Cantamar Liveaboards: Schedule, Deals, Reviews

My recent scuba liveaboard trip to Socorro Island, Mexico was an incredible diving experience, thanks to the amazing crew and our knowledgeable dive master, Mariana. However, I must mention some issues we encountered during the trip. Firstly, the crew deserves praise for consistently going above and beyond to make our experience memorable. Their dedication was commendable. However, I was disappointed with the condition of the boat. From day one, we faced plumbing and air conditioning issues on the lower deck, which unfortunately included my room. The persistent mildew smell was quite unpleasant. Additionally, the communal restroom was out of order for the entire trip, causing inconvenience to all guests. On the morning of day two, we learned that one of the boat's engines had stopped working. This meant we would not arrive at San Benedicto Island until the evening, causing us to miss the scheduled three dives for that day. It was disappointing to waste our expensive park fees due to this delay. Unfortunately, the engine was not repaired, and we had to operate on one engine for the entire trip. As a result, we couldn't guarantee being the first to arrive at any dive sites, and we missed out on several dives or had to settle for shortened dive times on 2-3 days. From the listed amenities, there were a few missing features: there was no laundry service, onboard kayaks, or sun loungers available. And of course, two engines.  Despite these boat-related issues, the diving experience itself was exceptional. Our dive master, Mariana, was fantastic and knowledgeable. The briefings, held the night before, were thorough and informative. However, we did encounter some problems during the actual dives. There were instances of empty tanks or tanks being only half-filled. Additionally, many divers were not correctly weighted during our check-out dives, and there seemed to be a shortage of weights to address this issue adequately. This led to guests having to figure out their own weighting solutions. On a positive note, there were a couple of things we really appreciated. The availability of hot showers and warm towels out of the dryer on the dive deck post-dive was a welcome luxury. It was a small touch that made a big difference in our overall comfort.

The boat isn’t in great shape. It’s a little run down. The crew is fantastic and the diving is exceptional though.

Revillagigedo is quite a place. I have been on Cocos and Galápagos before and I was thinking maybe " this is more of the same '', but It is not the case. Dolphins and oceanic manta rays come quite closer and for a really long time, and we feel a bit different behaviour in the sharks than in the other places. Now talking about the Cruise. Operation was simply awful. Our rental equipment was not ready when we got there and we had to pay a visit to a shop in Cabo San Lucas in order to get our equipment ready. Nitrox is 30 not 32 and compressor just stopped working last day. Crew divemasters and Cook are really really good, knowledgeable and trustworthy people and they do their BEST to compensate the mess it was the operation. Now talking about the cabins, AC cannot be disconnected and basically you have to block it. So come with them for the crew and the divemasters (Tico is the BEST). But be aware the boat is tricky and operation must be improved. It is a shame you are renting from them and your equipment is not ready when you get to the boat. First time it happens to me on a liveaboard.