Quino El Guardian
Quino El Guardian is a rugged yet comfortable liveaboard offering incredible diving in MexicoтАЩs Sea of Cortez and Socorro Islands, featuring marine research trips and unforgettable underwater encounters.
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Location
The Quino El Guardian embarkation point depends on the liveaboard destination and operates from Cabo San Lucas for Socorro and Puerto Penasco for the Sea of Cortez.
Dive Overview
Discover excellent big animal diving in Socorro aboard the Quino El Guardian, with giant mantas, lots of sharks, humpback whales, and whale sharks. Explore the Sea of Cortez for mammals and macro with a large biomass of aquatic life.
[See: Socorro Islands Dive Travel Guide & Sea of Cortez Dive Travel Guide]
Accommodation Overview
4 quad cabins and a twin cabin (usually reserved for couples) accommodating 16 passengers. There are two bunks on each side, equaling 4 beds with privacy curtains. Each cabin is outfitted with 4 large size drawers, one for each guest. 4 community bathrooms are on the main deck and each is assigned to a cabin allowing guests to leave their personal items inside.
The cabins and bathrooms
Dining Room (LEFT) & Salon (RIGHT)
Dive Deck & Camera Table (LEFT) & Dive Platform (RIGHT)
Food & Drinks
- Each day starts early with a continental breakfast with fresh fruit, cereals, bagels, yogurt, bread, and freshly brewed coffee. After the first dive guests enjoy a full, plated breakfast.
- After the second dive, guests will be served a full, plated lunch with a hot homemade soup to start. In the afternoon, we serve a large snack often of sandwiches, fruit, cheeses, and more.
- For dinner, guests enjoy a three-course, plated meal with a salad, entre, and dessert. Hot and cold beverages are always available including canned soft drinks.
- Scuba divers also enjoy complimentary beer and wine after their last dive of the day.
Cabin details
Quad cabin Lower Deck
Quad cabin (2 upper & 2 lower bunks per room) Lower Deck
Boat features
Boat facilities
Deck plan
-optimized.webp)
Quino El Guardian dates
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Detailed information about the itinerary
SEA OF CORTEZ ITINERARY (7 NIGHTS)
- Day 1 - Embark at 5pm in Puerto Peasco. Depart at 6pm
- Day 2 - Wake up at Refugio Bay on Angel Island
- Potential Dive sites: Angel Rock, La Vela, Lolos Cove Sunset Zodiak Cruise with Sea Lions
- Day 3 - Angel Island
- Potential Dive sites: Andreas Eagle, El Aquario, Las Vivoras, Las Vivoras including a night dive
- Day 4 - San Pedro Martir
- Potential Dive sites: El Arroyo, Punta Martir (Sea Lions), Chayos Cove
- Day 5 - San Pedro Martir
- Potential Dive sites: Ravijunco, Xarenis Pinnacle, Coromel, Morrito
- In the afternoon we go looking for whales!
- Day 6 - Salsipuedes & Animas
- Potential Dive sites: Los Cuervos, El Caballo, In Animas, El Lavadero, El Lavadero including a night dive
- Day 7 - Baja and Snorkeling with Whale Sharks in Bahia De Los Angeles
- Potential Dive sites: El Pescador, Baja Ca.
- Start heading back to Puerto Penasco in afternoon
- Day 8 - Disembark at 7am
Socorro Island Itinerary (9 Nights)
The Revillagigedo Islands (also Revillagigedo Archipelago) are a group of four volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean, known for their unique ecosystem. These islands are a spectacular magnet for the largest ocean pelagic animals in the world. Animals include schooling Hammerhead Sharks, Tiger Sharks, Dolphins, Silky Sharks, Galapagos Sharks, clouds of Jacks and Barracuda, Tuna, Wahoo, Oceanic White Tip Sharks, Whale Sharks, and Manta Rays.
Board the Quino El Guardian between 5 pm-7 pm the day of departure. After enjoying a wonderful dinner, relax on board the boat. The Quino El Guardian departs just after midnight for Socorro and you arrive at San Benedicto in the morning giving you a full day of diving!
- Day 1 - Board the boat between 5pm-7pm / Dinner is served at 7pm / Boat departs at approximately 10pm
- Day 2 Day at Sea
- Day 3 San Benedicto, 4 dives scheduled
- Day 4 Socorro, 3 dives scheduled (check-in with Naval Station)
- Day 5 Socorro, 4 dives scheduled
- Day 6 Roca Partida, 3 dives scheduled
- Day 7 Roca Partida, 3 dives scheduled
- Day 8 San Benedicto, 4 dives scheduled. At the end of this day, we will start our departure to San Jose del Cabo
- Day 9 Arrive at San Jose del Cabo around 11 pm. Guests may sleep on the boat.
