Socorro Manta & Shark Madness Liveaboard Trip Feb 2026

Photography Workshop

Join Bluewater Travel's February 2026 trip to the Revillagigedo Islands, known to many as Mexico's "little Galapagos" because of the immense variety of flora and fauna. Here you'll find not only sharks, jacks, barracudas, humpback whales, but also the mantas which are Socorro's claim to fame.

Why Join This Trip?

Intense focus on repeated encounters with friendly giant Manta Rays, hammerhead, silvertip & galapagos sharks, and dolphins
Prime season for breaching humpback whales
A short 2-hour flight to Cabo from the SouthWest United States
On one of the best-reviewed liveaboards, the Rocio Del Mar. Beer & wine included
Includes FREE photo workshop from your trip leader
Fully refundable deposit until 12 months from departure.

February 25 - March 6, 2026

Trip Leader: Dan Bishop

9 Nights for $4195 per person, double occupancy

Tim Johnson shares his underwater footage from Bluewater Travel's Socorro 2023 Underwater Photo Workshop

Back to Menu

Trip Overview

The trip starts and ends in San Jose del Cabo, then goes on to the Revillagigedo Archipelago which includes Socorro Island, Roca Partida, and San Benedicto Island. The Rocio del Mar is one of the better liveaboards cruising to Socorro. Dive to your heart's content as many as four times a day and get to interact with large pelagics up close and personal.

Itinerary

Here's a sample day-by-day itinerary of this trip (subject to change):

Day 1 (Feb 25) - The Rocio Del Mar will be ready for boarding at 5:00 pm, dinner is served at 7:00 pm, and will depart that evening.
Day 2 - Rocio del Mar arrives in San Benedicto.
Day 3 – San Benedicto, 4 dives scheduled.
Day 4 – Roca Partida, 3 dives scheduled.
Day 5 – Roca Partida, 3 dives scheduled.
Day 6 – Socorro Island, 4 dives scheduled (check-in with naval station)
Day 7 - Socorro Island, 4 dives scheduled
Day 8 – San Benedicto, 4 dives scheduled. At the end of this day, we will start our departure to San Jose del Cabo.
Day 9 – Arrive at San Jose del Cabo. Guests may sleep on the boat.
Day 10 (Mar 6) - Disembark after breakfast by 8:30 am.

Dive Overview

The Revillagigedo Islands are where you will have an experience of a lifetime with large ocean pelagic animals including a wide variety of sharks (hammerhead sharks, tiger sharks, Galapagos sharks, and silky sharks), dolphins, tuna, barracudas, clouds of jacks, and of course, the friendliest mantas in the world. This is also humpback whale season, and if lucky, you may see a humpback whale swim by underwater.

Diving Conditions in February

Water temperature will be around 25-27°C (77-79°F).

To learn more about what you can expect from this Socorro trip check out our 2023 trip report. You can also read the great reviews of the Rocio del Mar & the reviews on diving Socorro here.

Back to Menu

Inclusions

FREE daily photo workshops
Your accommodation and housekeeping
All meals, snacks, and beverages, including breakfast on the day of disembarkation
Local beer and wine
4 guided dives per day (conditions permitting)
Tanks, air and weights
16% Mexican tax
Port fees

Exclusions

National Park Fee: $602 per trip*
Nitrox: $120 for the week
Equipment rental
Transfers to and from the boat
Gratuity
Travel Insurance: click here to learn more about our preferred plan

*For people who are over 60 and can provide documentation that they are retired or pensioned, the park fee will be waived. According to the CONANP, any official document with the words "RETIRED" or "PENSIONED" will be accepted along with a photo of a current passport. Any other documentation will NOT be accepted.

In our experience, US citizens who are receiving retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration can download a Benefit Verification Letter from the www.SSA.gov website.

For students and teachers: A 50% discount is available for ACTIVE/CURRENT students and teachers. To get this discount, a photocopy of an identification card with a photo and current date is required.

To apply for an exception, the above documentation is to be sent to Guest Services at documents@mexicoliveaboards.com no later than one month prior to boarding. Please note that CONANP has the final word if a document is accepted or not. They do not verify the exception prior to the trip. If it is not accepted, the applicant will be required to pay the full park fees.

Back to Menu

Trip Type

This trip is a PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP. It will be led by one of our photo instructors who will provide daily instructional tutorials, in-water photography support (when appropriate), and one-to-one advice and guidance, as required. Each workshop offers a bespoke syllabus, crafted by the trip leader and detailed on the trip webpage. While our Photography Workshops are aimed at divers with an interest in underwater photography, anyone is welcome to join.

