so much more! We also did a few wrecks and a night dive which we loved! DMs were attentive and fun! They took care of our gear for us after every dive. We also had flight and luggage issues and the Fun Baja team was extremely communicative and accommodating. I would highly recommend to anyone!
Recommended for
Crew. Dive Sites. Food.
29 Aug, 2025

9.6 Exceptional
Warren P
United Kingdom

A genuine 5 star liveaboard !
Third time on this liveaboard and it’s a brilliant boat, super slick operation, very customer focused on giving you the best possible experience. My only finicky thing I would improve is the dive time seemed sometimes short. I think 60 minutes is reasonable rather than the 40 - 45 minutes.
Recommended for
Diving / Food / Staff
30 Sep, 2023

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

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
Joseph G
United States

Another great trip!
This was my fifth trip to Socorro and my third time on the Valentina. I come back to Socorro for great diving and return to the Valentina because the service and food is so great!
Recommended for
The diving!. The Crew. The food.
13 Mar, 2025

9.2 Superb
Adelheid D
Switzerland

Great experience!
The diving with the Sea Lions and the Hammerheads at las Animas was amazing. Overall the amazing crew made this trip unforgettable. Thank you very much!
Recommended for
Crew Services and Friendliness. Diving. Food.
15 Nov, 2024

124 reviews

9.1 Superb
124 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

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

9.2 Superb
Paul M
Australia

incredible hosts and diving in the aquarium of the sea
seeing hammerheads in the thermoclines was a dream of mine. Valentina is a little older but super homie and comfortable so great value for money!
Recommended for
crew were excellent attention to detail, cruisy itenerary to maximize diving, sunsets
20 Oct, 2021

10 Exceptional
Kristi S
United States

Blissful week on the Valentina
My second trip on the Valentina. My first was to Socorro, this time to Sea of Cortez. Both trips were absolutely great. The crew cannot be beat. Cabins are spacious (per industry standards). Five dives at Los Islotes was FANTASTIC! Last time I dove in the Sea of Cortez (land based) we dived there a measly one time. It is my favorite place in the world and they took the time necessary to properly explore it. Amazing night dive with hundred of mobula rays swarming around us. Breathtaking. It was fun chasing whale sharks the last day. It was a blissful week. Lorenzo and El Capitan are the best! The crew knew my needs and wants before I did. Nice mix of cultures with Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and American divers.
Recommended for
Exceptional crew, wonderful diving, amazing organization and delicious food.
01 Nov, 2016

10 Exceptional
Thomas R
United States

Best live-aboard dive boat ever.
Manta Ray. Bull sharks. Moray eels. Torpedo rays. Large schools of fish. Sea horse. Octopus. Large cabin. Stable boat. Delicious food at all meals.
Recommended for
Abundant underwater life, large and small creatures. Excellent dive guides. Fantastic food.
26 Aug, 2019

10 Exceptional
Lisa H
United States

Fabulous Trip to Socorro on the Valentina
My friend Mary and I had a wonderful trip to Socorro aboard the Valentina. I was a bit nervous at first because I hadn't spoken to anyone who had first hand experience aboard the boat Valentina, but it had open dates for the week we wanted to go to Socorro and excellent reviews, so we went ahead and booked it. We are lucky we did because we couldn't have been any happier with our experience on the boat! From the moment we stepped on board the crew was so helpful and friendly and we immediately felt welcome. Our room was small (there are bigger ones available), but the beds were super comfy. I liked that the doors opened out to the deck. It was great taking post-dive afternoon naps with the door open and ocean breeze coming in. Our dive guides Lorenzo, Chabello, and Fernando made sure we saw all of the things Socorro is famous for. We were treated to dolphins, schooling hammerheads, tons of white tips, and of course, manta rays. The skiffs were easy to board and the crew was great about getting us on and off. For those who are curious, we boarded with our gear on and then took our gear off in the water when our dive was over to make it easier to climb back on. At the end of the trip Lorenzo had made a 20 minute movie of our trip that was available to download and take with us, which was an extra-special touch. The service we received on the boat was incredible. Luigi, our chef, made the most delicious dishes I've had on a liveaboard and his presentation made us feel like we were in a 5 star restaurant. There was so much delicious food it was impossible to eat it all! Juan Manuel was our bartender and made sure we always had the drinks we needed, and we bonded by talking about our cats at home! We had quite the diverse group of people on board with people from the UK, USA, Dubai, Argentina, Costa Rica, and Japan. It was fun to have such a global group of divers together.
Recommended for
Spectacular Diving, Comfortable Boat, Amazing Food
03 Mar, 2024

8.8 Fabulous
Mark H
United States

It's a divers boat for divers
Gorgeous Scenery, below and above water. Cow nose ray's night dive. Constantly helpful Dive master, and the food. Excellent chef.
Recommended for
Crew, Food, Dive Masters
26 Sep, 2021