- Day 10 - Disembark by 8:30 am
Explore Baja Itinerary (12 Nights)
Three times a year, the Quino El Guardian offers a very special, 13-day trip that covers all of Baja California. The bio-diversity between the Northern and Southern Sea of Cortez is incredible and diving the entire Baja is truly a spectacular experience. You will also see equally incredible sea life on the surface including dolphins, sea lions, Pilot Whales, Humpback Whales, Blue Fin Whales, Orcas, and Sperm Whales, flying Mobula Rays, Blue and Brown Footed Boobie Birds, Cormorants, Frigate Birds, and the endemic Yellow Footed Gulls.
SAN JOSE DEL CABO (OR LA PAZ) TO PUERTO PENASCO ITINERARY:
- Day 1 Check-in at the boat at 5:00 pm in San Jose Del Cabo
- Day 2 Cabo Pulmo
- Day 3 Isla Cerralvo
- Day 4 Los Islotes, Shipwreck Fang Ming, visit La Paz for the afternoon
- Day 5 Doras Pinnacle in the morning, Los Islotes in the afternoon, Ensenada Grande and Mobula night dive
- Day 6 Animas
- Day 7 Coronado, walk Loreto Mission Square in the evening
- Day 8 Isla Alfonso
- Day 9 San Pedro Martir
- Day 10 Animas and Salsipuedes
- Day 11 Bahia De Los Angeles Snorkeling with Whale Sharks, El Pescador
- Day 12 Angel Island
- Day 13 Disembark 8:30am in Puerto Penasco
PUERTO PENASCO TO SAN JOSE DEL CABO (OR LA PAZ) ITINERARY:
Day 1 Check in at boat at 5:00pm in Puerto Peasco
- Day 2 Angel Island
- Day 3 Bahia De Los Angeles Snorkeling with Whale Sharks, El Pescador
- Day 4 Animas and Salsipuedes
- Day 5 San Pedro Martir
- Day 6 Isla Alfonso
- Day 7 Coronado, walk Loreto Mission Square in the evening
- Day 8 Animas
- Day 9 Doras Pinnacle in the morning, Los Islotes in the afternoon, Ensenada Grande and Mobula night dive
- Day 10 Los Islotes, Shipwreck Fang Ming, visit La Paz for the afternoon
- Day 11 Cerralvo
- Day 12 Cabo Pulmo
- Day 13 Disembark 8:30am in La Paz or San Jose Del Cabo
SOUTHERN BAJA SAFARI ITINERARY (7 NIGHTS)
The Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California is a strip of water separated from the Pacific Ocean by the Baja Peninsula. This isolation, on land and underwater, provides a unique series of contrasting ecosystems from the vast solitude of the desert to the rich underwater realms and black coral gardens.
PUERTO PENASCO TO SAN JOSE DEL CABO (OR LA PAZ) ITINERARY
- Day 1 Check in at the boat at 5:00pm
- Day 2 Isla Alfonso
- Day 3 Animas
- Day 4 Doras Pinnacle in the morning, Los Islotes in the afternoon, Ensenada Grande and Mobula night dive
- Day 5 Los Islotes, Shipwreck Fang Ming, visit La Paz for the afternoon
- Day 6 Cerralvo
- Day 7 Cabo Pulmo
- Day 8 Disembark 8:30am in La Paz or San Jose Del Cabo
SAN JOSE DEL CABO (OR LA PAZ) TO PUERTO PENASCO ITINERARY
- Day 1 Check-in at the boat at 5:00 pm
- Day 2 Cabo Pulmo
- Day 3 Isla Cerralvo
- Day 4 Los Islotes, Shipwreck Fang Ming, visit La Paz for the afternoon
- Day 5 Doras Pinnacle in the morning, Los Islotes in the afternoon, Ensenada Grande and Mobula night dive
- Day 6 Animas
- Day 7 Isla Alfonso
- Day 8 Disembark 8:30 am
Citizen Science Expeditions aboard Quino El Guardian
Quino El Guardian liveaboard offers a truly unique experience our Citizen Science Program. These trips include a marine biologist specializing in subjects such as Mantas, Sharks, Humpback Whales, Marine Mammals, Marine Ecology, Reef Ecology, Invertebrate Ecology, Geology, and more.
