Immerse Yourself in the Sea of Cortez
SEASONS
January – July: Peak Animals
Mid-July – November: Peak Diving
September – March: Most Popular
TYPES OF ADVENTURES
Liveaboard, Yacht Charters, Ocean Safaris
Base Camp, Day Trips
PRICING (pp. dbl occ.)
Mobulas & Orcas: From US$4,050
Ultimate Whale Sharks: From US$2,895
7-Night Expedition: From US$2,795
5-Night Expeditions: From US$2,095
Destination Overview
The Sea of Cortez is Vibrant with Life
The Sea of Cortez is loaded with life from huge pods of inquisitive dolphins, sharks, giant whale sharks, friendly sea lions, mobula rays, cow nose rays, sperm whales, swirling tornadoes of fish and sometimes even Manta Rays. Whales of all descriptions visit over the winter and into spring. Huge squadrons of mobula rays numbering upwards of 100,000 aggregate every spring, orcas have been frequent visitors over the last several years. Also, hammerhead sharks migrate into the sea in May and stay until early winter.
Nautilus Scout
Nautilus Scout – Spotter Airplane
Crewed by our own pilot and naturalist, Nautilus Scout will be up in the air 5 to 6 days a week, often on 2 missions a day between May – August, to maximize our guests experience and guide them towards the most interesting marine life including some really BIG animals. Blue whales, giant pregnant whale sharks, orcas and huge schools of mobula rays being our speciality.
Mobulas & Orcas Adventure
Huge Schools of Mobula Rays and the Possibility of Orcas. Spotter Airplane Supported!
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.
Watch VideoUltimate Whale Sharks
San Pedro Martir
We have special permits to visit San Pedro Martir, the hidden jewel of the Sea of Cortez. Perfectly located at the edge of massive upwellings of nutrient rich deep ocean water, the waters around this biosphere reserve are teeming with life. Shoreside is really cool as well with the largest breeding population of blue footed boobies in the world as well as the largest populations of brown boobies and brown pelicans in the world.
Loreto is another gem that is seldom visited. The diving is great. The scenery is fantastic. Going ashore on the deserted white sand beaches is unforgettable.
We will be sure to visit all our old favourites including Las Animas, the pinnacle of San Franciscito, Espiritu Santo and La Reyna. Fingers crossed on hammerhead sharks!!
7 Night Expeditions
5 Night Expeditions
Dive your own way!