Page 581 - Visitor Guides

travel Socorro Islands

CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Brilliant coloured gargonians grace the
reef at Socorro Island; Slipper lobster; Octopus; Neon coloured
reef fish. PREVIOUS PAGE: Nautilus Explorer liveaboard heads
toward a dive site at Roca Partida in the Revillagigedos
Archipelago

Topside, the islands are completely dif- activity has created a rugged terrain pletely wiped
ferent in appearance and are home to of reefs, overhangs, walls and unusual out, due
many endemic plant and animal spe- topography. to an over
cies. Overall, the area is recognized as Diving at the Revillagigedos is done abundance
a distinct terrestrial eco-region, which from November through early May of unregu-
is part of the Neotropic ecozone (tropi- when the water is generally calm and lated com-
visibility can reach an impressive 30 mercial
meters (100 feet) plus! Cooler water fishing.
temperatures of 23 degrees Celsius Realizing
(75 Fahrenheit) seem to attract the neces-
Humpbacks in February and sity for supervision
March, while November, and protection, the Mexican govern-
December and late April- ment established the Revillagigedos
May appear to be as a Protected Biosphere in 1994. No
good for whale sharks. fishing of any kind is allowed within a
Pods of bottlenose 12 mile radius of each island. Although
dolphins are com- dive charter boats who frequent
monly seen from these islands have reported a steady
January through increase in resident marine life popu-
March. Mantas, sharks, lations, remoteness still hinders proper
turtles and schools of Jacks policing and monitoring efforts.
can be enjoyed almost any- Today, the Revillagigedos welcomes
time. adventurous divers from around the
cal and subtropical At one point, the region’s natu- world for spectacular underwater pho-
dry broadleaf forests). Below the azure ral marine resources were drastically tography opportunities and those who
blue coloured water, ancient volcanic depleted and some species com- love to swim with big marine pelagics!

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