Socorro / Revillagigedo Islands

Region: Mexico, eastern Pacific Ocean, approximately 250 miles (400 km) south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California. Erick Higuera described the archipelago as “220 nautical miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas in the Baja California Peninsula” (^[1]).
Type: Volcanic oceanic archipelago; pelagic encounters, big animal diving, liveaboard-only access
Significance: One of the premier big-animal underwater photography destinations in the world, famous for close encounters with giant Pacific manta rays, schooling hammerheads, dolphins, humpback whales, and whale sharks. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016 and designated a National Park with expanded protections in 2017.
First Wetpixel coverage: 2005

Overview

The Revillagigedo Archipelago (commonly referred to as the “Socorro Islands” by divers) consists of four volcanic islands — Socorro, San Benedicto, Roca Partida, and Clarion — in the eastern Pacific (^[2]). The islands form an oasis for pelagic life, drawing giant Pacific manta rays (Manta birostris), bottlenose dolphins, scalloped hammerhead sharks, silky sharks, Galapagos sharks, whitetip reef sharks, whale sharks, humpback whales, false killer whales, yellowfin tuna, sailfish, striped marlin, and schools of jacks (^[3]). The islands are accessible only by liveaboard, typically departing from Cabo San Lucas, with trips lasting 8-10 days (^[4] — forum).

The archipelago is best known for its giant Pacific manta rays — individuals with wingspans commonly 5-7 meters (the Solmar V advertised “18+ foot mantas are common”) — which approach divers at cleaning stations tended by endemic Clarion angelfish (Holacanthus clarionensis) (^[5]). As Eric Cheng described after an exploratory trip in December 2006: “we had hours in the water with multiple manta rays, who repeatedly approached within touching distance to play in our bubbles” (^[6]).

Mexican filmmaker Erick Higuera, who has made the Revillagigedo his primary filming location since 2006, described the archipelago as “my second home, a wild natural laboratory full of many beauties and spectacles.” He noted that the giant Pacific mantas once gathered at a cleaning station called La Reina, located 3 miles north of Cerralvo Island in the Gulf of California, but that population collapsed around 2002 due to uncontrolled local overfishing. The Revillagigedo became the primary place to encounter them (^[7]).

Key Dive Sites

San Benedicto

The most heavily dived island, with two main sites:

• El Boiler (The Boiler) — A submerged pinnacle that is the primary manta cleaning station. Giant Pacific mantas come here to be cleaned by Clarion angelfish, often approaching divers closely. Also the site for dolphin encounters. Forum members consistently recommend fisheye lenses for this site due to the close approach of mantas and dolphins (^[8] — forum). One forum post noted that at El Boiler, “Fisheye for Mantas and dolphins, they get super close” (^[9] — forum).

• El Canyon (The Canyon) — A wide-angle and fisheye site known for manta encounters. Ron Lagerlof shot 6K footage of giant Pacific mantas with Clarion angelfish cleaners here using a RED EPIC Dragon (^[10]). Also a site for false killer whale encounters, as documented by Erick Higuera (^[11]).

Roca Partida

A tiny rock pinnacle that rises from deep open ocean, attracting extraordinary concentrations of pelagic life. Schooling scalloped hammerheads, silky sharks, whitetip reef sharks, humpback whales, and yellowfin tuna gather here. Forum members describe it as the best site for hammerhead schools, though they sometimes stay deep depending on conditions (^[12] — forum). Wide-angle lenses recommended, possibly without strobes, for distant hammerhead schools (^[13] — forum). A whale shark entangled in a mooring rope was rescued here by Solmar V dive guides and guests on 7 November 2012, with GoPro footage of the rescue airing on the BBC (^[14]).

One forum member who visited in April 2018 described Roca Partida as their favorite site, with “amazing vertical walls into the abyss” that attract big animals (^[15] — forum). Another reported that in late May, rough seas pushed marine life closer to the island, including rare false killer whale encounters (^[16] — forum).

Socorro Island

The largest island in the archipelago, with a Mexican naval base. Key sites include:

• Cabo Pearce — Known for manta and dolphin encounters. Fisheye or wide-angle recommended (^[17] — forum). One forum member saw a whale shark at Cabo Pearce (^[18] — forum).

• Punta Tosca — Fisheye or wide-angle site (^[19] — forum).

