Life's Cycle Amidst Socorro's Landscape
In the heart of the Pacific Ocean, music, surf, and underwater photographer Rodney Bursiel embarked on a journey of a lifetime aboard the Solmar V, bound for the Socorro Islands. His dream was to swim with the giant mantas and humpback whales of the Pacific, a dream that was about to become a reality.
His first dive was at Cabo Pearce, where he was greeted by mantas, hammerheads, dolphins, and the haunting song of a humpback whale. Although he didn't see the whale, he could feel the vibration of its song in his chest.
His intuition was soon realized during his time at Roca Partida. There, he spent the entire day with a mother humpback whale and her calf, using snorkels to keep swimming when their tanks went dry. The mother's eyes appeared sad and angry during the encounter, and he noticed she was circling the island frantically.
Sadly, during his stay, the mother humpback whale's calf was injured and taken away by orcas. The author felt it was time to move on, but his thoughts often return to the distressed mother.
Despite this, the giant mantas found the bubbles created by the author soothing. He went to San Benadicto for "bubble therapy" with these majestic creatures.
The mother humpback whale was still present in the area according to a post-trip dive report. In fact, she had started mating with her escort after the author's departure.
The Socorro Islands, a known hotspot for marine megafauna, are frequented by dive trips during whale presence seasons to maximize encounters. While the exact success rate of humpback whale encounters during diving trips in the Socorro Islands is not explicitly detailed, it is reasonable to infer that, as with other reputable whale encounter destinations, dive operators in the Socorro Islands likely have high success rates.
Rodney Bursiel has already booked a return trip to the Socorro Islands for the next year, eager to reconnect with the marine life he encountered and perhaps, meet the mother humpback whale once more.
- Rodney Bursiel, an underwater photographer, embarked on a dive trip towards the Socorro Islands in the Pacific Ocean, seeking encounters with giant mantas and humpback whales.
- His first dive at Cabo Pearce introduced him to mantas, hammerheads, dolphins, and the haunting song of a humpback whale, whose presence he felt even without a sighting.
- During his time at Roca Partida, Rodney spent the entire day with a mother humpback whale and her calf, experiencing a memorable encounter using snorkels when their scuba tanks went dry.
- Tragically, the mother humpback's calf was injured and taken away by orcas during his stay, leaving Rodney with a poignant memory of the distressed mother.
- Seeking solace, Rodney visited San Benadicto for "bubble therapy" with giant mantas, finding their presence soothing despite the recent loss.
- According to a post-trip dive report, the mother humpback whale was still present in the area and had started mating with her escort after Rodney's departure.
- Keen to reconnect with the marine life he encountered and potentially meet the mother humpback whale again, Rodney has already booked a return trip to the Socorro Islands for the next year.
