Spotter Airplane Supported
Mobulas & Orcas

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SEASONS

April – Mid-July

8 Days, 7 Nights

TYPES OF ADVENTURES

Liveaboard

PRICING (pp. dbl occ.)

Luxury Liveaboards: From US$4,150

Whole Boat Charter Available

Destination Overview

Spotter Airplane Supported
Mobulas & Orcas

The Sea of Cortez is a magical and wonderful place teeming with marine creatures of all sizes. Our guests encounter and interact year-round with friendly California sea lions and mega pods of bottlenose dolphins. If we are lucky, we might also encounter spinner and Risso’s dolphins. Mobula rays are present year-round and aggregate in enormous schools from March through July. Colossal fin whales (second in size only to blue whales), sperm whales, rays, and whale sharks are present year-round and migrate seasonally up and down the Sea of Cortez. Pilot whales, pseudo orcas, and minke whales are also known to migrate in the area, although they are less commonly seen.

Humpback whales, including mothers and calves, arrive in December and January, while giant blue whales and their babies are present from the end of January through April. Thanks to our extensive local knowledge and aerial patrols, we provide the best opportunities for encounters, which are always conducted with the utmost respect and only on the animals’ own terms. It’s entirely their choice to swim over and check us out.

Divers with abundant experience agree that the vast schools of fish witnessed by our divers, snorkelers, and swimmers create the most densely packed fish tornadoes seen anywhere in the world. Hammerhead and tiger sharks have made a comeback after 20 years of tightly restricted commercial fishing.

Mobula Madness Video

Sea of Cortez Tours: Diving with Mobulas

Interact with the whales and the mobulas

The iconic creature on these adventures is the orca, also known as the killer whale. With a combined experience of over 80 years between Baja Expeditions and Nautilus, we have had the privilege of respectfully interacting with these magnificent creatures, from the chilly waters of Alaska to Roca Partida and Socorro Island further south. The sight of those sleek black dorsal fins slicing through the water when the orcas make an appearance is truly unforgettable. Any interaction is always done in full compliance with the laws of Mexico.

Our secret weapon is ‘Scout,’ our very own spotter aircraft, manned by our pilot and biologist-observer. Scout takes to the skies as often as possible from January to November, conducting patrols and confirming sightings in undisclosed areas that our decades of experience have taught us to be the prime locations for breathtaking encounters with these magnificent creatures.

Interaction is always respectful and on the animals own terms. You can expect to be in the water with the rays, any whale sharks that swim by, dolphins, inquisitive and interactive orcas and possibly the fin back whales.

We provide a range of boats, crews, and experiences that come from being the oldest and original eco-tourism operator in Baja. You can choose from limited-load, ocean-going liveaboard small ships with just 12 guests onboard, our 116-foot expedition yacht, a 55-foot pocket liveaboard, an eco-experience camp on Isla Espiritu Santo, our 45-foot luxury sailing catamaran with 3 private guest staterooms, or our 48 ft fast day boats for ocean safaris, offering a level of luxury far superior to that of any traditional fishing boat (panga).

Sample Itinerary

Fly into SJD. Cabo. Expedition yacht might leave from Cabo or La Paz. Sailing catamaran leaves from La Paz.

Day 1

Complimentary photo and video workshop at SeeCreatures Cabo San Lucas. Either 5 pm meet and board in Cabo or mid-afternoon transfer to La Paz.

Days 2 – 7

We usually start off at our favourite hotspot for masses of mobula rays leaping for joy first thing in the morning because, well, it’s really fun! And then we will weigh anchor and make our way. During your week onboard, we hope to get you in the water with mega pods of bottlenose dolphins. If we are lucky, we might spot spinner and Risso’s dolphins, known for their well-deserved reputation for amazing aerobatics. We will also encounter California sea lions, mobula rays, and hopefully cow-nose rays.

Big animals should be in the area, and our naturalist will be in touch with our network of friends and colleagues, exchanging notes. Scout, our spotter aircraft, will take to the air as often as possible, subject to wind and weather conditions. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for interactions with whale sharks. We will be actively searching for sperm whales, fin whales, and sometimes even minkes and pseudo orcas.

