Valentina

Location: Mexico

Rating: 4/5 (139 reviews)

Valentina

About Valentina

A 38.1-meter Mexican liveaboard, built in 1999 and refurbished in 2013, providing dive expeditions for up to 20 guests.

Where Mexico’s arid coastline meets the Pacific, a world of dramatic marine encounters begins. This region is a major intersection of oceanic forces, with nutrient-rich upwellings and strong currents that create productive waters far offshore. It is a world of giant oceanic manta rays, schooling hammerheads, whale sharks, and populations of inquisitive dolphins. In the Sea of Cortez, endemic species thrive around rocky reefs, while the remote Revillagigedo Archipelago acts as a vital congregation point for large pelagic animals. The Valentina is a vessel built to navigate these challenging and rewarding waters, serving as a dedicated platform for reaching Mexico’s most significant offshore dive destinations. The diving program is organized for efficiency and direct access to the action. All dives are conducted from hard-hulled tenders, allowing for precise drop-offs on specific underwater formations and in the path of moving marine life. The main vessel's spacious dive deck is a well-organized area for gear storage and preparation, with individual stations for each diver. Guests can prepare their equipment in a stable environment before transferring to the skiffs. Professional dive guides, with extensive experience in these specific locations, lead all excursions. They provide detailed briefings on site topography, current patterns, and animal behavior, ensuring divers are well-informed and prepared for the conditions. Life aboard the Valentina centers on functional comfort and providing spaces for both socializing and quiet relaxation. The vessel accommodates up to 20 guests across 10 cabins, each featuring a private en-suite bathroom. Cabin configurations include Deluxe Double Plus, Deluxe Twin, and a Valentina Double Cabin, offering different options for couples and single travelers. An indoor, air-conditioned salon provides a communal area for meals, dive briefings, or watching films. Outside, a large sundeck offers an open-air setting to enjoy the sun and ocean vistas during surface intervals or while cruising between islands. To fuel the intensive dive schedule, an onboard chef prepares a varied menu throughout the expedition. Meals are designed to be wholesome and satisfying, often combining international dishes with flavors from Mexican cuisine. The service is typically family-style, creating a relaxed and communal dining atmosphere where divers can share stories from the day. Post-dive snacks and a selection of beverages are available to help guests rehydrate and recharge. With advance notification, the galley team can accommodate most special dietary requirements, ensuring all guests are well-catered for during their trip. Constructed in 1999 and updated with a full refurbishment in 2013, the Valentina is a robust and sea-worthy vessel. Its steel hull measures 38.1 meters in length with an exceptionally wide 10-meter beam. This significant width-to-length ratio provides a high degree of natural stability, a key design feature for comfort during the long, open-ocean crossings required to reach the Revillagigedo islands. A cruising speed of 12 knots ensures efficient travel between remote locations. With capacity for 20 guests, the ship is built for multi-day, self-sufficient expeditions far from shore. Valentina operates distinct, seasonal itineraries. From November to May, the vessel travels to the Revillagigedo Archipelago, also known as Socorro, departing from Cabo San Lucas for world-renowned big animal encounters. During the months of August through October, the focus shifts to the Sea of Cortez, with trips that explore the sea lion colonies and unique reefs of that region, typically operating from La Paz. This liveaboard is best suited for certified, experienced divers who are comfortable with deep water, potential currents, and open-ocean conditions. The absence of internet access makes it an ideal choice for those looking to fully disconnect and immerse themselves in a pure diving adventure.

Vessel Specifications

Cabins

Itineraries

Socorro Islands: 9nights/10days/6days diving

Duration: 8 nights

Embarkation: San Jose, Los Cabos

Socorro Islands:11nights/12days/8days diving

Duration: 11 nights

Embarkation: San Jose, Los Cabos

Sea of Cortez: 6nights/7days/6days diving

Duration: 6 nights

Embarkation: La Paz

Socorro Islands Extended Expedition (12 Days)

Duration: 11 nights

Embarkation: San Jose, Los Cabos

The remote Revillagigedo Archipelago, more commonly known as the Socorro Islands, is a group of volcanic islands emerging from the deep Pacific, creating an extraordinary pelagic magnet. This extended expedition offers a rare opportunity to thoroughly explore these waters, renowned for their large animal encounters, including several species of sharks, giant manta rays, and playful dolphins. Divers can anticipate exhilarating blue water diving around isolated seamounts and island shores, where s

Socorro Islands Exploration (San Jose Del Cabo - San Jose Del Cabo)

Duration: 8 nights

Embarkation: San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico

This liveaboard trip embarks from San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico, for an exploration of the remote Socorro Islands. Known as Mexico's 'Little Galapagos', this volcanic archipelago is a hotspot for large pelagic encounters in the Pacific Ocean. The itinerary focuses on diverse dive sites around the Revillagigedo Archipelago, offering opportunities to witness schooling hammerheads, giant mantas, and various shark species. Guests can expect a thrilling diving experience in a pristine marine environment,

Socorro Islands Giant Encounters

Duration: 9 nights

Embarkation: San Jose, Los Cabos

Journey to the remote Socorro Islands, a volcanic archipelago off Mexico's Pacific coast that attracts large pelagic species to its deep, blue waters. This itinerary focuses on encounters with giant manta rays, various shark species including hammerheads and silvertips, and schooling tuna, often in strong currents around pinnacles and seamounts. Humpback whales are seasonal visitors from January to April. The dive sites are exposed to open ocean conditions, offering a true blue-water diving expe

Sea of Cortez Exploration (La Paz – La Paz, 7 Days)

Duration: 6 nights

Embarkation: La Paz

Journey into the vibrant Sea of Cortez, a rich marine ecosystem often called "the world's aquarium," renowned for its diverse pelagic life and crystal-clear waters. This seven-day exploration, beginning and ending in La Paz, focuses on the southern reaches of the Sea, offering a mix of healthy reefs, dramatic rock formations, and encounters with playful sea lions. Expect opportunities to dive with schooling fish, various ray species, and potentially even whale sharks seasonally. The itinerary is

Sea of Cortez Exploration (La Paz - La Paz)

Duration: 6 nights

Embarkation: La Paz

Explore the bountiful northern Sea of Cortez on this round-trip itinerary from La Paz. This route focuses on the nutrient-rich waters around Espiritu Santo and Partida Islands, offering vibrant reef ecosystems, seasonal encounters with sea lion colonies, and opportunities to spot diverse pelagic species such as mobula rays and various shark species. Expect consistently good visibility and comfortable water temperatures, ideal for experiencing the region's abundant marine life within sheltered ba

Socorro Islands Exploration (San Jose Del Cabo - San Jose Del Cabo)

Duration: 9 nights

Embarkation: San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico

This expedition to the Socorro Islands, located about 450 km south of the Baja California Peninsula, offers a luxurious and high-end resort experience. The area is renowned for regular encounters with famous marine megafauna, providing an unforgettable journey. Guests can expect to see various species, including large Giant Manta rays often exceeding 6 meters, making it a premier destination for big animal encounters.

Sea of Cortez Exploration (La Paz - La Paz)

Duration: 5 nights

Embarkation: La Paz, Mexico

Embark on an exciting dive cruise through the Sea of Cortez, departing from La Paz, Mexico. This region, nestled between the Baja California peninsula and the Mexican mainland, is celebrated for its extraordinary biodiversity. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it offers unparalleled opportunities to encounter diverse marine life, including playful California sea lions. Divers will explore a variety of sites known for their vibrant ecosystems and clear waters.