Scuba diving in

Sea of Cortez

Nicknamed the ‘Aquarium of the World’, the Sea of Cortez is one of our planet's most biodiverse regions, home to a striking yet austere blend of natural beauty. This massive geographic area also known as the Gulf of California, spans thousands of kilometres, separating mainland Mexico from its peninsular Pacific coast. This dramatic setting is home to over 900 rugged islands with sheer cliffs and sandy beaches, stunning desert and mountain backdrops, and of course, the surrounding turquoise waters.

A combination of geographic isolation and powerful flowing Pacific currents are to thank for the Sea of Cortez’s wide variety of species. Over 300 estuaries and wetlands can be found here as well, creating essential breeding grounds and shelter for hundreds of bird, reptile, and fish species. And, thanks to its harsh desert climate, tourism in the region has developed slowly, allowing many of its remote seascapes to remain pristine. The Sea of Cortez has also remained a refuge for marine megafauna, with over 40 sea lion rookeries hosting 30,000 individuals and multiple species of whales and dolphins residing here or migrating through the region.

As a tourist destination, the Sea of Cortez is gaining in popularity, with new dive centres and liveaboard operators setting up shop every year and scores of dive sites still being discovered. A wide variety of resorts and vessels are currently available in the area, with options ranging from relaxed family-style and backpacker-friendly accommodations to luxurious liveaboards and five-star retreats. And, when you aren't busy diving, you'll find plenty to do in the region with a wide variety of wind sports and desert activities available.

Most Sea of Cortez dive adventures depart from either La Paz in the south or Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point. Both day trips and multi-day liveaboard safaris are available, with options leaving from both of these seaside destinations.

La Paz and Puerto Peñasco both host international airports. But, if you're flying in from overseas or outside of Mexico, you'll most likely fly into San José del Cabo or Tijuana first, as these are the closest major international transit hubs. Daily arrivals and departures in these larger cities include flights connecting with the United States and Canada, Western Europe, and Asia. From there, you can easily connect to La Paz or Puerto Peñasco via a short domestic flight, public bus, taxi, or private shuttle.

Once you arrive in either La Paz or Puerto Peñasco, getting around town is easy. Nearly all touristic destinations are within walking distance, and rental bicycles, scooters, and cars are also readily available. Many resorts and dive centres in the region also offer private transfers and daily pickups, essential to guests visiting during the hottest months of the year.

Whether you're day diving or setting sail on a liveaboard that departs from Puerto Peñasco or Loreto, you might want to stick around for a few days to explore the surrounding region either before or after your trip. These charming seaside communities boast options for guest houses, hotels, and resorts to suit all budgets and personal travel styles.

Also known as Rocky Point, Puerto Peñasco is home to the dune-backed Sandy Beach and nearby Bahía la Choya’s tidal pools. This is also an excellent destination for sun worshipers, with endless options to hit the sand or sip cocktails poolside.

Backed by the Sierra de la Giganta mountain range, Loreto makes an excellent jumping-off point for desert exploration in Baja California. Climbing, trekking, and guided hikes to view prehistoric cave paintings are all popular activities. The town itself hosts lovely colonial architecture and a 17th-century church. And, the surrounding bays are home to warm water and good visibility, ideal for snorkelling.

Scuba diving conditions vary greatly by month but no matter where you plan to dive here, you can expect a dry, arid desert climate with daily temperatures topping out between 30-35°C during the day, and plummeting after dark.

Most guests plan their visit here based on which wildlife they're hoping to see. From January through April, migrating humpbacks pass through the region, followed by fin, blue, and sperm whales from April through December. Sea lion rookeries are best visited from September to May, outside the mating season. Whale sharks can be seen aggregating in Bahia de Los Angeles from June through December. This region also experiences a seasonal influx in tourism during December, with overlapping school and religious holidays. Avoid this month for uncrowded dive sites, lower rates, and less packed hotels.

Northern Sea of Cortez

Puerto Peñasco and the northern Sea of Cortez experience higher daily temperatures and dramatically less rainfall than the south. From June through October, air temperatures skyrocket, and afternoon showers can be expected a few times each month. This is also the windy season, when surface conditions can be rough, especially at offshore dive sites. 

While the climate above water isn't entirely favourable, this is the very best time of year for diving in the north, and when most liveaboards offer trips. Divers can expect warm water, with temperatures as high as 26-28°C and stunning visibility topping out at over 30 metres.

Southern Sea of Cortez

Loreto and the southern Sea of Cortez experience less extreme heat than the north. And, the area receives dramatically more rain - though you’re still unlikely to see more than one or two short downpours during a week. The south also experiences a spike in wind speeds from January through April, sometimes bringing rough and choppy conditions and poor visibility on the surface.

While the Sea of Cortez is absolutely a year-round diving destination, most liveaboards operate between May and October. Day diving is best during the rest of the year.

The Sea of Cortez is among the planet's most biodiverse bodies of water. Nearly 900 fish species can be found here, as well as nearly 40% of the world's known marine mammal species and one-third of the world's marine cetacean species.

Once famously dubbed the "Aquarium of the World" by Jacques Cousteau, the Sea of Cortez has been recognised as an area of global marine conservation significance for decades. Today, the region boasts 12 independent conservation areas, including marine parks and UNESCO sites covering a whopping 1,837,194 hectares. Because a region this size would be impossible to patrol and regulate independently, the entire area is managed by one governing body, the National Commission for Natural Protected Areas (CONANP). This group works to monitor development, maintain the few permitted commercial fisheries in the region, and ensure the rights of local indigenous communities, for whom the sea is sacred.

In addition to its marine park protection, the Sea of Cortez is carefully guarded by environmental groups of all kinds. These non-government organisations, like the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, work alongside the Mexican government and local officials to protect some of the region's most vulnerable species, including the vaquita porpoise. Visitors hoping to get involved with environmentalism can join citizen science programmes that focus on supersized wildlife, hosted by Manta Trust, the Marine Megafauna Foundation, Pelagios Kakunjá, Whale Shark Mexico, and the National Marine Mammal Foundation.