Wild DIVES

In their recent book Wild Dives, NICK AND CAROLINE ROBERTSON-BROWN take the reader to remote locations to experience some of the best, and weirdest, underwater spectacles and adventures from around the world. In this special edited extract for MAXIM they take an in-depth look at five of the best...

- NICK AND CAROLINE ROBERTSON-BROWN

MEXICO

Playing Simon Says With A Manta Ray In Socorro

Socorro is a volcanic island that is part of the Revillagigedo Archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. It takes a 36-hour boat ride to reach these islands, which are located some 390km off the coast of mainland Mexico. It is a remote and rugged destination that can only be visited by liveaboard. The islands are a marine reserve and have also been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

GENERAL DIVING

The diving here can be challenging with strong currents, surge and large waves. As it is also about as remote as you can get, so much so that special procedures are put in place where every diver has to wear a GPS location device in case they drift out of sight of the boat. Underwater, the topography is impressive. These volcanic islands continue their rugged form below the water with huge rock formations that get battered by the waves. Some pinnacles rise up out of the water, and some cannot be seen from the surface, but these islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean attract an incredible array of pelagic marine life.

On any single dive you might encounter four or five species of shark. Humpback Whales can be heard singing as you dive, and if you are really lucky you might even encounter one underwater. Dolphins are abundant here and often approach divers. Huge schools of fish swirl near to the safety of the rocks, and Orcas have also been known to hunt here. You can even night snorkel with Silky Sharks.