The highlight of any trip is if we spot the black fins of orcas slicing through the water. All interactions are conducted in compliance with the laws and regulations of Mexico. For our diving friends, bring your dive gear, and we will be sure to get you some splashes on local dive sites.

On several evenings, we will anchor in our best spots for in-water night interactions with the mobulas. Otherwise, enjoy the sunset, cocktail hour, dinner, and an evening presentation. Important note that strategic use of our accompanying fast boat will ensure the best sightings and interactions, but this may involve spending some time in the smaller boat cruising around in search of marine creatures.

Day 8

Breakfast and disembarkation around 8:30 am. Complimentary coach transfer back to SJD if you are in La Paz.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will we see orcas on these trips?

Maybe. We hope so. The iconic creature on these adventures is the orca, also known as the killer whale. The sight of those sleek black dorsal fins slicing through the water when the orcas make an appearance is truly unforgettable. With a combined experience of over 80 years between Baja Expeditions and Nautilus, we have had the privilege of respectfully interacting with these magnificent creatures, from the chilly waters of Alaska to Roca Partida and Socorro Island further south. Any interaction is always done in full compliance with the laws of Mexico.

Are orcas guaranteed?

No. We are confident that you will have great encounters with schools of mobula rays, California sea lions, mega pods of bottlenose dolphins, and much more. We will be on the lookout for sperm whales, fin whales, pseudorcas, pilot whales, Risso’s dolphins, and the super-acrobatic spinner dolphins. We find whale sharks on almost every trip. You can be sure that when we receive reports of any sightings, we will check them out as soon as possible with our spotter airplane, dispatch our fast boats in that direction, and if needed, travel overnight on your liveaboard to position ourselves where we think the orcas will be the next day.

When will we be able to get in the water?

Most snorkelling and freediving will be done either from our 32-foot-high speed aluminum hulled “zodiac style” RHIB or even from the large water level platform at the stern (that’s the back end) of your yacht. You can count on a couple of evening snorkels in a quiet bay with underwater lights and, hopefully, swarming mobulas. But you can spend as much time as you want in the water.

What other wildlife will we see?

We’ll be on the lookout for large pods of dolphins and of course, you will have the opportunity to jump with those guys as well. To be frank, you never quite know what amazing animals you might see in the Sea of Cortez and we’ll be keeping a sharp lookout for sperm and fin whales and whale sharks. Noting that the famous whale shark conservation area at Mogote is closed to visitors at this time of year.

What is included in the trip?

Accommodation, all meals (continental breakfast, breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert), non-alcoholic beverages and snacks, daily room service, towels and onboard facilities such as the hot tub and lounge… and lots of fun!

Exclusions: 5% tax, bar, gift shop, crew gratuities, internet access, $35 port fee, and foreign tourist tax for non-residents of Mexico.

See What Guests Have Said

What Guests Have to Say About Mobulas & Orcas

We Jumped in the Water with Orcas!
There are few words to describe todays adventure. We jumped in the water with Orcas!! They were curious about us and kept circling back to check us out. Read full review
Kelley, onboard the Nautilus Gallant Lady

Amazing Mobula and Orca Trip on the Nautilus Gallant Lady
My mom and I are just finishing up a week of snorkeling with mobula rays and orcas in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico with the crew of the Gallant Lady and it was absolutely the trip of a lifetime and exceeded all expectations. Read full review
Connie, California onboard the Nautilus Gallant Lady

Did Someone Say Orca?
WHAT A CHANCE OF A LIFETIME THAT WAS. An opportunity came up with some friends to go snorkeling and swim with mobulas and orcas in the open ocean of the Sea of Cortez. Read full review
Stephanie, California onboard the Nautilus Gallant Lady

Underwater with One of the Most Iconic Orca Families of the Population Found in Baja
On the first day of the trip, the first open ocean safari, seven orcas! No words! Read full review
David Serradell, In-house Photographer.

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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