Before talking about the Bait Ball, it is important to understand what type of diving we can find in Revillagigedo and which pelagic species we will encounter:
Diving in Revillagigedo
The archipelago of Revillagigedo, better known as “Socorro“, is located about 250 nautical miles south of Cabo San Lucas in Baja California. The complete isolation of this archipelago in the middle of the Pacific has favored the concentration of abundant marine life, making it one of the must-visit diving destinations on the planet, only comparable to the Galápagos (in fact, the islands are also known as the “Mexican Galápagos” or the “Little Galápagos”) or Cocos Island, due to encounters with pelagic species and large marine animals.
Among them, we can find a wide variety of shark species, specifically up to seven:
- Hammerhead sharks
- Silky sharks
- Galápagos sharks
- Whitetip sharks
- Silvertip sharks
- Pacific Oceanic Whitetip sharks
- Tiger sharks, in addition to giant Pacific mantas (especially around San Benedicto Island, the best place in the world to interact with these animals), as well as humpback whales (from January to April) and dolphins.
We cannot overlook the presence of whale sharks and large schools of jacks and tuna, as well as endemic species that can only be spotted in Revillagigedo.
What is the Bait Ball?
As the saying goes: “Strength in numbers,” and the Bait Ball is no exception.
The Bait Ball occurs when small fish swarm in a tightly packed spherical formation around a common center. It is a last-resort defensive measure adopted by small schools of fish when they feel threatened by predators.
Sardines cluster together when they feel threatened. This instinctive behavior serves as a defense mechanism, as solitary individuals are more likely to be eaten than those in a large group. Sardine bait balls can range from 10 to 20 meters in diameter and extend up to 10 meters deep.
However, bait balls also attract attention, and when fish form a bait ball, they may draw many other predators. As a result, predators have developed techniques to counteract the defensive strategy of fish schools. Predators swim through the schools to separate large groups and isolate individuals. This strategy has proven highly effective, allowing them to hunt successfully and dismantle the bait ball with ease.
Bait Ball Season
If you travel to Revillagigedo during the months of May, June, and July, you can witness this spectacular natural phenomenon.
How Can I See It?
Our agency offers organized expeditions during this season, allowing you to experience this incredible event firsthand. It is a unique opportunity to see a large concentration of sharks in a single location, something truly extraordinary.
