Am I Too Young for a Liveaboard? A Week in Egypt
Małgorzata thought liveaboards were for older divers, then spent a week on one in Egypt.
Mexico
Nautilus Belle Amie
Starting from
$2042/trip
Nautilus Belle Amie Liveaboard Mexico
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147 feetm
Lengths
32
Max. Guests
5
Type of cabins
from
$262 P/Week
Charter
Nautilus Belle Amie is the largest boat in the Nautilus fleet: 45 metres (147 ft), built in 2005, with 17 staterooms and suites for 32 guests. All cabins are en-suite with individually controlled air conditioning. The two premium suites and six superior suites sit on the upper decks and convert between twin and double beds; the lower deck has twin staterooms plus a triple, so a mixed group or a family can book different budgets on the same boat. Her size makes a real difference on longer open-water crossings. Diving is done from three large high-speed inflatables, which means quick drop-offs and pick-ups on exposed sites. Nitrox and Wi-Fi are available on board, and kayaks and paddleboards are there for calm days. Nautilus also runs a free pre-trip photography workshop. Off Baja California, the big-animal season runs through the year. In the Sea of Cortez, summer brings whale sharks, mobulas and playful sea lions; around the Revillagigedo islands (Socorro), the season for giant mantas, humpback whales and sharks runs from November to May. Expect cooler water, swell and current, so Advanced Open Water and some recent experience are a good idea. The boat is a good fit for families with teenagers who dive or snorkel, and for groups who want space and suites rather than a basic bunk.
Select a date
| DATE | ROUTE | PRICE | CABIN |
|---|---|---|---|
22
Oct | Mexico sardine run ; Magdalena Bay 7D/6N |
$3354
| |
28
Oct | SUPER COMBO- Socorro and the bait balls plus amazing action around the Mexico sardine run. 13D/12N |
$5297
| Full |
Included: VAT, Drinking Water, Soft drinks, Tea & Coffee, Welcome Cocktails, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Special Dinner, Diving Package, Kayaks, Stand Up Paddleboard, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries, Deck Towels.
Required Extras: 5% Mexican VAT Tax, Mandatory Dive Insurance, National Park Fees (100-192 USD per day), Port Fees (35 USD per trip).
Optional Extras: Travel Insurance, Gratuities, Hotel Transfer, Alcoholic Beverages, Nitrox (125 USD per trip), Nitrox Course, Private Dive Guide, Rental Gear, Scuba Diving Courses, WiFi internet.
We accept
Easy payment by payment link
Toys
Toys vary by boat — we’ll help match you with the right setup for your group
Fishing equipment
Beach club
Contact us for full charter / group booking
Boat specifications
Drawing & Vessel Layouts
Lengths
147 feet m
Year of Building
2005
Max. Guests
32
Number of Diveguides
Dive skiffs: 3 x high speed large inflatables
Fuel Capacity
High Capacity litters
Water Capacity
Unlimited litters
Cabin Types
Choose your next scuba getaway
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Premium Suite Main Deck
Toilet
AC
Shower
Fan/Ventilator
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Superior Suite Main Deck
Toilet
AC
Shower
Fan/Ventilator
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Single Stateroom Lower Deck
Toilet
AC
Shower
Fan/Ventilator
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Stateroom Lower Deck
Toilet
AC
Shower
Fan/Ventilator
Triple Stateroom Lower Deck
Toilet
AC
Shower
Fan/Ventilator
Nautilus Belle Amie reviews
4.6
15 reviews
Vessel
Crew
Food
Scuba Diving
Value
Belle Amie works surprisingly well for very different Mexico itineraries. Socorro is about remote offshore scuba diving, Ultimate Whale Sharks combines Sea of Cortez diving with seasonal snorkelling, and Magdalena Bay follows fast-moving wildlife from pangas. The large cabins, stabilized steel construction and spacious shared areas made each style of expedition more comfortable.
I appreciated that the crew was very clear about the Magdalena Bay programme. It is mainly a snorkelling and freediving wildlife expedition, not a week of standard scuba diving. One day may be used for optional scuba and a visit to Margarita Island's sand dunes if conditions and timing allow.
Magdalena Bay requires patience. We sometimes searched for quite a while before anything happened, and then suddenly striped marlin, sea lions and seabirds appeared around a bait ball. The slow periods made the action feel even more intense when it started.
The Magdalena Bay trip was completely different from a normal diving liveaboard. Most of the active days were spent searching for sardine bait balls from local pangas, then entering the water with masks, fins and snorkels when the guides found suitable activity.
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