Socorro Island has a resident population of bottlenose dolphins that tends to interact closely with divers. Forum commenter drsteve noted that “Socorro has much more variety including a resident population of dolphins that tends to interact with divers” (^[20]). The Nautilus Belle Amie trip promotional material described that “the local population of bottlenose dolphins have learned to mimic the behaviour of the giant mantas” and would “move in close and intimate to divers” (^[21] — forum).

The island was temporarily closed to dive boats from late January to mid-March 2010 due to Mexican military naval exercises, though San Benedicto and Roca Partida remained open. There was no advance warning of the closure, catching liveaboard dive vessels Nautilus Explorer and Solmar V off guard (^[22]). Eric Cheng noted that “Socorro Island is not generally considered to be the main attraction of the Revillagigedos Islands” (^[23]). The island reopened to divers on March 15, 2010, with the Nautilus Explorer diving there the next day (^[24]).

Drone use on Socorro Island itself is restricted due to the military base. Forum member kkfok noted: “I was told that it is not allowed to fly a drone at Socorro Island as there is a military base there,” though drones could be flown at San Benedicto, where they attracted birds (^[25] — forum).

Marine Life

The Revillagigedo is notable for the unusual tameness of its marine life. Erick Higuera observed that all the large animals “showed a particular interest in approaching us humans with such curiosity that it was obvious that they were not afraid as in other places” (^[26]).

Species regularly encountered and documented by Wetpixel contributors include:

• Giant Pacific manta rays (Manta birostris) — The signature species. Wingspans commonly 5-7 meters, approaching divers at cleaning stations. Randall Bentoni described “enormous mantas that swam and played with us on nearly every dive” (^[27]).
• Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) — Resident populations that interact closely with divers. Ken Kurtis described an “incredible dolphin encounter - which still leaves me amazed” on his 2022 trip (^[28] — forum).
• Scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) — Schooling, particularly at Roca Partida (^[29]). Depending on conditions, they sometimes stay deep (^[30] — forum).
• Silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) — Common throughout (^[31]).
• Galapagos sharks — Regular encounters. Randall Bentoni reported seeing “large hammerheads and galapagos sharks” (^[32]).
• Whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus) — Numerous at Roca Partida (^[33]). Bentoni counted “dozens of white tip sharks” (^[34]).
• Silvertip sharks — Encountered at Roca Partida. One forum member counted six shark species including silvertips during a single trip (^[35] — forum).
• Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) — Occasional encounters (^[36]; ^[37] — forum).
• Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) — Migrate into the islands’ waters in early spring. The Nautilus Belle Amie promotional material states a population of approximately 1,200 humpbacks arrives annually (^[38] — forum).
• False killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) — Rare but documented at San Benedicto and Roca Partida (^[39]). One forum member reported snorkeling and diving with false killer whales for two days at Roca Partida in late May, noting they were told “it’s a rare thing to happen” (^[40] — forum).
• Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) and striped marlin (Kajikia audax) — Documented by Erick Higuera (^[41]).
• Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) — Documented at Roca Partida (^[42]).
• Black skipjack (Euthynnus lineatus) — Documented at Roca Partida by Erick Higuera (^[43]).
• Leather bass (Dermatolepis dermatolepis) — Documented at San Benedicto by Erick Higuera (^[44]).
• Clarion angelfish (Holacanthus clarionensis) — Endemic species that serves as cleaner fish for mantas. Bentoni noted these fish are found nowhere else: “beautiful Clarion Angelfish that evidently we will never see anywhere else” (^[45]).

Conservation

Biosphere Reserve (1993)

The Solmar V liveaboard was involved in the formation of the protected biosphere around the Socorro Islands in 1993, and subsequently enforced fishing regulations and chased poachers (^[46]). A similar per-day fee system was already in place at the Revillagigedo by 2005, as referenced in discussions about Isla Guadalupe’s bio-preserve status (^[47]).

UNESCO World Heritage Site (2016)

The Revillagigedo Archipelago was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016, though the initial protected area extended only 6 miles (9.7 km) off the coast of each island (^[48]).