Included in their research is animal tagging, identification, fish/animal counts, census monitoring, human and climate impact studies, etc. Much of the information that is collected is included in papers and presentations to governments and NGOs to help with the conservation of these areas and animals. In addition, this information is provided to websites to educate laypersons helping to further conservation awareness. Scuba divers can be involved as much or as little as they like including hands-on research and presentations.
More information about this trip
Included
- Taxes and Port Fees
- All meals
- snacks and beverages including canned soft drinks
- Complimentary local beer and wine after your last dive of the day
- Tanks and weights
Excluded
- Transportation to and from the boat
- Socorro┬аnational park fee: approx USD $195/person/day┬а(effective Jan 1 2025)
- Nitrox Fee of $120 per person
- Crew Gratuity (10%-15% of the trip price is customary)
- Fuel Surcharge if applicable
Practical information
- Time Zone: UTC-6
- Local Currency: MXN (Mexican Peso)
- Language Spoken: English & Spanish
- Electricity: 110 V
- PaymentOnboard: US, Mexican and European currency; TravelerтАЩs checks and Credit Cards
Boat Specifications
- Year built: 1980
- Year renovated: 2015
- Length: 90ft
- Beam: 23ft
- Top speed: 10 knots
- Cruising speed: 7.5 knots
- Engines: 1 x Perkins
- Maximum guests: 16
- Number of cabins: 5
- Number of bathrooms: 4
- Tenders: 2 x Yamaha 75hp
- Water capacity: 25000 liters
- Fuel capacity: 40000 liters
- Freshwater maker: 7000 lts per day
Fellow traveler's reviews
Overall Value Marine Life
Accommodations Food
elisakowal
Overall ValueAccommodationsMarine Life FoodI went to Socorro via the Quino El Guardian in December 2019/January 2020 and it was without a doubt the best bucket list experience ever! The marine life is unbelievable. Almost anything you can imagine is there. Massive and graceful manta rays, playful dolphins, and sharks galore - galapagos, silky, oceanic whitetip, tiger and hammerhead sharks.As for the boat itself, it gets the job done! The experience is real and the whole crew was amazing. Not to mention that the food was some of the best I've had.I highly recommend this trip. I look forward to going again one day.
kearneys
Overall ValueAccommodationsMarine Life FoodWe did the shark expedition aboard the Quino El Guardian in November 2019 with shark researcher Mauricio Hoyos Padilla. If I could give 10 stars to the boat and crew I would, in every category. The boat is amazing, it isn't a luxury liveaboard, but has everything you need for an amazing trip. The dive deck and camera tables are more than adequate. The crew was very attentive, fun and safe. Our captain was Julio, safety is his number one priority. He was always available for questions, and kept us very informed on our itinerary based on the weather conditions. Dori and Joshua put out 5-star meals during the entire trip, they worked tirelessly to make sure everyone had a wonderful dining experience. I have food allergies and they were very careful to make sure I got an amazing meal each and every time. There were always plenty of snacks and drinks available.The divemasters were very professional, Lois and Gabby know how to get the most out of Socorro so you will have an amazing experience.The rooms on this boat are very small so don't bring a lot of extras. There is a place for you to store your luggage after you unpack so it doesn't have to stay in the room.The diving in Socorro is second to none if you are looking for pelagics. The mantas made an appearance on every dive, they were so curious and seemed to hang around for the entire dive. We had fun playing with dolphins, swam with huge schools of tiger sharks, the Galapagos, silver tips, silkies, white tip sharks were always present. I don't think we had a dive without all of the above mentioned. We were at the beginning of whale shark season and the last day of the dive a huge pregnant female made an appearance and we dove with her for at least 30 minutes.I would suggest going early in the season, there were only 3 boats in the area when we were there so the captains coordinated our locations so we were guaranteed to be the only boat at each dive site.
timyeo
Overall Value
AccommodationsMarine Life FoodThis is not a luxury liveaboard, but is one of the best liveaboards I have been on. Cabins are quad share and bathrooms are located on the dive deck and shared among all the guests.The Quino used to be, and still is a research vessel. They conduct citizen scientist trips where a scientist is on board and conducting research. Divers get to experience a marine scientist at work, with presentations from the scientist and divers can sometimes even assist in some research.If you spend a lot of time in the cabins of a liveaboard, this one is not for you. If you like interacting with the other divers and making new diving friends, there are few liveaboard better at fostering this than the Quino. This is a very fun liveaboard for singles travelers.While the cabins and bathrooms might be 3 star, the FOOD is nothing short of 5 STARS. Easily the best food on any liveaboard I've been on. The chef is top notch, and the rest of the crew are also really amazing.There is also a tv lounge area, a massive camera table, nice open dining area and a large sun deck with shade.
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