Scuba Diving Trips in the Sea of Cortez
Upcoming Trips
Get ready to swim in “the world’s aquarium”. The Sea of Cortez is bustling with friendly sea lions, whale sharks and schools of fish. It is located between mainland Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula and is one of the easiest places to reach to see a variety of marine life from the U.S.
Known as one of the most biologically diverse seas in the world, there are over 5,000 species of marine animals found here. In addition to its diverse marine life, the Sea of Cortez is known for its unique geography, with deep canyons and steep underwater cliffs.
The Sea of Cortez is also a popular destination for recreational activities such as sportfishing and kayaking. There are numerous islands and coastal towns along the sea’s shores that offer opportunities for visitors to explore its natural beauty and cultural attractions.
What To Expect
Scuba Diving
The Sea of Cortez is flooded with marine life including hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, mobula rays and dolphins. The most popular diving spot in this area is El Bajo. It is the best place to see schools of hammerhead sharks.
La Paz Bay is where you can swim with whale sharks and Los Islotes is where you will definitely encounter sea lions. In fact, the Sea of Cortez is the only place in the world where you can swim and have physical contact with sea lions.
Keep your eye out for:
- Sea lions
- Whale sharks
- Hammerhead sharks
- Dolphins
- Whales
- Stingrays
- Turtles
- Over 900 species of fish
Recommended Specialty Courses
- Photo & video
- Nitrox
- Fish identification
- Deep diving
Culture
The Sea of Cortez is one of the best diving destinations in the world. Jacques Cousteau referred to it as “the world’s aquarium” because of the diverse array of marine life including hundreds of species of fish, sharks, dolphins, whales, sea turtles and more. This deep gulf is thought to be one of the most diverse seas on the planet. It is a must-dive destination, especially for those who want to dive with sea lions and experience an overall abundance of marine life.
El Bajo
One of the best dive sites in the Sea of Cortez is El Bajo. El Bajo consists of three pinnacles that attract schooling pelagic species. When divers visit El Bajo, they’ll experience marlin, mantas and whale sharks. Scalloped hammerheads also frequently visit this site, making El Bajo an exhilarating dive site.
Los Islotes
Los Islotes is a dive site that features two large rock islets where you can see reef fish including angelfish, surgeonfish and parrotfish. The main attraction is the population of California sea lions where divers can be welcomed by a colony of more than 200. Head to this site to experience time with these playful pinnipeds.
Cabo Pulmo National Park
Being described as one of the most successful marine reserves in the world, Cabo Pulmo is a must-visit dive destination. The National Park is home to over 6,000 marine species. Divers may see unique animals include sea lions, humpback whales, mobulas and whale sharks along with groupers, turtles, and large schools of jacks.
What prior travelers say
“Diventures is a great organization. Our first trip with them was spectacular. They handled all of the boring parts of travel and left the fun parts to us. I truly felt that they went above what was expected in resolving the unexpected.”
Traveler Photos
Know Before You Go
Dive Insurance
Dive insurance is required on all Diventures trips. We recommend purchasing DAN dive insurance.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not required but is highly recommended for all Diventures trips. We recommend purchasing DAN trip insurance.
Passport Validity
Must be valid at least 6 months beyond the dates of trip.
Electricity
All of the cabins have an adapter for any type of socket. Electric power is 110V and 60 cycles. We recommend you bring a transformer if necessary.
Money
Fun Azul accepts USD cash only. If you would like to pay by credit card, please visit the office of FUNBAJA, local operator, in LaPaz. VISA or MASTER is acceptable with an additional handling fee of 16%.
Do I need proof of a negative Covid test?
Yes, all the passengers are requested to submit the negative result of a rapid test such as antigen test within a few days of boarding the liveaboard (self-test result is not accepted) and email to [email protected] prior to the trip. This also applies to those who have been vaccinated. For those whose results turned out to be positive, 100% of the amount paid for the liveaboard will be credited only if the positive result of the PCR test issued by the trusted authority is submitted. This is limited to the liveaboard fair only and no other expenses are included and the validity is 12 months of the trip date.
Need help packing?
We can’t pack for you, but we can share our packing list and travel tips.