National Park Expansion (2017)

In November 2017, Mexico announced a significant expansion of the Revillagigedo Marine Park, covering 57,000 square miles (147,630 square km) around all four islands — Socorro, Roca Partida, San Benedicto, and Clarion. Alejandro Del Mazo Maza, representing Mexico’s National Commission of Protected Natural Areas at the Our Oceans Conference in Malta, stated: “With the goal of guaranteeing maximum protection of this World Heritage Site, our national legislation’s strongest conservation category will be used, and all forms of fishing will be prohibited.” Hotel construction on the islands was also prohibited (^[49]).

Erick Higuera advocated for the park’s protection, noting that some Mexican Biosphere Reserves had been devalued by uncontrolled commercial fishing, leading to the near-extinction of the vaquita in other reserves. He argued that effective protection with fisheries exclusion “would not have an impact on the fishing industry” as catches “would be more than safely captured outside the protected area due to its function as a shelter, nursery, breeding, spawning and feeding area and the effect of spillover outwards” (^[50]).

Wildlife Rescue

The liveaboard community operating at the Revillagigedo has documented several animal rescue incidents. In March 2011, Solmar V divemaster Rey freed a dolphin tangled in fishing line at San Benedicto. The dolphin approached Rey “as if to ask for assistance,” turned belly up, and patiently allowed him to unwrap the line from her fins and tail. At one point the dolphin surfaced for air, then returned to Rey so he could finish. Adam Hanlon’s comments identified Rey and Erick as “long time Solmar dive guides” (^[51]). In November 2012, Solmar V guides and guests removed a mooring rope from a whale shark at Roca Partida, with the footage broadcast on the BBC (^[52]).

Liveaboard Operations

The Revillagigedo Islands are accessible only by liveaboard, departing from Cabo San Lucas with an approximately 24-hour transit each way (^[53] — forum). The dive season runs primarily from November to May/June (^[54]). The main operators covered in the Wetpixel archive include:

Solmar V

A 112-foot luxury liveaboard based in Cabo San Lucas, operated by Jose Luis Sanchez, with a long history of service to the Revillagigedo (^[55]; ^[56]). Jose Luis Sanchez and Leslie Lee represented the Solmar V at DEMA 2006, where Eric Cheng described it as “a four-season live-aboard that takes advantage of weather patterns to provide optimal diving year-round” (^[57]). The Solmar V visits the Socorro Islands from November to May, the Sea of Cortez in June and October, and Guadalupe Island for great white shark cage diving from August to mid-October (^[58]).

The vessel partnered with Wetpixel as a sponsor for the Picture of the Week contest in 2009, offering a free trip as the grand prize (^[59]). Randall Bentoni, the 2009 Picture of the Year winner, took his prize trip aboard the Solmar V and reported: “The crew of the Solmar V took great care of my wife and me. The food was fantastic (I gained a few pounds) the service was superb, and the diving was sensational. We saw enormous mantas that swam and played with us on nearly every dive” (^[60]).

In August 2010, the Solmar V announced it would partner with Carbonfund.org beginning in 2011 to offset the boat’s diesel emissions, described as “probably the first dive boat to do so.” Jose Luis Sanchez stated: “When thinking about our business’ environmental impact we follow simple principles: avoid-reduce-offset” (^[61]).

Forum members described the Solmar V as a reasonable budget option. One reported paying approximately $3,600 for a liveaboard trip and noted the food was “okay” with limited facility comfort compared to other operators (^[62] — forum).

In October 2016, the Solmar V gained widespread attention when a great white shark breached into a cage with a diver during a Guadalupe Island trip. The diver, Chan Ming of Shanghai, was unharmed. The incident was covered by the New York Times (^[63]).

Nautilus Fleet

The Nautilus fleet operates multiple vessels to the Revillagigedo from Cabo San Lucas, including the Nautilus Explorer, Nautilus Belle Amie, and Nautilus Under Sea.

The Nautilus Belle Amie (140 feet, 300 tons) uses three high-speed rigid inflatable 28-foot dive skiffs and offers six full days of diving on a week-long trip. Staterooms are located on three decks with no bunk beds (^[64] — forum).

The Nautilus Explorer was the first vessel to return to Socorro after the island’s temporary closure in 2010 (^[65]). Forum member Ian Marsh described a trip on the Nautilus Explorer in April 2019 as a “great trip” with “awesome” boat and crew and “spectacular” marine life, though he noted dives tended to be deep (around 100 feet) with less-than-ideal visibility (^[66] — forum).

