£4,135 Including flights, transfers & full liveaboard accommodation
10th – 18th July 2026 – 2 places remaining
Fri 10Jul Heathrow to Phoenix 1540/1830 BA28
1 night in Phoenix
Sat 11Jul Transfer from Phoenix to Puerto Penasco – 4 hours
7 nights aboard Rocio Del Mar – Sea of Cortez Midriff Islands
Sat 18Jul Transfer from Puerto Penasco to Phoenix – 4 hours
Phoenix to Heathrow 2040/1440 BA1527*
Not Included: Mexican Tourist Card** – approximately US$35 (see below), National Park Fee – 230 pesos (approx. £10) per day of diving*, Wi-Fi $50, Nitrox Fee – $140, Fuel surcharge – if applicable**, Crew gratuity (typically 10%-15% of the boat price)
*Park fee is subject to change without notice
** Fuel Surcharge: Mexico Liveaboards reserves the right to implement a fuel surcharge on all trips in the event the cost of fuel exceeds 20 Pesos per litre. Should this occur, all guests will be notified before boarding.
Rocio del Mar – Sea of Cortez Midriff Islands
The Sea of Cortez is more than just a dive destination; it’s an experience that awakens your senses and connects you with the wonders of the natural world. It is where the desert meets the sea, where the stars seem so close at night you can touch them. Enjoy all this and more in comfort aboard Rocio del Mar. She features ten cabins, accommodating 20 divers, each with an ensuite bathroom. Their expert crew is dedicated to ensuring a safe and fun experience, from providing top-notch dive guidance to creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere onboard. And between dives, you’ll savour delicious cuisine prepared with fresh, local ingredients, adding another layer of enjoyment to your adventure.
You will descend into the nutrient-rich waters, where pristine walls explode with colour. See the regal king angelfish, the endemic Cortez angelfish, dozens of triggerfish, and the schools of other fish as they shimmer and swirl, a kaleidoscope of marine diversity. Fields of black coral create an ethereal and otherworldly landscape. Playful sea lions, with their curious eyes and acrobatic antics, invite you to share their underwater playground. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the many rays and eels while octopuses, masters of disguise, blend into the rocks upon which they sit.
On the surface, stay alert for mobula rays leaping from the water in a breathtaking aerial display. The captain stays alert to tell you when we come across giant pods of dolphins, fin, sperm, or pilot whales. You may even see the powerful dorsal fin of an orca in the distance. You will also in Bahia de Los Angeles to snorkel with whale sharks, these gentle filter feeders, as they glide effortlessly through the water.
But the magic of the Sea of Cortez isn’t just about the big encounters. It’s in the details, too.
For macro photographers, the Sea of Cortez is a paradise. Vibrant nudibranchs crawl across the reef in a rainbow of hues while colourful blennies peek out from their rocky homes. Watch closely; you might spot dancing jawfish or the elusive seahorse clinging delicately to a swaying strand of seaweed.
At some islands, they can encounter swarms of honeybees that come to the boat searching for fresh water in the rinse tanks and near the outside showers. They encourage everyone to wear foot coverings when walking around the deck. Divers with an anaphylactic response to bee stings should carry their own EpiPen or equivalent. If your epinephrine device needs to be stored at 68-77F, please see the lead divemaster or captain when boarding, and they will keep these in the galley for you.
Liveaboard
Rocio del Mar is custom built specifically for divers. She is approved by the Coast Guard and is highly seaworthy. It is equipped with state-of-the-art electronics and all necessary safety equipment, ensuring your peace of mind during the dive expeditions. She has 10 cabins for a maximum of 20 divers:-
Main Deck – 6 Staterooms with 2 oversized twin bunks and 2 Staterooms with a queen bed
Upper Deck – 2 Staterooms with a double bed and single bunk
Each cabin has four drawers for storage and clothing/towel hooks. It also has a bathroom with a shower, and toilet. They provide shampoo, soap, and bath wash. There are no hair dryers. Guests enjoy comfortable mattresses and quality
bed linens. The steward cleans all rooms, bunks, and bathrooms during the first dives of the day. They provide bath towels and dive deck towels, which are changed mid-trip.
The galley is in the boat’s bow and comfortably accommodates all 20 passengers. The galley also has a television and DVD player should you want to do presentations. She has a large salon with comfortable furniture, television, and a computer station. All areas are fully air-conditioned, including cabins, salon, galley, and hallways. There is a covered patio with comfortable outdoor furniture for relaxing, along with a shaded sun deck with deck chairs, an outdoor kitchen and serving area. There is a bathroom on the dive deck and two freshwater showers on the back deck.
