Rocio del Mar
Enjoy spectacular diving in the Baja California Peninsular aboard the MV Valentina Liveaboard Mexico. The MV Valentina Liveaboard visits the abundant dive sites of the Sea of Cortez from August to November where divers can hope to see sea lions, huge schools of sardines and hammerhead sharks, and the amazing diving of the Socorro Islands to look for humpback whales, manta rays and whale sharks from November to May.
In 2013 the 38m M/V Valentina Liveaboard underwent a re-fit to ensure the highest standards. The MV Valentina Liveaboard has 10 air-conditioned cabins, each with an en-suite bathroom. All Cabins have A/C and a private restroom and a shower room. There are 2 Deluxe Double cabins with 1 double bed and 1 single bed (non-bunk). Plus, one Deluxe Double cabin with 1 double bed. Great room for a couple! The remaining 7 Deluxe Twin cabins with spacious wide bunk beds. The air-conditioned dining room offers excellent cuisine with a variety of Mexican, European and Asian dishes, and also an open bar with a choice of various soft drinks, cocktails, liquors, and draft beer (some beverages require payment on site).
There is a large, partially covered sun deck for relaxation in-between dives, or enjoying the stars in the evening. Let the MV Valentina crew take care of your needs and help you to create a diving liveaboard holiday to remember in the spectacular Baja California Peninsula.
Boat Specifications
Year built - 1999
Year renovated - 2013
Length - 38m
Beam - 10m
Cruising speed - 12 knots
Max guests 20
Number of cabins 10
Number of bathrooms 10
Boat Navigation and Safety
Radar
Depth Sounder
GPS
Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
Life Vests
Fire Alarm & Fire Extinguishers
Oxygen
Boat features
Leisure Deck
Shaded diving deck
Camera Station
Daily housekeeping
Audio & video entertainment
Library
TV in cabins
Air-Conditioned saloon
Aircon Cabins
Sun Deck
Indoor Saloon
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers
Photography Station
Outdoor Dining
Separate rinse for u/w camera
Camera room with table and charging point
Custom built for diving
Hot Tub
Charging stations
En-Suite bathrooms
Diving
DIN Adaptors
Nitrox available
Dive deck
Tenders for diving
The crew speaks English and Japanese
Sea of Cortez Itinerary
5 nights / 6 days
La Paz to La Paz (Aug-Nov)
Dives - Approximately 17 dives in total
Experience - Open Water - No minimum logged dives required.
Baja California is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico, where coyotes live in the mountains and cactuses prevail in the reddish soil desert. La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur state, located at the south end of the peninsula and our dive cruise trip starts from here. Recently La Paz has become known among scuba divers as one of the world’s divers’ paradises. A diving points are all in the Sea of Cortez, in between the peninsula and Mexican mainland. This sea is also declared a World Heritage site and is the place where you can 100% enjoy scuba diving with wild California Sea Lions.
Day 1: Arrival at La Paz Airport. Transfer to our marina. Check In. No dinner is served
Day 2: 3-4 dives. Suwanee Reef, La Reyna
Day 3: 3-4 dives. Los Islotes, El Bajo
Day 4: 3-4 dives. El Bajo, 3-4 dives
Day 5: 3-4 dives. Las Animas, San Francisquito
Day 6: 2 dives & whale shark search (snorkeling). Punta Lobos, Salvatiera Wreck, Whale Shark Search. Transfer to your hotel (we can arrange a hotel after check out upon your request)
Marine Life: Sea lions, whale sharks, hammerheads, mobula rays, moray eels, schools of giant trevally, huge schools of sardines *Guest must stay over one night in La Paz after checking out the boat.
Socorro Islands Exploration
10 days / 9 nights – (Nov-May)
San Jose Del Cabo / San Jose Del Cabo
Approximately 22 dives in total
Experience - Advanced Open Water - 50 minimum logged dives required.
Day 1: 7:00PM - 9:00PM - ARRIVAL & BOARDING. Arrival at San Jose Del Cabo Airport
Check in at 7pm. The boat will depart to San Benedicto. *Make sure to check in by 7:00pm for your departure.
Day 2: Continue towards San Benedicto. ARRIVAL at San Benedicto Area
Day 3 & 4: Up to 4 dives per day
Day 5 & 6: 3 dives per day
Day 7: Up to 4 dives
Day 8: 4 dives followed by departure to San Jose Del Cabo
Day 9: Arrival at San Jose Del Cabo (Guests may sleep on the boat)
Day 10: Disembark after breakfast
Dive areas visited:
Roca Partida: A huge reef towering over theright in the middle of the open ocean is Roca Partida.
The drop off of the reef wall is 70-80m. A large flock of Black Jacks, Mantas, and the Silver Tip Sharks can be spotted. This is a dynamic big creature point with a school of Hammerhead Sharks covering your view While Whale Sharks and Tiger Sharks could be swimming around you.
It takes approximately 6 hours by ship from the San Benedicto Island. The rock which stuck out from the sea surface becomes the nest building place for Giant trevally and others. The voyage to this point is very weather pending because it is right in the middle of the open ocean.
El Boiler - San Benedicto Island: A point in the Sun Benedicto Island. Asubmerged large sea mount rises from the bottom of the sea. The sea mount drops down to around 50m. The point is known for spotting Mantas, and migratory fishes such as Big Eye Jack, Greater Amberjack, and Black Jack. Hammerhead Sharks and Bottlenose Dolphins also give you a visit to swim along. You never know with what you can encounter. A large flock, over 100, of Yellow Fish Tuna passed right in front of our eyes when we went for a media shooting.
El Canyon - San Benedicto Island: The point that large mantas wander about. A large Manta reaching 4m fin tip to fin tip or a Black Manta circling over you is just breathtaking and you cannot keep your eyes off of them. You may hear Humpback whales singing in the distance, and lucky divers can even meet the Humpback Whales underwater. It is a point at Sun Benedict Island having the report of romantic encounter with a Whale Shark as well.