The Nautilus Under Sea was used by Ken Kurtis for his March 2022 trip, reporting encounters with “the usual mantas and sharks galore” plus a whale shark and dolphin encounters (^[67] — forum).

Other Operators

Forum members also reported trips on Sea Escape and MV Valentina, both described as “very good operations” (^[68] — forum). The Baja Treasure was used for trips to the Revillagigedo as early as 1994 (^[69] — forum). The Pelagic Fleet also operates the Solmar V on some Socorro trips (^[70] — forum).

Wetpixel Expeditions

The Revillagigedo has been a recurring destination for Wetpixel-organized expeditions:

• February 2008: Eric Cheng and Alex Mustard co-led an expedition aboard the Solmar V. The trip sold out (^[71]). Eric Cheng’s slideshow of the eastern Pacific hotspots including the Revillagigedo was later shown at Manta Fest 2008 in Yap (^[72]).

• June 2016: Adam Hanlon announced a Wetpixel expedition to Socorro aboard the Nautilus Belle Amie, led by Jason Bradley, describing the destination as offering “bait balls, hammerhead, whale and silky sharks as well as the possibility of pilot whales” (^[73]).

Photography and Videography

Recommended Gear

Socorro is almost exclusively a wide-angle destination. Forum discussions consistently recommend leaving macro gear behind and bringing fisheye and wide-angle zoom lenses (^[74] — forum; ^[75] — forum). Multiple forum members confirmed that macro was unnecessary: “the reef is very different from most regions in that it is mostly barren rock, so not very good for macro” (^[76] — forum).

Site-specific recommendations from experienced divers include fisheye for El Boiler and Cabo Pearce (where mantas and dolphins approach very close), and wider zoom or rectilinear wide-angle for Roca Partida where hammerheads may stay at distance. Jack Connick of Optical Ocean Sales, who made four trips to the islands, recommended the Tokina 10-17mm with teleconverter as a sharper solution than mid-range zooms for the sometimes murky conditions (^[77] — forum). Forum contributor davehicks noted that “you can see any of the animals at any of the sites” and that a wide zoom like the 16-35mm “can be helpful for sharks that sometimes approach but not too close” (^[78] — forum).

For the D850, one experienced forum member stated that the 8-15mm fisheye at 15mm “will be perfect for the mantas in Socorro. If you stay relatively calm over open water, the mantas will swim within touching distance above you. At times you might even need to sink down a bit to get the larger ones in frame” (^[79] — forum).

Notably, Ken Kurtis achieved strong results on his 2021 trip using a non-traditional approach — shooting 12 of 18 dives with a Nikon 28-105mm lens on his D750, rather than an ultra-wide, demonstrating that diverse lens choices can work (^[80] — forum; ^[81] — forum).

For video, ambient light with custom white balance is commonly used rather than video lights, as the speed at which pelagic animals appear and disappear makes light management difficult. One videographer noted: “I had video lights, but opted for ambient light and custom white balance” because of the rapid pace of encounters (^[82] — forum). Forum members note that at least 10,000 lumens would be the minimum for effective video lighting (^[83] — forum). Typical diving depths of around 20 meters (60 feet) mean significant color loss without artificial light (^[84] — forum). Ian Marsh found 3,800-lumen video lights insufficient for stills at Socorro’s depths and switched to strobes for the duration of his trip (^[85] — forum).

Notable Productions

• Berkley White shot a gallery at Socorro in 2005 using a Nikon D2X in a Subal ND2 housing with the 12-24mm DX lens behind an FE2 dome (^[86]).

• Ron Lagerlof captured giant Pacific mantas in 6K resolution on a RED EPIC Dragon with a Zeiss 15mm lens in a Gates Deep Epic housing with Gates VL-24 lights at San Benedicto’s Canyon site for Mammoth HD stock footage (^[87]).

• Erick Higuera produced “Finisterra,” a short film partly shot at the Revillagigedo Islands using a Canon 5D Mark III with a 16-35mm wide-angle and Sigma 15mm fisheye in a Nauticam housing with Zen 230mm Superdome port and Keldan 4X lights. Aerial footage was captured with a DJI Phantom 3 in 4K (^[88]). His Wetpixel Full Frame portfolio from the Revillagigedo was featured in November 2017, showcasing giant Pacific mantas, false killer whales, humpback whales, scalloped hammerheads, silky sharks, sailfish, striped marlin, bottlenose dolphins, whale sharks, whitetip reef sharks, yellowfin tuna, black skipjack, and leather bass across all three main dive islands (^[89]). His false killer whale and humpback whale images from the Revillagigedo were included in the 2017 Full Frame Retrospective (^[90]).