10 Exceptional
Caryn F
United States

More than excellent❗️
The VALENTINA is the best Dive Boat I have ever been on. The food was amazing. The dives were wonderful and the crew was more than excellent. The crew asked us if there was anything they could do to improve the trip. Not one single passenger could think anything! It was perfect!
Recommended for
The Excellent Crew And Foof. Great Diving. Plenty of help with anything you need!.
28 Oct, 2024

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
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

9.6 Exceptional
Christopher P
United States

Best liveaboboard food ever
Mantas and friendly dolphins
Recommended for
The food, the weather, the dives
21 Jun, 2024

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

10 Exceptional
Caitlin M
United States

Amazing diving and crew!
We had a wonderful time on our trip in May 2022... the seas were a little rough that time of year but the boat handled it like a champ! We had the nicest crew who were always there to help with our gear or bring us hot drinks after our dives. the food was amaing and we never went hungry! And best of all were the hammerhead sharks, dolphins (and two babies!) and Manta rays... allong with all the other sharks and sea life!!! It was the trip of a lifetime - thank you!
Recommended for
Sharks, dolphins, and mantas!!!!
04 Aug, 2022

8.8 Fabulous
Christian S
Germany

High expectations have been exceeded
I came to La Paz with high expectations and they have been exceeded! The boat and the crew are amazing and diving with Sea Lions is so much fun.
Recommended for
Great Crew. A boat perfectly made for divers. Amazing sea life on this trip.
28 Oct, 2024

9.2 Superb
Jane N
United Kingdom

Friendly and Professional operation and some great diving.
Great Mantas at the Boiler San Benedicto and Socorro. Rocas Partidas was good for sharks. Friendly and helpful crew that could not do enough for the guests. Great balance between safety and fun. Comfy beds.
Recommended for
Diving. Crew. Cabin.
14 Feb, 2018

10 Exceptional
Gavin M
Switzerland

Great crew and amazing destination
One of the best dive sites I’ve ever visited - mantas, dolphins, hammerheads, whale sharks, several other species of sharks… It’s amazing. The Valentina’s crew ensured it was a safe, comfortable and even gluttonous journey, diligently managing food restrictions and carefully coordinating each dive to ensure everything ran smoothly. A friendly, professional team that kept us happy and safe in a diving paradise.
Recommended for
The crew, the destination and the company
03 Jan, 2022

10 Exceptional
Nasira G
France

I was very happy to do this beautiful cruise, the Valentiné is well arranged for divers, the cabins are very beautiful, the meals excellent, the staff super nice and respectful.
Everything was perfect, the Valentina, the staff, the meals, the dives and the atmosphere.
Recommended for
The fabulous dives, the meals and the atmosphere on board the Valentina
04 Aug, 2022

Translated from French

8.8 Fabulous
Victoria L
France

Very professional, experienced and friendly Liveaboard
Globally one of the best liveaboards that I have been on. The Crew is very caring, professional and friendly, we felt really good on the boat and under water. We had 4 dives a day, everything was on time and very well organized. The Boat was very clean, it’s also one of the most spacious one I have been on. The food was very tasty, however the coffee and the beverages could be better. The WiFi worked everywhere and without interruption. Definitely will be back!
Recommended for
Amazing dives, delicious food, super friendly crew
16 May, 2024

Wonderful experience on the Valentina
Just returned from 10 days in Socorro Islands on the Valentina. I was a little nervous being the only American with a tight group of Chinese divers who spoke little English, but we all bonded over the experience. The crew was wonderful. A very unique experience in a very unique part of the world. Loved playing with the giant Mantas and chasing whales on the bow after the dives. Many sharks and some very fast dolphins. I did my Nitrox training on the trip to Socorro. Very comfortable accommodations and good food. Loved it when the Chinese cooked their specialties. Learned to play Mah Jong on Chinese New Year. A very special trip.
Recommended for
Crew, scenery, diving
15 Feb, 2016

8.4 Very good
Robin S
United Kingdom

World-class diving with an experienced liveaboard crew
Overall it was a wonderful trip with highlights including close-up encounters with dolphins, oceanic mantas on most dives and lots of sharks (Scalloped hammerheads, Galapagos, Silky, Silver tips, Oceanic black tips, and 1 whale shark). Some of the dive sites were stunning, with Roca Partida being the most spectacular of them all
Recommended for
Lots of pelagics species. Some spectacular dive sites. Wonderfully friendly crew.
22 Apr, 2026

8.8 Fabulous
Lawrence G
United States

Great diving experience and staff but the boat needs updating
We had an incredible experience aboard the Valentina. The staff truly made the trip special. From the dive masters to the boat crew, everyone was friendly, professional, and always had a smile. They worked hard every day to make sure the experience was top-notch. The diving was outstanding. We saw an amazing variety of marine life, including rays, sharks, whale sharks, dolphins, octopus, and much more. Every dive felt memorable. The boat itself is a bit dated and could definitely benefit from modernization, but that did not take away from the overall experience. The crew, service, and diving more than made up for it. Overall, we had a fantastic trip and would recommend the Valentina to anyone looking for a memorable liveaboard scuba adventure.
Recommended for
Unbelievable diving. Great staff/dive guides. Great food.
27 May, 2026