2009-01 Isla San Benedicto MANTA RAYS & SHARKS

/ 2008 - 2009 Mazatlan - Revilligegedos Islands - Central Mexico - Central America - Costa Rica to Galapagos Islands Photos, 2008 - 2009 Mazatlan - Revilligegedos Islands - Central Mexico - Central America - Costa Rica to Galapagos Islands Voyage - Photos, 2009 Jan Photos, 2009 Photos, By Date Photos, By Voyage Photos, Photos, Voyages / By [email protected]

Arriving Isla San Benedicto, Southeast lava field. This island is part of the Revillagigedos Archipelago, located 250 miles south of Cabo San Lucas and 300 miles west of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This group of 4 islands, San Benedicto, Socorro, Clarion and Roca Partida are a Mexican National Park. Protected by a “no take” policy (12 miles around each island), the island are trying to rebound from heavy over fishing over the last century. Isla San Benedicto – Revillagigedos Archipelago, Mexico

Volcanic in origin, the lava field you see was from the 1953 eruption. It added a quarter of a mile of land area to the island and was witnessed by the tuna clipper “Challenger”. They took some spectacular photos (which can be googled) and barely escaped in tact. Isla San Benedicto – Revillagigedos Archipelago, Mexico

You can see just above the lava field, the exit point of the 1953 eruption. This island is 2 1/2 miles long and 1/2 mile wide. The cinder cone you see is so soft, it cannot be walked on easily. These islands are GROUND ZERO for the Eastern Pacific Hurricanes which strike here yearly. The deep cuts in the cone are from the intense storms reaching Catagory 5 in many years out here. Isla San Benedicto – Revillagigedos Archipelago, Mexico

People who have visited this crater exit have said it reminds them of the movie from the 1960’s, “Journey to the Center of the Earth”…. Isla San Benedicto – Revillagigedos Archipelago, Mexico

There are two main anchorages on this island, either side of the lava field. We spent one month in the south anchorage and never moved. There was no reason to relocate. We grew to call the edge of the lava field here “Turtle Point” as we saw green turtles here almost daily. Mantas too! Isla San Benedicto – Revillagigedos Archipelago, Mexico

Everyonce in awhile, ash comes out from underwater here at San Benedicto. Terry Kennedy said he was once here in water so hot, he had to get out of the water. Fortunately for us, it was just 80 degrees F, the entire time we were here. Isla San Benedicto – Revillagigedos Archipelago, Mexico

This was our home for the next month. Usually calm, an occasional east wind would make it a bit rolly. We sailboats stayed more inshore and the two commericial dive boats were anchored further out. The mood of the cove changed with the light and the clouds all during the day. Isla San Benedicto – Revillagigedos Archipelago, Mexico

As we were here for the northern Winter Solstice, the light was very low all during the day…..At the base of the crater was one of the few spots anyone could land to go ashore. We never did, though we were told we could by the permit office in Cabo San Lucas. Isla San Benedicto – Revillagigedos Archipelago, Mexico

We called her “Buttercup”, but she is officially “D.Tipton” (named after the first person who photographed her) according to the identification made by Karey Kumli of the Pacific Manta Research Project. She was one of our very favorites and played with us till we ran out of air on many dives. Isla San Benedicto – Revillagigedos Archipelago, Mexico

This was a specific pinnacle at the edge of the dive site known as “The Canyon”…only 100 yards from our boat at anchor. Isla San Benedicto – Revillagigedos Archipelago, Mexico

These manta rays are so gentle and so curious it’s astonishing. They were like big friendly 1500 lb dogs! Isla San Benedicto – Revillagigedos Archipelago, Mexico

The mantas would frequently just hover and wanted you to pet their bellies in particular. Once they became familiar with a diver, you became THEIR pet. Isla San Benedicto – Revillagigedos Archipelago, Mexico

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