• Sean Ruggeri of RED Digital Cinema shot demo footage at Socorro using the RED WEAPON MONSTRO camera with VV H2O OLPF in a Gates DEEP WEAPON housing with Gates GT14 lights and a Nikonos RS 20-135mm lens, filming while diving with the Nautilus Explorer. He described challenging conditions with “a lot of big swell/surge and less than ideal visibility.” The footage was captured in 8K and converted to 4K (^[91]).

• Dr. Andrea Marshall, a National Geographic Explorer known as the “Queen of Mantas,” organized the Ray of Hope Expedition to the Revillagigedo in April 2018 (^[92] — forum).

• Forum member Starbuck (Michael Palasz) posted early Socorro galleries in January 2005 from a Solmar V trip, shooting with a Nikon D70 and 18-70mm and 10.5mm fisheye lenses in a Nexus housing (^[93] — forum).

Customs and Import Duties

Beginning around 2019, Mexican customs officials at Cabo San Lucas (SJD) and La Paz (LAP) airports began enforcing an importation fee on underwater camera housings, charging 16% of the housing’s assessed value. Officials used Google to determine housing values and did not classify housings as camera accessories exempt from duty. The issue was first reported on the Wetpixel forum by member divrndeep, who was charged approximately $50 for a 7-year-old Olympus PT-EP08 housing. She observed that customs officials were targeting underwater photographers, particularly those with hard-sided protective cases (^[94] — forum; ^[95]).

Nautilus Liveaboards issued guidance to passengers noting that “an underwater housing unit is a camera accessory which fits your camera and allows control and usage of the device while diving” and should be tax-free under Mexican customs law. They provided a Spanish-language letter for passengers to present to customs officials (^[96]).

The issue became a significant concern for the Wetpixel community and a recurring discussion topic. Reported charges ranged widely: Ian Marsh was charged $44 after stating his Seacam D800 housing was worth $200 (^[97]). Photographer Franco Banfi and a group of Swiss amateur photographers were charged hundreds of dollars at La Paz, even after flying in from Mexico City (^[98] — forum). Ken Kurtis found the enforcement less aggressive by 2021, with one passenger being charged $40 (^[99] — forum), and by 2022 a companion was charged $50, prompting Kurtis to characterize it as “a nuisance fee” (^[100] — forum).

Some forum members began concealing housings in regular backpacks or soft-sided suitcases rather than Pelican cases to avoid scrutiny (^[101] — forum; ^[102] — forum). One member even considered getting a fake receipt showing lower values (^[103] — forum). Adam Hanlon suggested that obtaining a carnet might be worth considering, though one commenter noted the minimum cost was in the $400-500 range (^[104]). The issue persisted through at least 2025, with Cynthia Ariosta reporting a $570 charge on a Nauticam housing and noting that officials had a new document claiming housings were not considered accessories (^[105]).

The customs issue led some Wetpixel members to swear off Mexico entirely. As one commenter put it: “I scratched my Socorro itch once and if I want to do the Baja gulf, I’ll do one of those trips where you drive from Phoenix and then fly home from Cabo” (^[106] — forum).

Conditions and Practical Information

• Season: November to May/June. Water temperatures are warmer in November-December and cooler toward end of season; temperatures around 23-24°C (73-75°F) are common in May (^[107] — forum). The water can turn green and visibility worsen toward the end of the season. Early to mid-May is generally considered the latest one should go (^[108] — forum).
• Access: Liveaboard only from Cabo San Lucas; approximately 24-hour transit each way (^[109] — forum).
• Diving style: Drift and blue-water diving at volcanic pinnacles and walls. Four dives per day typical on liveaboard trips. Conditions can include strong current and surge (^[110]). Forum members noted the diving can be “heavy” with deeper depths requiring thicker wetsuits and more gas consumption (^[111] — forum). One visitor with a 5mm wetsuit and 3mm hooded vest found conditions manageable in January/February (^[112] — forum).
• Trip cost: Approximately $3,300-$4,000+ for 8-9 day liveaboard trips as of 2015-2022, not including airfare (^[113] — forum; ^[114] — forum).
• COVID-19: Trips resumed in November 2020 after the COVID-19 shutdown, with testing, temperature logging, and masking protocols on liveaboards (^[115] — forum).

