THE BEST OF
SEA OF CORTEZ
Experience life more deeply
THE VERY BEST OF THE SOUTHERN SEA OF CORTEZ PLUS
A coral reef brought back to vibrant life
AND NOW A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
The very best
of the Sea of Cortez
The Sea of Cortez is an interesting place. We started diving here many years ago when giant mantas were common and multiple schools of hammerhead sharks would swirl around El Bajo. Commercial fishermen hit the place really hard in the 1990’s before the government of Mexico enacted exclusionary zones and marine protected area. Our beautiful sea has come back to life but it is different than before. Whale sharks are still resident seasonally off La Paz. The sea lions at Los Islotes were never impacted. Humpback whales still show up every winter. And the huge schools of panamic fish are as abundant as ever before. We are seeing hammerhead sharks at El Bajo and Los Animas and mantas at La Reyna although not as abundantly as before. We finally figured out where the humboldt squid are and it’s quite a trek to get there! We discovered the stunning number of whale sharks at Bahia de Los Angeles in the northern sea of cortez. And there is an excellent chance of seeing bull sharks at Cabo Pulmo.
It’s not Socorro. It’s not Guadalupe Island. The Sea of Cortez is a unique and different destination with it’s own charm – and generally calm water – albeit not the same number of big animals as our other destinations. We welcome the opportunity to give you more information and ensure that we meet your expectations.
When I came the first time to Baja California I was blessed to land in Cabo Pulmo. As a dive instructor with thousands of dives under my belt, I wasn´t expecting much. I got in the water in the dive site known as El Bajo, dropped down 35 feet to the sandy area on top of the reef when I just saw a dark cloud coming. I expected to be just a patch of cold, murky water coming in winter time but instead, I suddenly found myself in an endless school of big eyes trevallies, chased by 2 sea lions. My breathing stopped (don´t do it, I know, but I could´t help it) and in seconds I was surrounded by a tornado opening around the sea lions. That was my welcome dive to Cabo Pulmo.
Juan T
You may wonder….
WHAT AM I GOING TO SEE?
The best of the Sea of Cortez! Huge schools of fish, sea lions, bull sharks, tiger sharks and for the first time in many years, mantas! With typically 100ft+ visibility.
WHEN SHOULD I GO?
Water temperatures and visibility in the Southern Sea of Cortez improve dramatically in mid-July through the first Norte winds at the end of November. Our trips run from September to December.
HOW MANY DIVES DO I GET?
Loads! 4 dives per day. Tons! Four dives per day! Guests will also have ample time for shore walks, kayaking, paddle boarding, and relaxation.
HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE DO I NEED?
Snorkelers enjoy these trips because of the nice conditions, however these are primarily dive trips. Suitable for divers of all experience levels. Guests who are new to diving will likely want to be with a divemaster at all times. Experienced and self-reliant divers are welcome to have complete freedom if they choose. Most divers are in between these two levels.
HOW DO I GET THERE?
It is best to fly into Cabo San Lucas (SJD) the day before your trip departure. We have excellent contract rates with local hotels, and our staff at the SEE CREATURES Dive Center will be waiting to take care of you!
HOW MUCH DOES A TRIP COST?
The luxury of a yacht and the functionality of a dive boat for USD$2495.00! Premium suite available for $2995.00. This includes onboard accommodation, food, non-alcoholic beverages, and diving!
Sea of Cortez Sample Itinerary
Day 1 – Welcome aboard the Nautilus Gallant Lady
Meet at our dive center at 8:30 in the morning to get kitted up with any rental gear needed for your trip, followed by two warmup dive at Cabo San Lucas(location dependant on weather). You will receive a lunch voucher for the lighthouse restaurant. At 2:30pm, you’ll board the beautiful Nautilus Gallant Lady, then depart for the Sea of Cortez. There will be a cocktail hour on the deck to watch the sunset. Enjoy a smooth overnight run continuing north.
Day 2 to 4 – Exploring southern Sea of Cortez
We’ll be exploring the best of the southern Sea of Cortez including our old favourites: the wreck of the ferry Salvatierra, beautiful Suwanee Reef teeming with life, La Reina, Las Animas, and Cerralvo Island. Years ago, we stopped offering trips into the Sea of Cortez because the mantas and sharks had disappeared. We are incredibly gratified that the population is rebounding, and we should see sharks, a chance of seeing mantas, as well as the more typical Sea of Cortez life. Our choice of dive sites will depend on weather, visibility, animals, etc. – you can be assured your captain & crew will do their very best to give you the greatest possible dive experience.
Day 5 – Diving the UNESCO World Heritage site; Cabo Pulmo.
Marine park Cabo Pulmo is the easternmost barrier reef in the Pacific and is the story of a reef that was overfished and almost obliterated, before the local village stepped up to protect the place. Cabo Pulmo has since gained national protection and has rebounded in an astonishing way over the last 20 years.The upside is that there is a population of bull sharks, other sharks, and huge schools of fish – it can really be beautiful diving. The downside is some divers can find the protection provided by the park to be a little bit onerous. We respect all park rules which include, staying with a divemaster, not touching the bottom, and diving quotas at some of the most popular dive sites.We’ll have dinner and one last night under the stars before departing overnight for Cabo San Lucas.