Revillagigedo Islands
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Why dive in Revillagigedo Islands?
BEST SEASON
Featured Animals 17
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Cathemeral Frequent sightingsCommon Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
The Common Bottlenose Dolphin is a robust dolphin characterized by its short, stocky snout and grey coloration with a paler underbelly. Highly intelligent and social, these dolphins form complex fission-fusion societies. They are found globally in temperate and tropical marine waters, and are known for their active swimming, leaps, and use of echolocation for hunting.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGalapagos Shark
Carcharhinus galapagensis
The Galapagos Shark is a large requiem shark found in tropical waters. It is recognizable by its streamlined body and distinctive fins. This shark is known for forming schools near sea mounts and is often seen in coastal and reef areas.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGiant Oceanic Manta Ray
Mobula birostris
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is the world's largest ray, with a disc width that can reach up to 9 meters. It is a circumglobal species found in tropical to temperate pelagic waters, often near coastlines, reefs, and in the open ocean, diving to depths of 1,000 meters. These filter feeders primarily consume zooplankton, including mesopelagic sources, and can also eat small fish. While generally solitary, they aggregate at feeding grounds and cleaning stations. The species is currently listed as Endangered due to overfishing and low reproductive rates.
BEST SEASON
Crepuscular Great Hammerhead Shark
Sphyrna mokarran
The great hammerhead is the largest hammerhead species, recognizable by its wide, flat head and tall, curved dorsal fin. As a migratory apex predator, it uses its unique head for enhanced sensing and pinning down prey.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsHumpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
The Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a large baleen whale known for its distinctive body shape, long pectoral fins (up to one-third of its body length), and knobbly head. These migratory cetaceans are filter feeders, consuming krill and small schooling fish. They are also famous for their acrobatic surface behaviors like breaching and complex vocalizations, particularly the male's elaborate songs.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsKiller Whale
Orcinus orca
The Killer Whale, also known as Orca, is the largest member of the dolphin family, recognizable by its distinct black and white coloration. They are apex predators with a highly diverse diet, adapting their hunting strategies to local prey availability, and are known for their complex social structures, living in stable, matrilineal family groups called pods. These intelligent marine mammals are found in all oceans, from polar regions to tropical seas, and are active both day and night.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Ocean Sunfish
Mola mola
The Ocean Sunfish is one of the heaviest known bony fish, notable for its round, flat body. It often basks on its side at the surface of the ocean and is a diurnal predator feeding primarily on jellyfish.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsOceanic Whitetip Shark
Carcharhinus longimanus
The oceanic whitetip shark is a large pelagic shark recognized by its broad, rounded fins tipped in white. It inhabits tropical and subtropical open oceans and is an opportunistic predator, feeding mainly on fish, squid, and carrion.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Pelagic Thresher Shark
Alopias pelagicus
The Pelagic Thresher Shark is recognizable by its extremely long caudal fin, which can be as long as its body and is used to stun prey. It is an active, fast-swimming carnivore found in tropical and subtropical open ocean waters, often near the surface but capable of diving to considerable depths. This species exhibits ovoviviparity and is unfortunately classified as Endangered due to overfishing and slow reproductive rates.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsScalloped Hammerhead Shark
Sphyrna lewini
The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark is a large, migratory shark easily recognized by the central indentation on its hammer-shaped head. These sharks are found globally in warm temperate and tropical coastal and oceanic waters, often forming large schools around seamounts and islands. They are primarily nocturnal foragers, feeding on a diverse diet of bony fishes, cephalopods, crustaceans, and smaller sharks and rays.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsSilky Shark
Carcharhinus falciformis
The Silky Shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) is a large, slender requiem shark named for the smooth texture of its skin, attributed to densely packed dermal denticles. It is a highly migratory species found in warm tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, often associating with schools of tuna and oceanic fronts. These opportunistic carnivores primarily feed on bony fishes and cephalopods, exhibiting agile and fast hunting behaviors.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsSilvertip Shark
Carcharhinus albimarginatus
The Silvertip Shark is a large, streamlined requiem shark identifiable by the prominent white tips and trailing margins on all its fins. It is an aggressive apex predator, often dominating other sharks during feeding, and can be found in various tropical Indo-Pacific marine habitats from the surface to considerable depths. While often solitary or in pairs, it can also form small groups or mixed-species aggregations and exhibits variable activity patterns throughout the day and night.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Sperm Whale
