Ultimate Whale Sharks
Sea of Cortez Adventures

Recent Trip Video

SEASONS

June – October
8 Days, 7 Nights

TYPES OF ADVENTURES

Liveaboard

PRICING (pp. dbl occ.)

From US$2,695

Destination Overview

Ultimate Whale Sharks
Sea of Cortez Adventures

The Sea of Cortez offers different seasons, and different seas for sure. Whale sharks are present year-round in the Sea of Cortez, but every summer, something extraordinary occurs. Between May and November, an aggregation of between 80 and 220 whale sharks takes place in Bahia de Los Angeles. Not all at once of course! What makes this an “ultimate trip” is the extraordinary nature of this gathering. It occurs in a remote place that is super difficult to, and we are typically alone with the whale sharks with no other boats around. Spending a day swimming with these magnificent creatures is our ultimate ambition on this trip.

It’s also a remarkable voyage, adventuring from La Paz deep into the Sea of Cortez with full spotter airplane support, looking for critters. The adventure usually starts with several of favourite dive sites, iLa Reyna and Espiritu Santo, with mesmerizing tornadoes of fish. Afterward, we will embark on an overnight journey to Las Animas, fingers crossed on hammerhead sharks. We will be sure to see inquisitive acrobatic California sea lions here as well as many other sites on this trip.

We will plan on one day in Loreto National Park, where we are likely to dive a shipwreck as well as the beautiful Carmen Island. The scenery here is stunningly beautiful, with steep mountains cascading right down to the sea, creating a breathtaking backdrop.

San Pedro Martir

A day spent at Isla San Pedro Mártir is very special. This oasis is in the middle of the Sea of Cortez, located at the edge of massive upwellings of nutrient-rich deep ocean water and teeming with life. We have a special permit to go ashore here, where we can find the largest breeding population of blue-footed boobies in the world!!

Our final day at sea is the voyage back to La Paz, hopefully stopping for a swim with dolphins and pilot whales at our secret sweet spot close by Mulege. With our fingers crossed, on sperm whales and always watching for orcas!

Sample Itinerary

Fly into SJD. Cabo. Same day flight as boarding no problem. Or come in early and take advantage of a complimentary backscatter photo and video workshop and some day boat diving. This is a GREAT time of year to dive Gordo Banks.

Day 1

Please check into SeeCreatures Cabo by 4:30 pm latest for coach transfer to La Paz where our hosties will be waiting on the back deck for you with trays of margaritas and champagne.

Days 2-7

Everyday will be different and your captain and dive guides will update your itinerary too maximize animal and diving encounters and minimize any challenges with weather. This is a stunning time of year to dive the Sea of Cortez with water temps in the high 70’s or 80’s and beautiful the beautiful cobalt blue typical of summer. One of the nicest things about this time of year is that the seas are generally very calm without any motion aboard our heavy steel stabilized ships. You can expect to visit Loreto, San Pedro Martir, Bahia de Los Angeles, Las Animas, San Franciscito, Espiritu Santo and La Reyna. Our final day at sea is the voyage back to La Paz

Day 8

Breakfast. Disembark at 8:30 am and complimentary transfer back to either SJD or Cabo

See What Guests Have Said

What Guests Have to Say About Ultimate Whale Sharks

Whale Shark Magic: A Day to Remember
Whale shark expedition day! The anticipation builds, how will it be? There were almost 30 of us, would there be enough whale sharks to go around? Read full review
Mike P. onboard the Nautilus Gallant Lady

More Than What I Was Expecting
This trip has been fascinating and way more than what I was expecting. Upon boarding this ship I was shocked at how beautiful and comfortable the ship is. Read full review
Chic onboard the Nautilus Gallant Lady

First-Class Experience for Divers of All Skill Levels
The Gallant Lady by Nautilus is a beautifully well-appointed ship built to provide a best in class live aboard SCUBA diving experience for an intimate number of guests. She holds only 12 divers but on the trip I was booked on, there were only six divers in the group! Read full review
Vic Joshi onboard the Nautilus Gallant Lady.

Operated For Safety

Operated For Safety

Safety is a very serious business. Mother Ocean can be capricious and unforgiving. We hold ourselves to the highest standards and you should expect and demand no less. In our view, every dive boat should be operated within a certified ISM safety management system, outfitted with sprinklers, emergency smoke hoods for everybody and the same safety, fire, life saving equipment and radios as the largest cruise ships. Captains, mates and engineers should have professional commercial mariner qualifications and all crew should have STCW professional mariner certification. Safety is not something to publish in a brochure. It’s part of our DNA. A cornerstone of our culture. Something that we have been living by for every day of the last 30 years.

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