They have limited Wi-Fi available for purchase at $50. This provides full internet access within a 10-mile radius of an island and from the port.
Rocio del Mar is well-know for its food! Each day starts early with a continental breakfast with fresh fruit, cereals, bagels, yogurt, breads, and freshly brewed coffee.
After the first dive, guests enjoy a plated, made-to-order breakfast. After the second dive, guests will be served a hot homemade soup followed by a hot plated lunch. They serve a large snack in the afternoon, often sandwiches, ceviche, fruit, cheeses, and more. For dinner, guests enjoy a three-course, plated meal with a salad, entrée, and homemade dessert. Hot and cold beverages are always available, including canned soft drinks.
Divers also enjoy complimentary beer and wine after their last dive of the day. Their chefs can accommodate most special dietary needs, including gluten-free and vegan, with a wonderful variety of delicious options.
**All passengers (except for Mexican nationals) must have an FMM. The Mexico FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple, also known as a tourist card) is a permit that enables travellers to visit Mexico as tourists. You must stop at the border and get an FMM. If you are staying for more than 7 days, you must pay a fee of approximately $35 in cash (USD). It is best to bring cash, as credit cards were not accepted through 2024. Please bring smaller bills, as immigration officials will not give change. It is advisable to bring $3-$5 extra, as the exchange rate can fluctuate, affecting the amount. We are not aware of an easy way to purchase a FMM online.
Diving
All divers must be a minimum of ‘open water’ certified.
The dive deck is well-organised, and each diver is assigned a dive station. There is a spacious camera table with many power outlets and compressed air. 80 cubic ft. aluminium tanks that are both DIN & yoke compatible, as well as weights and belts are supplied.
All diving is done from two 18′ Achilles inflatable pangas, each with a driver vigilantly looking for bubbles. Getting from the boat to the dive site typically takes just a few minutes and the pangas have sturdy, easy-to-use ladders.
You will be divided into three groups, each with a divemaster to lead the dives. Each group will dress, receive a dive briefing, put on their gear, and board the panga. Divers enter the water with a back roll. The crew is happy to help divers with knee or back issues. Everyone dives as a group. At the end of the dive, the panga will come to you. Divers will remove their weight belt and BCD, and the driver will lift it into the boat. Once at the ladder, divers remove their fins and climb into the boat. When the panga returns to the boat, the crew will put your gear away for you.
We absolutely recommend exposure protection on these trips. Many guests have found that a 5mm wetsuit with a hooded vest works best for July through the first week of August. Gloves are permitted and recommended. A rash guard for sun protection is suggested when snorkelling with whale sharks. If you have one, a light hood for night dives is good, as there can be large amounts of krill in the water. They recommend a dive light, as looking under the rocks and crevices is fun. Plus, it makes the colours come alive!
Hire Equipment
They have a limited number of regulators, BCDs, dive computers, and HP steel 100 tanks available for rent.
Regulators, BCDs (size required), dive computers $75 each
HP 100cu ft/12L $50 each
Please let us know as early as possible before your trip if you want to rent equipment so they have it onboard for you. Rental gear is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Itinerary
8 Days / 7 Nights / 6 Days of Diving
Below is the scheduled diving itinerary. Weather and sea conditions may alter this itinerary, and if unique animal sightings arise, they may suggest options to divers.
Day 1 – Embark at 5 pm in Puerto Peñasco / Dinner and departure at approximately 7 pm
Day 2 – Isla Ángel de la Guarda / 3 dives / Sunset cruise with sea lions
Day 3 – Isla Ángel de la Guarda / 3 dives and a night dive
Day 4 – Isla San Pedro Mártir / 3-4 dives
Day 5 – Isla San Pedro Mártir / 3-4 dives
Day 6 – Isla Salsipuedes / Isla Las Ánimas / 3 dives and a night dive
Day 7 – Bahía de los Ángeles / 2 dives / Snorkel with whale sharks
Day 8 – Arrive in Puerto Peñasco and disembark at 7:30 am
AVERAGE WATER TEMPERATURES
The Sea of Cortez is a very seasonal sea which means it changes rapidly based on the seasons. These trips begin in early July where the temperatures are approximately 74-78 degrees Fahrenheit. It increases by about 2 degrees Fahrenheit every week and tops off at about 85 degrees mid-August and remains there until about mid-September. After mid-September, the temperatures drop an average of 2 degrees Fahrenheit every week.
The Sea of Cortez has vertical thermoclines! You can see the water shimmer before you feel it. There are cool as well as warm currents. During a single dive, experiencing a temperature difference of 10 degrees is quite normal. But don’t worry, the cool thermoclines don’t last long.
Official Partner
SSI Dive Centre