Learn more about what's included in this trip type.

NOTE: Over the last couple of years we have received reports that some visitors have been charged a tax for bringing their camera housing into the country. Please click here for details on how to naviagate this issue should it arise.

Trip Syllabus

Bluewater's Socorro photo workshop with Dan Bishop is all about learning how to create captivating images in one of the best big animal habitats in the world: Socorro!

This workshop will include 9 days of formal instruction plus 1:1 help as needed. Each day, there will be a one-hour class which will include PowerPoint presentations, group discussions, image reviews, 1-on-1 training, and live demonstrations (e.g., Adobe Lightroom Classic, Premiere Pro, Topaz).

Foundational Topics will Include:

1. Successful Wide Angle Photography Fundamentals

2. One-Time Camera Setup (DSLR/Mirrorless and Compact Cameras)

3. Focusing Fundamentals: Understanding Depth of Field, Autofocus Types, Focus Tracking, Back Button Focusing, Focus Pipper, and Underwater Focus Techniques

4. Exposure Basics: Understanding the Exposure Triangle and how to effectively use Shutter Speed, Aperture, and ISO for underwater images. Also includes an in-depth review of Strobe Techniques

5. Composition: Understanding how to Compose captivating images that 'tell a story'

6. Putting It All Together: Understanding how to incorporate Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO, Strobes, and Composition Techniques into a simple underwater workflow

Each topic will include definitions, techniques, tips, and example images to illustrate the points.

Intermediate Topics will Include:

1. Additional Wide Angle Techniques: Understanding how to shoot Sun Balls, Subjects on Sand, Close Focus Wide Angle, Sea Lions, Diver Models, Silhouettes, and Ambient Light Shots

2. Introduction to Lightroom Classic: PowerPoint and Live Demo to Cover:

a) Lightroom Key Concepts

b) Library Module Overview

c) Develop Module Overview

d) Basic Editing Workflow: In-depth walkthrough of Image Import, Best Image Selection techniques, Global Edits for general exposure and color correction, Image Export and Collections

Advanced Topics will Include:

1. Advanced Lightroom Editing: In-depth walkthrough of Local Edits (masking types and techniques, local color corrections, local exposure adjustment, etc), Backscatter Removal, and Imaging Sharpening and Denoising techniques using Lightroom and Topaz

2. Time permitting, there will be a video editing overview using Premiere Pro

There will be an evening sign-up sheet for additional 1:1 help on any topic (photo or editing), schedule permitting. In addition, Dan will provide basic help underwater as conditions permit.

About the Rocio Del Mar

Rocio Del Mar is one of the most popular liveaboards sailing in the area, offering excellent service and fantastic food. There are 10 cabins for up to a maximum of 20 divers, all offering private bathrooms with hot shower stalls, Western-style toilets, and above-height windows. Cabins are carpeted and have air-conditioning, plus convenient gear and clothes storage drawers beneath the beds.

Check this page to see more details and customer reviews on the Rocio Del Mar.

Back to Menu

Flight Information

Guests on this trip will need to fly into Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) and take a taxi to the Marina Puerto Los Cabos. The boat is located by the Hotel El Ganzo. Boarding time is at 5 pm.

Note: Guests arriving early may avail of day passes at Hotel El Ganzo, where they can spend time before boarding at 5 pm. There's an area for storing luggage and restrooms for changing. First come, first served, but guests can email the hotel before arriving.

Rooftop Pool - 1000 pesos, guests can use up to 750 pesos as a food and beverage credit
Beach Club - 750 pesos, guests can use the whole amount as a food and beverage credit.

On the way back, we arrive in San Jose during the early morning hours of the last day of the trip, February 28. Guests must disembark by 8:30 a.m. Since transfers are not included in our fees, guests will need to take a taxi to the airport, which the Rocio crew can help arrange. Return flights should be made anytime on the last day of the trip.

Recommended nearby hotels to book for extra nights include the Tropicana Inn, Hotel El Ganzo, or El Encanto Inn & Suites. You can get 10% off at El Encanto Inn by mentioning that you will be staying on the Rocio Del Mar.

Flight Package

Our group trips attract guests from all over the globe and many of our customers prefer to book their own flights to take advantage of mileage points or credit card discounts. For these reasons, flights are not included in our group trip packages.

However, we are more than happy to work with you to find the best travel itinerary for your trip and will gladly give suggestions and advice, even if you make the final booking. We will check through your travel reservations at any time to ensure they fit with the trip schedule and can give recommendations on transit hotels and day tours where needed.

