Socorro in Dec 2023

[N8nbkk]

Just booked Socorro on the Nautilus Belle Amie for December 2023.

Thinking of arriving a day or 2 early. Any worth while diving day trips prior to starting the Liveaboard? Any tips or suggestions for the trip would be appreciated.

Also what's the best way to avoid the housing camera tax scam? I'll be going with my girlfriend so we can say the camera is mine and housing is hers? I usually carry my camera and housing in my lowepro backpack not in a carry on.

 

[bshort4]

I will be on the Belle Amie next month (May) for my third trip to Socorro. My other trips were both in December and both great--water temps a little warmer and only used a 3 mm suit. As far as the camera equipment goes you better hope you don't get red lighted when you exit customs. If you do they will search all your bags and backpacks. I was red lighted on one trip through Cabo and the first question asked was about cameras and housings. I only had a small SeaLife micro camera with no housing so I was good to go. Several others on my trips were stopped and they were carrying large cameras with housings and had to pay a tax on the perceived value of the equipment. They argued with custom officals but still ended up paying the tax. If you can bring some kind of receipt for the gear with a very small retail value it may help--otherwise just hope you get the green light and go right on through.

 

[N8nbkk]

I will be on the Belle Amie next month (May) for my third trip to Socorro. My other trips were both in December and both great--water temps a little warmer and only used a 3 mm suit. As far as the camera equipment goes you better hope you don't get red lighted when you exit customs. If you do they will search all your bags and backpacks. I was red lighted on one trip through Cabo and the first question asked was about cameras and housings. I only had a small SeaLife micro camera with no housing so I was good to go. Several others on my trips were stopped and they were carrying large cameras with housings and had to pay a tax on the perceived value of the equipment. They argued with custom officals but still ended up paying the tax. If you can bring some kind of receipt for the gear with a very small retail value it may help--otherwise just hope you get the green light and go right on through.

All my gear is in normal looking luggage bags so hopefully I don't get stopped. Would it be better to fly into a different city in Mexico first, then Cabo?

 

[Manuel Sam]

Around that time, Cabo Pulmo is a good day trip, as is Gordo Banks. See Creatures, which is Nautilus' local dive operation in Los Cabos, offers these dives at a pre-liveaboard trip discount. But if you read all of the Cabo Pulmo postings in this forum, you will learn that it may be less likely that you will get to dive the choicest divesites in Cabo Pulmo when doing a daytrip from Cabo San Lucas.

I've heard that international arrivals into Mexico City are not subject to this camera tax. Then you take the domestic flght from Mexico City into Los Cabos, which arrives at the domestic terminal of Los Cabos, and where presumably, they do not look for expensive cameras and accessories.

I have never done this, so I cannot confirm this to be true. Nor do I know if the airfare ends up being more than the tax you might pay.

 

[N8nbkk]

Around that time, Cabo Pulmo is a good day trip, as is Gordo Banks. See Creatures, which is Nautilus' local dive operation in Los Cabos, offers these dives at a pre-liveaboard trip discount. But if you read all of the Cabo Pulmo postings in this forum, you will learn that it may be less likely that you will get to dive the choicest divesites in Cabo Pulmo when doing a daytrip from Cabo San Lucas.

I've heard that international arrivals into Mexico City are not subject to this camera tax. Then you take the domestic flght from Mexico City into Los Cabos, which arrives at the domestic terminal of Los Cabos, and where presumably, they do not look for expensive cameras and accessories.

I have never done this, so I cannot confirm this to be true. Nor do I know if the airfare ends up being more than the tax you might pay.

Yeah I'm thinking of flying from lax to gdl then to sjd to avoid the possible camera tax.

 

[dirtfarmer]

When I went I didnt bring my camera gear in a hard case, i packed it in with my luggage. I figured I would minimize my chances. My gear is a bit older so I was prepared with screenshots of going prices for my gear to minimize the "tax".

 

[scubadada]

Hi @N8nbkk

If you are arriving early, I would go diving with Sea Creatures. The Marine Park is good for a couple dives, I would try to go to the Corridor or Gordo Banks. All the information is on their website. I would not try to make the trek to Cabo Pulmo. Nautilus used to have a free warmup dive the morning of departure, not sure when they discontinued that. They may still drop off your dive gear at the boat on the way in on the day of departure.

 

[bshort4]

All my gear is in normal looking luggage bags so hopefully I don't get stopped. Would it be better to fly into a different city in Mexico first, then Cabo?

It's all the luck of the draw wheather or not you get searched or not. You push a button and see if a red or green light turns on-if red you'll be directed to another line to be searched--if green you go right on through with no search---what type of bags you have makes no difference. Yes flying into a different city in Mexico could make a difference then catching a domestic flight to Cabo but that could get expensive--but Cabo is the only city I know that's trying to scam divers for a tax on photo gear.

 

[divingmore]

We did Socorro on a liveaboard in January 2023 and before jumping on the liveaboard did some diving in La Paz and Cabo Pulmo. Diving was good though visibility in December-early January was down to 20 feet in places and water down to 70. In La Paz - sea lions were great and in Cabo Pulmo bull sharks were impressive. We really liked the trip. We used La Paz as a base - quieter than Cabo san Lucas - to explore the coast line around which is beautiful. In La Paz we were diving with Cortez Club - a very solid large operation. DIving is on expensive side because of the long distance to the dive sites - at least an hour boat ride. We also snorkeled with whale sharks (cant dive with them) - with the same operator.

In Cabo Pulmo we did two days of diving. December- January is high season because of holidays and we found it hard to book - some shops would not respond to emails - often already booked up early in advance but also because they dont get much stable internet connection in Cabo Pulmo so actually connecting by whatsapp is better. We then connected with Carlos from baja dive experiences and he helped organize our dives and accommodation www.bajadivexperiences.com

We flew to Los Cabos airport on international flight - had no issues with camera gear - it was in a standard carry on. No questions. But be careful with car rentals - some hit you with unexpected car insurance fees even though online booking would say "all included". Any of the major chains are probably the best bet.
We have written up more about the trips here Mexico – Divingmore

And Socorro diving was of course phenomenal

 

[N8nbkk]

I will be on the Belle Amie next month (May) for my third trip to Socorro. My other trips were both in December and both great--water temps a little warmer and only used a 3 mm suit. As far as the camera equipment goes you better hope you don't get red lighted when you exit customs. If you do they will search all your bags and backpacks. I was red lighted on one trip through Cabo and the first question asked was about cameras and housings. I only had a small SeaLife micro camera with no housing so I was good to go. Several others on my trips were stopped and they were carrying large cameras with housings and had to pay a tax on the perceived value of the equipment. They argued with custom officals but still ended up paying the tax. If you can bring some kind of receipt for the gear with a very small retail value it may help--otherwise just hope you get the green light and go right on through.

How was your socorro trip?