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Home , Revillagigedo Islands, Socorro Island

SOCORRO BIG ANIMAL DIVING AT IT’S BEST Located in the eastern approximately 250 miles south of , – at the tip of the Baja peninsula – these have been compared to the Galapagos Islands in or Cocos in because of the big animal encounters they provide. Shock&Awe Big Animal Diving focus on trips to the Revillagigedo Archipelago (Socorro Islands) because we truly believe that this is some of the best Big Animal diving on the planet. Normal times of the year to visit Socorro Islands are November - June because we have found these months to be the best for favourable weather conditions and to encounter the large pelagic’s that roam this area. Specifically from mid January through mid April the Socorro Islands are home to a large population of humpback whales that come here to breed and calve. Whale are a special treat at the islands; they find us in TRIP COSTS: late April/May/June. The giant Pacific manta, pods of wild bottlenose 9 Day trips , extremely large tuna (the world record yellowfin is from these $7540.00us - Lux State Room (6x) waters), wahoo and thick schools of jacks are all encountered $8120.00us - Junior Suite (4x) underwater on a regular basis $8700.00us - Master Suite (2x) throughout the entire season. Add to the mix visiting hammerhead 11 Day trips $9280.00us - Lux State Room (6x) cleaning stations plus sometimes $9802.00us - Junior Suite (4x) encountering up to seven species $10498.00us - Master Suite (2x) of sharks on a single dive, and you have the opportunity to (2021) Ex Cabo San Lucas, Mexico experience some of the best big animal diving in the world! Incl: • All diving, accom onboard, • all diving, • airport transfers, • Food and Beverages (beer and wine) 2021 DATES: 2022 DATES: 11 Days 23 Apr - 1 May (9) CCR ONLY excl: 12-22 June CCR ONLY 3 - 13 May (11) CCR ONLY • Flights in and out of Cabo San Lucas • CCR Levy - $500us all inclusive, tanks, sorb, O2

[1! ] The Vessel The diving conditions can be challenging with strong currents, MV VORTEX MV Vortex is a 42m (140’) former surge and waves so you need to Canadian Coast Guard vessel. be comfortable in these conditions. 2019 saw her latest refit to make her the latest in luxury live aboard CCR Dedicated Trip vessels. Her aluminium hull was built for long haul ocean going operations. She is perfectly set up We are super stoked to be able to for the Pacific conditions. offer complete CCR charters making our interactions with Dive Deck marine life that extra special. The aft dive deck has plenty of room for divers. We have full CCR support, tanks, sorb, Stage tanks, and O2. A Dive Conditions nominal rate of $500us per person All dives are done off “pangas” CCR supplement for unlimited O2, which are 5.5m inflatable boats. sorb, and gas. There are two pangas so guests will be split into two groups. Divers No Deco trip gear up on the dive deck then Because we are so isolated from board the pangas with assistance any support, (and of course all the from the crew. Back roll entry. After major pelagic’s are 40m and dive, gear removed in water, shallower) there is no need to get handed to crew and board panga into . We have a with ladder. comprehensive Medical kit and Water temp ranges from 18-25 oC medical support. Drysuits are strongly recommended (or 7mm ).

[2! ] THE DIVING Ecology

Location of and the rest of the Revillagigedo Archipelago, and extent of Mexico's western EEZ in the Pacific The or Revillagigedo Archipelago are a group of four volcanic islands ( Socorro Island, , Isla San Benedicto and Isla Clarion) in the Pacific Ocean, known for their unique ecosystem.

In July 2016, the Revillagigedo Archipelago were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in November 2017 they were declared to be a and a national park of Mexico.

Humpback Whales

Socorro Island, and the dive site Punta Tosca in particular, is one of the few places in the world you can swim with humpback whales. You’ll see several.

Manta Rays at Cabo Pierce

As a lonely far offshore, Socorro Island attracts a number of pelagic species, among them are large groups of giant manta rays. And they are big!

The Friendly of Cabo Pierce

The dolphins of Socorro Island are known to curiously approach divers and remain for several minutes. Probably some of the friendliest dolphins on the planet!

Schooling Hammerhead Sharks

Among the parade of pelagic species seen at Socorro Island are schools of hammerhead sharks. They are most often spotted at the dive site Roca O’Neal.

[3! ] About Lust4Rust & Shock&Awe Experience in the Diving Big Animal Diving Industry Pete Mesley is the driving behind Lust4Rust and Shock&Awe Big Animal Pete's passion for diving started in the Diving. cold English waters over 25 years ago. This is where his "Lust for Rust" was “I started specialising in and created and from then onwards he has trips about 20 years dedicated himself to researching, ago, shortly after I went on a diving finding, diving, photographing and holiday with my breather and couldn't leading expeditions to get any assistance or support from the meccas! With over 5000 + hours in- dive operator. On top of that, dive water experience spanning over 15 times were limited to 30-50min and the different countries, Pete has made Port Kembla, WWI wreck person that I was paired up with had diving a full time occupation. found in 2006 done 10 dives in 4 years. This was not the way I had wanted to spend my Pete is also a qualified DMT (Dive diving holiday! So I did something Medical Technician) highly trained in about it - and started Lust4Rust and Prehospital care so can assist in Shock&Awe Big Animal Diving. trauma and patient care. Pete is also a qualified Chamber operator. So ever since then I have been focusing on producing quality dive Originally from Zimbabwe Pete married trips globally, focusing on taking a Kiwi girl and moved to NZ in 1994. experienced divers to some of the best As well as being a PADI Course dive locations on the planet! We have a Director, Pete is a PADI Tech CCR massive inventory of support Trainer. Pete is one of equipment in many locations (Truk the 's most Lagoon, Bikini Atoll etc etc), experienced Technical divers and Instructors. Oztek award 2013 presented by Rebreather tanks, deco tanks, friend and frequent doctor on boosters, Helium, Sorb, Manifolded L4R trips twins, sidemount etc. All to reduce the An accomplished photographer, Pete hassles of transporting them to your has an appetite for finding new places, L4R and S&A diving destination. new wrecks and documenting them for others to enjoy. Safety is of the utmost importance so Pete has also been the first to find and on all our specialised trips to remove dive WWI & II wrecks in NZ waters. locations without EMS support we take 2013 Oztek Technical Diving a diving physician and a Conference in Sydney for comprehensive medic kit, for "Exceptional Contributions to the everyones piece of mind. Growth and Development of Technical Diving" Member of the coveted explorers club.

Nat Geo Britannic Expedition 2009

Leigh Bishop, a Truk Lagoon L4R Veteran!

[4! ]