- REBREATHERS - SPORT DIVERS ... - Stingray Divers

Left: For underwater
photographers, camera tables
are a must, and the Solmar V’s is
certainly more than adequate.
Right: Solmar V’s new computer
alcove and library.
Below: While diving from pangas
is most often the rule, some sites
are accessible enough to dive
from the Solmar V’s stern ladder
and swim step.
in-water staircase. Due to the wild nature
station with a laptop for digital editing, a
of the region, the Solmar V also utilizes a
Seawave Satellite Communications system
pair of 22-foot Achilles inflatables with 60hp
for hassle free e-mails and sat phone calls
outboards for both dropping and retrieving
by guests. In place of the two small TVs and
divers at specific sites like Roca Partida and
antiquated VCR, the main salon now has
Cabo Pierce.
large screen HDTV and DVD/stereo system,
When the Solmar V began operation in
and all the old tapes have been replaced
Mexico in 1993, Jose Luis Sanchez, owner of
with DVDs?
Amigos Del Mar diving services, was tasked
In addition brining the Solmar V up to date,
with setting up the Solmar V’s initial dive
with all safety equipment in accordance with
operations and overseeing exploration in the
U.S. Coast Guard Safety Requirements, Jose
Socorro Islands for its cache of dive sites, as
Luis ordered a complete overhaul of vessel’s
well as doubling as boat’s marketing director.
main engines and auxiliaries. Anything that
But with the operation split between two the parent company, Solmar Resorts. With needed tweaking got tweaked, right down
entities, there were some inconsistencies boat in hand, Jose hit the ground running, to the propellers, which were re-tuned for
such as the quality of food and onboard and soon installed a state-of-the-art Nitrox maximum fuel efficiency.
diving services. By 2005, when just about Membrane System providing 32 to 34 percent Powered by a pair of turbo charged Detroit
everybody and their sister had nitrox, the nitrox fills.
12V-71’s, and boasting a 10,000 gallon fuel
Solmar V was still without it!
Additional improvements included a face capacity, the Solmar V has a range of 2,300
Call it frustration in not seeing the boat lift to the salon’s library alcove, which had nautical miles, making trips to and from
reach its full potential, in February 2006, once housed only had a tattered collection of the Socorro’s an easy jaunt. Most crossings
Jose Luis and his wife Leslie purchased the marine I.D. books, novels and VHS tapes. It from its homeport in Cabo San Lucas take
Solmar V and the attendant business from now sports a designated onboard computer approximately 23 hours to complete. Factor
7 www.underwaterjournal.com June/July 2007