Revillagigedo (Socorro) · Mexico · Pinnacle · Pelagic & blue water
El Boiler
Giant Pacific mantas cleaned by Clarion angelfish on a shallow pinnacle
Photo: Raphaelgatti · CC BY-SA 4.0
El Boiler is a pinnacle off San Benedicto that rises from a base at around 50 m to within 6 or 7 m of the surface, close enough that swell and surf break over the top and make the sea look like it is boiling. Giant Pacific manta rays come here to be cleaned by Clarion angelfish, and that is what most divers make the crossing for.
Also known as The Boiler.
Where it is and how deep
19.3044° N, 110.8144° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Most of the interest is inside the first 30 m, so this is a shallow dive on a deep pinnacle: the rock keeps falling away to a base at around 50 m, but there is no need to dive deep. Divers work the crown and the upper slopes, where the cleaning station is, and the shallow water is where the site earns its name — the swell breaking over the top is what you look for from the boat.
The mantas are the giant Pacific species, and they come to this area to be cleaned by Clarion angelfish; that cleaning station is what holds them on the pinnacle rather than moving them past it. The encounter runs on the animal's terms rather than the diver's, so the approach that works is to stay low, keep the group together and let the ray decide how close it wants to be.
Everything else is a matter of what is passing. Tiger sharks and whale sharks are seen here, and humpback whales are possible in the months they are moving through the archipelago. The shallow crown is also where the swell is felt: the surf that gives the site its name translates into surge over the top of the pinnacle, which is worth planning the safety stop around.
Marine life and season
- Manta rays
- Tiger sharks
- Whale sharks
- Whales
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good |
Season follows Revillagigedo (Socorro): Liveaboards run November to mid-June; humpbacks pass late January to early April, and no boats sail in the late June to October hurricane season.
Know before you go
- Swell and surf break over the shallow crown, so surge is strongest exactly where the safety stop happens; hold off the rock rather than beside it.
Photos from El Boiler
KABAYEK · CC BY-SA 3.0
KABAYEK · CC BY-SA 3.0
Dive videos
Revillagigedos - The Boiler, San Benedicto · Diver Diary on YouTube
El Boiler 1. Isla San Benedicto. Revillagigedo · Holy Divers on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is El Boiler?+
The pinnacle rises from a base at around 50 m to within 6 or 7 m of the surface, but most of the diving is inside the top 30 m, where the manta cleaning stations are. There is no reason to work the site deep.
What will I see at El Boiler?+
Giant Pacific manta rays being cleaned by Clarion angelfish are the reason the site is dived. Tiger sharks and whale sharks are also seen here, and humpback whales are a possibility while they are moving through.
Sources
- Diving in Socorro Islands (Revillagigedo), Mexico — Dive The World
- San Benedicto Island — Wikipedia
Photo credits
- Aerial drone view of San Benedicto Island, a volcanic cone rising from open Pacific water. by Raphaelgatti, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- San Benedicto Island's volcanic cone seen from a dive boat on a clear day. by KABAYEK, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Wide panorama of San Benedicto Island's coastline and volcanic peak. by KABAYEK, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In The Logbook
- Where to dive with whale sharks, month by monthBig animals · 16 min read
- Where to dive with manta rays, month by monthBig animals · 8 min read
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