Two Days in Las Islas Revillagigedo

On the return from Clipperton Island to Cabo San Lucas, we stopped for a few days to dive at Socorro Island and San Benedicto Island, two islands in the Revillagigedos Archipelago. These stark volcanic islands offer some of the best diving in the world, with spectacular encounters with sharks, manta rays, dolphins and whales being common. We dove at Cabo Pearce for a day, with manta rays on every dive. The next day we spent at San Benedicto Island, again with sharks and mantas. A few of my favorites are below and show why the Revillagigedos is such a remarkable place. Cheers, and thanks for looking!

Giant Manta Ray at San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico, Manta birostris, San Benedicto Island (Islas Revillagigedos)

Giant Manta Ray at San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico
Image ID: 33281
Species: Giant Manta Ray, Manta birostris
Location: San Benedicto Island (Islas Revillagigedos), Baja California, Mexico

Silky Shark at San Benedicto Islands, Revillagigedos, Mexico, Carcharhinus falciformis, Socorro Island (Islas Revillagigedos)

Silky Shark at San Benedicto Islands, Revillagigedos, Mexico
Image ID: 33310
Species: Silky Shark, Carcharhinus falciformis
Location: Socorro Island (Islas Revillagigedos), Baja California, Mexico

Giant Manta Ray at Socorro Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico, Manta birostris, Socorro Island (Islas Revillagigedos)

Giant Manta Ray at Socorro Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico
Image ID: 33285
Species: Giant Manta Ray, Manta birostris
Location: Socorro Island (Islas Revillagigedos), Baja California, Mexico

Cabo Pearce on Socorro Island, aerial photo, Revillagigedos Islands, Mexico, Socorro Island (Islas Revillagigedos)

Cabo Pearce on Socorro Island, aerial photo, Revillagigedos Islands, Mexico
Image ID: 32905
Location: Socorro Island (Islas Revillagigedos), Baja California, Mexico

San Benedicto Island and Barcena crater, aerial photo, Revillagigedos Islands, Mexico, San Benedicto Island (Islas Revillagigedos)

San Benedicto Island and Barcena crater, aerial photo, Revillagigedos Islands, Mexico
Image ID: 32914
Location: San Benedicto Island (Islas Revillagigedos), Baja California, Mexico

Barcena volcano crater, highest point on San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico, San Benedicto Island (Islas Revillagigedos)

Barcena volcano crater, highest point on San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico
Image ID: 32922
Location: San Benedicto Island (Islas Revillagigedos), Baja California, Mexico

Giant Manta Ray at San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico, Manta birostris, San Benedicto Island (Islas Revillagigedos)

Giant Manta Ray at San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico
Image ID: 33276
Species: Giant Manta Ray, Manta birostris
Location: San Benedicto Island (Islas Revillagigedos), Baja California, Mexico

Giant Manta Ray at Socorro Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico, Manta birostris, Socorro Island (Islas Revillagigedos)

Giant Manta Ray at Socorro Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico
Image ID: 33286
Species: Giant Manta Ray, Manta birostris
Location: Socorro Island (Islas Revillagigedos), Baja California, Mexico

Giant Manta Ray at Socorro Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico, Manta birostris, Socorro Island (Islas Revillagigedos)

Giant Manta Ray at Socorro Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico
Image ID: 33294
Species: Giant Manta Ray, Manta birostris
Location: Socorro Island (Islas Revillagigedos), Baja California, Mexico

Silky Shark at San Benedicto Islands, Revillagigedos, Mexico, Carcharhinus falciformis, Socorro Island (Islas Revillagigedos)

Silky Shark at San Benedicto Islands, Revillagigedos, Mexico
Image ID: 33313
Species: Silky Shark, Carcharhinus falciformis
Location: Socorro Island (Islas Revillagigedos), Baja California, Mexico

Silky Shark at San Benedicto Islands, Revillagigedos, Mexico, Carcharhinus falciformis, Socorro Island (Islas Revillagigedos)

Silky Shark at San Benedicto Islands, Revillagigedos, Mexico
Image ID: 33316
Species: Silky Shark, Carcharhinus falciformis
Location: Socorro Island (Islas Revillagigedos), Baja California, Mexico

Yellowfin tuna at the Boiler, San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico, San Benedicto Island (Islas Revillagigedos)

Yellowfin tuna at the Boiler, San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedos, Mexico
Image ID: 33352
Location: San Benedicto Island (Islas Revillagigedos), Baja California, Mexico

About Phil Colla

I am a natural history photographer. I enjoy making compelling images in the ocean, on land, and in the air. I have maintained the Natural History Photography blog since 2005 and my searchable Natural History Photography Library since 1997. Here are some tear sheets and behind the scenes views. Thanks for looking!