Socorro
Close encounters with oceanic mantas.
- Overall rank
- #3 of 20
- Editor’s score
- 9.6 / 10
- Best months
- February — March
- Go for
- Oceanic mantas · Bottlenose dolphins
Why dive here?
Socorro’s oceanic mantas often circle divers and hover over their bubbles. Dolphins, hammerheads and Galápagos sharks add variety, and you may hear humpback song in February and March. The long crossing is worth considering if mantas are your main reason to travel.
When to go
The best time to dive here is February — March. Check the linked season guide and ask your operator about conditions for your dates.
What to look for
These are the main draws. Sightings vary by site, season and luck.
- Oceanic mantas
- Bottlenose dolphins
- Humpbacks
- Oceanic sharks
Conditions and trip planning
Advanced. Open-Pacific sites, a long liveaboard transit and some surge. Bring a warmer suit than “Mexico” suggests.
Trip format: Liveaboard only.
About the score
Socorro scores 9.6/10 for diving at its best. The ranking favours sharks and other large animals, followed by reef health and variety across the trip. Price and travel time do not affect the score.
Underwater photos
Open a photo for its source and credits.
Dives on video
Watch for the conditions, marine life and pace of the dives. Each video shows one trip.