Timeline

• 2005-01: Early Wetpixel forum discussion of Socorro diving. Michael Palasz (Starbuck) posts D70 and D100 results from a Solmar V trip, discussing wide-angle lens choices (^[116] — forum).
• 2005-03: Forum member davephdv posts gallery from the Revillagigedo, shot with a D100 and 12-24mm lens (^[117] — forum).
• 2005-05: Isla Guadalupe bio-preserve discussion references the existing fee system at the Revillagigedo (^[118]).
• 2005-06: Berkley White publishes Socorro D2X gallery (^[119]).
• 2005-10: Solmar V hosts a Sea of Cortez photo excursion with Marty Snyderman and Bonnie Pelnar (^[120] — forum).
• 2006-11: Jose Luis Sanchez and Leslie Lee represent Solmar V at DEMA 2006; Eric Cheng describes it as “a four-season live-aboard” (^[121]).
• 2006-12: Eric Cheng makes an exploratory trip to the Revillagigedo, documenting close manta encounters (^[122]).
• 2007-04: Solmar V launches new website with free trip giveaways; Wetpixel announces 2008 Socorro expedition (^[123]; ^[124]).
• 2008-02: Wetpixel Socorro expedition runs aboard Solmar V with Eric Cheng and Alex Mustard, sold out (^[125]).
• 2008-09: Eric Cheng shows slideshow of eastern Pacific hotspots including the Revillagigedo at Manta Fest 2008 in Yap (^[126]).
• 2009-01: Solmar V becomes Wetpixel Picture of the Week sponsor, offering free Socorro trip as grand prize (^[127]).
• 2010-01: Mexican military temporarily closes Socorro Island for naval exercises, catching Nautilus Explorer and Solmar V off guard (^[128]).
• 2010-03: Socorro Island reopens to divers on March 15; Nautilus Explorer dives there March 16 (^[129]).
• 2010-06: Picture of the Year 2009 winner Randall Bentoni takes prize trip to the Revillagigedo aboard Solmar V (^[130]).
• 2010-08: Solmar V announces carbon offset program with Carbonfund.org beginning in 2011 (^[131]).
• 2011-03: Solmar V divemaster Rey rescues a dolphin tangled in fishing line at San Benedicto (^[132]).
• 2012-11: Solmar V guests rescue a whale shark entangled in mooring rope at Roca Partida on November 7; footage airs on BBC (^[133]).
• 2014-06: Ron Lagerlof captures giant mantas in 6K on RED EPIC Dragon at San Benedicto (^[134]).
• 2015-12: Wetpixel announces 2016 Socorro expedition aboard Nautilus Belle Amie (^[135]).
• 2016-04: Erick Higuera’s “Finisterra” short film released, partly shot at the Revillagigedo (^[136]).
• 2016: Revillagigedo Archipelago designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site (^[137]).
• 2016-10: Solmar V great white shark cage breach incident at Guadalupe Island gains worldwide media coverage (^[138]).
• 2017-11: Mexico expands Revillagigedo Marine Park to 57,000 square miles; all fishing prohibited (^[139]).
• 2017-11: Erick Higuera’s Revillagigedo portfolio featured on Wetpixel Full Frame (^[140]).
• 2018-03: Sean Ruggeri shoots 8K Socorro footage on RED WEAPON MONSTRO while diving with Nautilus Explorer (^[141]).
• 2018-04: Dr. Andrea Marshall’s Ray of Hope Expedition to the Revillagigedo (^[142] — forum).
• 2019-11: Wetpixel member divrndeep reports that Mexican customs at Baja airports are charging importation duties on camera housings; major forum discussion ensues with 113 replies (^[143] — forum; ^[144]).
• 2020-11: Socorro trips resume after COVID-19 shutdown, with testing and masking protocols on liveaboards (^[145] — forum).
• 2021-01: Ken Kurtis publishes detailed trip report from a “Manta-tastic” trip on the Nautilus (^[146] — forum).
• 2022-03: Ken Kurtis reports a successful trip on Nautilus Under Sea with mantas, sharks, whale shark, and dolphin encounters (^[147] — forum).

References