Explore Baja California Sur
Baja California, a golden strip of mountain and desert hanging off Mexico’s western edge, is kissed by two great water bodies: the vast Pacific Ocean and the one-of-a-kind Sea of Cortez. Scuba diving in Baja California Sur, the peninsula’s lower half, takes full advantage of both coastlines. The Pacific offers two premier dive destinations- Socorro and Guadalupe- with mantas, great whites, and hammerheads. But Baja California Sur divers don’t have to travel so far for excellent diving. The Sea of Cortez, dubbed the ‘world’s aquarium’ by Jacques Cousteau, holds around 900 fish species and 32 marine mammals, all within reach of a day-trip. Scuba divers in the Sea of Cortez can expect world-class marine life encounters with sea lions, whale sharks, turtles, dolphins, whales, huge schools of mobula rays, manta rays, and loads of fish, plus the northernmost coral reef in the eastern Pacific.
Liveaboards in Baja California Sur depart from Los Cabos (either Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo), mostly headed for Socorro and Guadalupe. Some liveaboards explore the Sea of Cortez instead, which provides a great opportunity to catch all the best destinations and maximize dive time. Baja California Sur is blessed with plenty of dive centers. Baja Sur is also a great place to sign up for dive courses, from beginner diving to technical diving. Some resorts partner with top-tier dive centers to offer accommodation-and-dive packages, either from onsite or offsite dive centers. In addition, divers can find charter options for special trips, like reaching a remote destination, or swimming with sharks or manta rays.
Places to Explore
San Jose del Cabo
Scuba diving in San Jose del Cabo is an intimate experience with a professional dive team and no other boats around. Only twenty miles northeast of Cabo San Lucas, this other half of the Los Cabos municipality feels worlds away. While offering plenty of places to wine, dine and unwind, San Jose del Cabo is smaller, more relaxed and very scenic. Its centuries-old mission and colonial architecture complement a beautiful white sandy bay and a historic estuary fed by an underground river. San Jose del Cabo is perfectly positioned for great diving. The San Lucas Bay dive sites are easily reachable, as well as the Corridor sites and even northerly destinations like Cabo Pulmo and La Paz. The dedicated dive center in town is the proud discoverer of the local dive sites and offers a wide variety of tours and courses. All the great marine life of the Sea of Cortez is likely to be found in San Jose del Cabo: mobulas, sharks, dolphins, whales and huge schools of fish.
Loreto
Loreto is the northernmost dive hub in Baja California Sur, located about 300 kilometers north of La Paz. Scuba diving in Loreto owes its abundance and diversity to 20 years of protection as a marine park. Amongst its dramatic underwater lava formations of pinnacles, boulders and walls, visitors can dive with barracudas, mobula rays, turtles, and plentiful other fish and critters. There are enough dive centers to find a variety of dive courses and experiences.
La Paz
Cosmopolitan La Paz, the capital city of Baja California Sur, is a cool town and a dive mecca. Halfway between Cabo San Lucas and Loreto, the Bay of La Paz and its offshore islands are perfectly positioned for scuba diving with the most charismatic marine life in the Sea of Cortez. La Paz diving offers up hammerhead sharks, manta rays, whale sharks, sea lions, mobula ray schools and more, in good visibility of 15 to 30 meters. People from all over the world come here to dive, snorkel or invest in their dive training at the many dive centers. People also come to La Paz to live and study, with some major universities in town focusing on the marine environment.
Espiritu Santo
Diving at Isla Espíritu Santo is nothing short of stunning. As part of a protected Biosphere Reserve, the waters surrounding the island are home to spectacular coral reefs, countless species of tropical fish, and playful megafauna such as sea lions, dolphins, and manta rays.
Cabo San Lucas
Scuba diving in Cabo San Lucas, the bustling resort town at the far southern tip of Baja California, offers a wealth of underwater sights and experiences. San Lucas Bay is a protected area with well-preserved dive sites and lots of fish life; it was actually the second marine park to be established in Mexico, after the Caribbean jewel of Cozumel! At Cabo San Lucas, the mighty Pacific Ocean meets the magical Sea of Cortez, which endows local dive sites with a mix of pelagic, migratory, and resident creatures. Seamounts, sea lions, hammerhead sharks, deep walls, unique ‘sand falls’, and plenty of fish and critters are all among the many landscapes and marine animals which make Cabo San Lucas diving unique.