If you would like us to book flights, hotels, and transfers for your domestic and/or international travel on your behalf, we are also happy to arrange this. Please be advised that there is a 10% fee for this service to cover our booking and administration costs.

Back to Menu

About the Trip Leader

Dan is a passionate underwater photographer based in northern Virginia. He did his first dive at age 14 and has been an avid photographer for more than 25 years. Dan started out as a skydiving photographer and videographer, and then took that passion underwater. Since then, he has spent as much time underwater as possible, often with one or both of his daughters. Dan loves sharing his photography knowledge with others and is experienced with both wide angle and macro photography.

Recommended Scuba Gear

5mm wetsuit. Browse Wetsuits at Bluewater Photo
Strong fins. Check out the Apeks RK3 Dive Fins.
SMB. The Mares Dive Marker Buoy is our choice!
Travel BCD. Read our Best Travel BCD Article
Travel regulator. We suggest Mares Ultra 62X Dive Regulator

Payment Schedule

Deposit: $1,000

Payment 2: $1,000 due 1 Feb 25

Payment 3: $1,000 due 1 Aug 25

Balance: due 1 Nov 25

Back to Menu

Want to Extend Your Trip?

We can help with that! See more of Mexico before or after your trip with Bluewater in Socorro. Flying all that way merits a multi-destination vacation! La Paz is an amazing destination nearby that offers a range of additional unique experiences. Here are some examples of packages we can add on to your trip reservation:

*Rates are subject to change at any time; please contact us for the most updated pricing.

7 Nights at the 5 Star Costa Baja Resort & Spa

Price: Starting at $2,087 per person based upon double occupancy.

The Hotel CostaBaja Resort & Spa is the first and only luxury hotel & spa in the city of La Paz. This boutique hotel offers a selection of ocean, mountain, and marina views. North of the hotel is Espiritu Santo Island, where you will find the greatest marine life in the world and the best sport fishing within Baja Sur.

7 nights in a king or twin room
Full buffet breakfasts
5 days of 3 tank dives
Lunches & drinks on the boat
National park permit fees
Roundtrip Cabo transfers
Free WiFi: Yes
Swimming Pool: Yes

Costa Baja Resort La Paz

Costa Baja Resort & Spa

7 Nights at the 3 Star La Concha Beach Resort

Price: Starting at $1,803 per person based upon double occupancy.

A beach resort offering a peaceful and mellow atmosphere on the Sea of Cortez. Over a hundred sea view rooms are featured in La Concha Beach Resort. Located in front of the ocean and with a full view of the beach and pool, the accommodations include essential details to luxury amenities.

7 nights in a king or twin sea view room
Full American breakfasts
5 days of 3 tank dives
Lunches & drinks on the boat
National park permit fees
Roundtrip Cabo transfers
Free WiFi: Yes
Swimming Pool: Yes

La Concha Beach Resort

7 Nights at the 4 Star Hotel Catedral

Price: Starting at $1,670 per person based upon double occupancy.

Hotel Catedral La Paz is a new concept of accommodation to suit the needs of today's travelers. It is part of the historic center of the city, surrounded by major attractions next to Our Cathedral Lady of La Paz. With its sophisticated contemporary modernist architecture, Hotel Catedral La Paz focuses on every detail to offer its guests an excellent service and quality, both in the rooms and its gourmet restaurant.

7 nights in a king or twin sea view room
Full breakfasts
5 days of 3 tank dives
Lunches & drinks on the boat
National park permit fees
Roundtrip Cabo transfers
Free WiFi: Yes
Swimming Pool: Yes

Hotel Catedral La Paz

San Ignacio Gray Whale Experience

Price: Starting at $2,495 per person (Glamping Tent) or $3,045 per person (Luxury Tent)

The San Ignacio Lagoon Gray Whale Experience offers a unique opportunity to have up-close and personal interactions with Pacific gray whales in their breeding and birthing lagoon. These gray whales are known to be the friendliest on the planet and exhibit behaviors such as swimming over to the boats (pangas) to be caressed, stroked, and even kissed. They may also roll onto their backs to allow visitors to scratch their bellies.

The experience is entirely on the whales' terms, and even mother whales may push their babies up against the boats for human interaction. The first whale interaction at San Ignacio Lagoon occurred in 1972, and since then, the experience just continues to get more magical each year. You can also expect to see not only gray whales but also a variety of bird species, including nesting ospreys and egrets, during your visit to the San Ignacio Lagoon.