Big animals in November

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The Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), Soccorro Island (Mexico) & Cocos Island (Costa Rica) typically deliver lots of big pelagics in Nov. Of course, this is all liveaboard action.

For landbased, you could try the Sea of Cortez (out of La Paz, MX for example).

Best regards.

DocVikingo
 
Galapagos. Just went last month. 17 whale sharks. Hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, silky's, mantas, schools of cow rays, mantas, dolphin, sailfish....any questions? The big life is for the most part out at Darwin and Wolf, the only islands north of the equator. Little tricky to get there...it involves 17 hours by boat from the Baltra (where you fly in), then another 5 hours out to Darwin. It makes the return trip 22 hours...That can get interesting, but well worth every ounce of energy to get there. Only 2 companies go there. Aggressor has 2 boats going all year and Peter Hughes has 1 boat that goes only 10 weeks out of the year. These are 2 of the most remote islands you'll ever see. Truly the apex of Diving!

Dave
 
on the Reina Silvia thru Aquatic Encounters in Boulder, CO.

The RS is a very nice liveaboard that doesn't get a lot of press...well worth checking out.

Diving Darwin's Arch ranks as one of my best dives ever...75' vis, schools of hammerheads, a 40+' whale shark, squadrons of eagle rays...sheesh...too good...
 
(I got to this thread by searching for DocVikingo and pelagics... :D )

How about October? As in, oh, next week?

Just freed up some time, and I'm looking for some big stuff without a difficult or long trip from NYC... Caribbean and the Gulf being easiest, followed by South America and the Pacific coast of Mexico, I guess.

Off the top of my head, I'm thinking:
- Island hop the Bahamas and maybe T&C for dolphins... maybe a liveaboard
- San Sal for hammers
- St. Lucia if I can figure out how to get out to blue water

Anything else just about now in the Caribbean or the Gulf? I know this is not the best time for mantas in Tobago, and I have no idea where the whale sharks go after leaving the Yucatan.

Sea of Cortez? Any thoughts on what it's like this time of year?

Anybody tried the Azores?

I was considering Fernando de Noronha in Brazil, but that's too far. Galapagos, Cocos, Socorro, and the like are reserved for future major trips (besides all being overly difficult for a quick trip).

Thanks,
Richard
 
Hi Richard,

Now you are man who knows how to search ; )

If you're looking for big pelagics, cross St. Lucia off your list. They simply aren't there any time of the year and IMHO the diving on balance is pretty marginal.

I've done the Azores and IMHO the diving is nothing special and it's not a place for big pelagics, but still worth seeing. I did recently run across some great air fares from Boston at http://www.azores.com/travel/airline.php?id=15. Good Nov 1-Dec 12 or Jan 8-Mar 31st.

I like San Sal diving a lot & hammerheads often are sighted around now. Go with Riding Rock Inn http://www.ridingrock.com/.

I like Tobago diving, too, but even during prime time, which Oct-Nov ain't, manta sightings have become rare.

Bahamas liveaboard action this time of year includes the shark, especially tiger shark, expeditions run by Dream Team Expeditions http://www.sharkexpedition.com/ and Jim Abernethy http://www.scuba-adventures.com/bahamas_availability.php.

Its not whaleshark season in the Sea of Cortez, but chances of diving with sea lions are excellent & hammerhead are occasionally seen at El Bajo.

Helpful?

DocVikingo
 
Well......if you want to stay in the US the MANATEES are in Crystal River Florida now until around February.....can never get enough of them :)
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/peregrine/

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