Physeter macrocephalus
The Sperm Whale is the largest toothed whale, easily recognized by its enormous, block-shaped head which can be up to one-third of its body length and houses the spermaceti organ. These deep-diving carnivores primarily hunt squid, including giant and colossal species, along with fish, sharks, and octopuses, often descending to extreme depths of over 3,000 meters. They exhibit a complex social structure where females and juveniles form stable, matrilineal groups, while mature males often lead solitary lives or form bachelor pods, venturing to higher latitudes outside of breeding seasons.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsSpinner Dolphin
Stenella longirostris
The Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) is a small, slender dolphin renowned for its acrobatic leaps and spins out of the water. Found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, they typically feed on small mesopelagic fish, squid, and shrimp at night, often diving to considerable depths. During the day, they rest and socialize in large, often fluid, schools, sometimes in shallow coastal waters.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsTiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
The tiger shark is a large apex predator recognized by the dark vertical stripes along its body, especially visible in juveniles. It inhabits tropical and subtropical waters and has a highly varied diet, feeding on fish, rays, turtles, seabirds, and other marine animals.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsWhale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a gentle filter feeder.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsYellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares
The Yellowfin Tuna is one of the fastest and most powerful pelagic fish in the ocean. Recognizable by its sleek body and distinctive yellow fins, it inhabits tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. It often forms large schools and is frequently encountered around reefs, drop-offs and offshore seamounts, where it hunts smaller fish and squid with remarkable speed.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 27
Almaco JackSeriola rivoliana
Bigeye Thresher SharkAlopias superciliosus
Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatus
Black DurgonMelichthys niger
Blacktip SharkCarcharhinus limbatus
Blue SharkPrionace glauca
Blue WhaleBalaenoptera musculus
Bryde's WhaleBalaenoptera edeni
Bull SharkCarcharhinus leucas
California Sea LionZalophus californianus
Common Minke WhaleBalaenoptera acutorostrata
Common Thresher SharkAlopias vulpinus
Dusky SharkCarcharhinus obscurus
Fin WhaleBalaenoptera physalus
Great White SharkCarcharodon carcharias
Green Sea TurtleChelonia mydas
Hawksbill Sea TurtleEretmochelys imbricata
Loggerhead Sea TurtleCaretta caretta
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutus
Olive Ridley Sea TurtleLepidochelys olivacea
Pacific SeahorseHippocampus ingens
Sea LionOtariinae
Sicklefin Devil RayMobula tarapacana
Smooth Hammerhead SharkSphyrna zygaena
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Whitetip Reef SharkTriaenodon obesus
Yellow Longnose ButterflyfishForcipiger flavissimus
Where is Revillagigedo Islands
Pacific Ocean · Mexico
Frequently asked questions about Revillagigedo Islands
When is the best time to dive in Revillagigedo Islands?
The best time to dive in Revillagigedo Islands is from November to May. In those months the water is between 21°C and 28°C.
What marine life can you see diving in Revillagigedo Islands?
Divers can encounter 44 species in Revillagigedo Islands. Highlights include Common Bottlenose Dolphin, Galapagos Shark, Giant Oceanic Manta Ray, Great Hammerhead Shark, Humpback Whale, and Killer Whale.
When can you see the Humpback Whale in Revillagigedo Islands?
The Humpback Whale is most often seen in Revillagigedo Islands from December to April.
When can you see the Killer Whale in Revillagigedo Islands?
The Killer Whale is most often seen in Revillagigedo Islands from March to April.
When can you see the Oceanic Whitetip Shark in Revillagigedo Islands?
The Oceanic Whitetip Shark is most often seen in Revillagigedo Islands from March to October.
What is the water temperature in Revillagigedo Islands?
Water temperature in Revillagigedo Islands ranges from 21°C in January to 30°C in July.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Revillagigedo Islands?
Most divers wear a 5 mm wetsuit in January, when the water drops to 21°C, and a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty in July, when it reaches 30°C.
What is the visibility like when diving in Revillagigedo Islands?
Visibility in Revillagigedo Islands ranges from 5 m to 30 m. The water is clearest from November to May.
What are the currents like in Revillagigedo Islands?
Divers in Revillagigedo Islands can expect moderate, strong, or very strong currents, depending on the month and the dive site.
What can you see on a night dive in Revillagigedo Islands?
After dark, Revillagigedo Islands reveals nocturnal species such as Spinner Dolphin, Blue Shark, Spot-fin Porcupinefish, and Whitetip Reef Shark.
Where is Revillagigedo Islands located?
Revillagigedo Islands is a dive destination in Mexico, in the Pacific Ocean.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Revillagigedo Islands. Spotted something that looks off?
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