In February 2021, I completed a 10 day trip to Socorro on the Rocio Del Mar liveaboard. Several years ago, I had learned about the Rocio from divers while on a liveaboard in Indonesia. Socorro had been on my bucket list for some time and I was determined to get on the Rocio given its reputation as an outstanding dive operation with excellent food. The operation certainly lived up to its reputation. The crew were clearly experienced, knowledgeable about the Socorro ecosystem, and genuinely seemed to care about the safety and well-being of the divers. My divemaster was Ben and he is top notch! Most of the dive groups only had 6 divers. After being on the boat for 10 days, I came to understand the well deserved reputation for great food. There was terrific variety in the menu and the food always tasted fresh and well prepared. The soups were outstanding and welcomed after diving in the cool waters. The boat is basic in nature and amenities, but is it well maintained and very clean. I gave the accommodations 4 stars as the room was quite small (even for liveaboard standards).

If you have a preference for big animals, you simply can't beat Socorro. Multiple shark species were present every day, and frequently we encountered dolphins, jacks, mantas, and other schooling fish. One of the groups had the pleasure of diving with a whale and several groups saw whale sharks.

I strongly recommend the Rocio if you are contemplating a trip to Socorro!