Cabo Pulmo
Scuba diving in Cabo Pulmo, divers can expect masses and masses of fish- schools so large that they block out the light from above. But Cabo Pulmo wasn’t always that way. It was the establishment of Cabo Pulmo marine park which transformed an overfished, degraded reef into a ‘hope spot’ of abundance, according to famous oceanographer Sylvia Earle. Now, Cabo Pulmo is passionate about environmental responsibility. The whole village runs on solar power, and park management protects the reef from harm by strictly regulating the number of boats and divers. As the northernmost coral reef in the eastern Pacific, Cabo Pulmo’s twenty thousand year old reef deserves this protection, and it rewards divers with fish life that is plentiful and large- swirling schools of jacks and snappers, massive, heavyset groupers and more.
Top Dive Sites Map
Diving in Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur offers divers a rich tapestry of underwater adventures. One of the standout dive sites is the Cabo Pulmo Marine Park, home to vibrant coral reefs and a diverse array of marine life, including sharks and rays. The park is particularly famous for its unique underwater experience of swimming with large schools of jacks and groupers.
For wreck enthusiasts, the "Fang Ming" in La Paz is a must-see. This Chinese shipwreck is home to an array of marine flora and fauna, making it a captivating dive. Shore dives, such as those at La Paz and Loreto, offer easy access to colorful reefs and abundant species, ideal for both beginners and experienced divers. Baja California Sur provides a balance between shore and liveaboard diving, offering flexibility for travelers seeking diverse aquatic experiences, including thrilling night dives where the nocturnal behaviors of marine creatures can be observed.
The best Months to dive in Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur offers excellent diving conditions year-round, with water temperatures varying from around 20°C (68°F) in winter to 29°C (84°F) in summer. Visibility in the region typically ranges from 10 to 30 meters, providing divers with clear views of the vibrant marine life. These conditions are generally consistent, making it a favored destination for divers throughout the year.
While diving is possible year-round, certain factors like wind and currents can affect conditions. The autumn months, particularly October and November, are considered the best times for diving, as the water is warmer and visibility is often at its peak. However, winter months may bring cooler waters and stronger winds, which can impact visibility and comfort, making spring and summer more attractive for divers seeking optimal experiences.
Statistics
Historical data and trends
Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions
Centers Map
CERRALVO DIVERS
CALLE MANZANILLA (CASA YOYO), 23232 La Ventana, BCS - MEX
Sunrider Tours
Blvd Marina S/N Plaza Gali Local 18, 23450 Cabo San Lucas, BC - MEX
Sea Lions Dive Center
Carr a Pichilingue km 2.5, Marina Palmira, 23010 La Paz, BCS - MEX
See Creatures
Calle Miguel Hidalgo # 10 Colonia Centro, 23450 Cabo San Lucas, BCS - MEX
La Paz Explorer
Int. Marina #62, Marina Atalanta, 23010 La Paz, BCS - MEX
Cabo Pulmo Travel
Domicilo Coocido Caabopulmo, 23574 Cabo Pulmas, BCS - MEX
Club Cantamar
Alvaro Obregon 1665-2, 2300 La Paz, BCS - MEX
Hipoxia Freediving
Miguel L. de Legaspy #524, 23000 La Paz, BCS - MEX
VENTA DIVE CENTER
CORREDOR CERRALVO KM 7, 23232 La Ventana, BCS - MEX
Valentina Liveaboard
Marina Palmira km 2.5, 23010 La Paz, BCS - MEX
Dive in la Paz
Calle Mutualismo 260 interior D, 23000 la Paz, BC - MEX
Sun Rider Tours
Av Alvaro Obregon Entre Sebastian lerdo de Tejada e Ignacio Banuelos Cabezud ,Colonia Cent, 23000 La Paz BCS, BCS - MEX