The rest of the year stays relatively temperate with the occasional thermocline - causing a unique shimmering glass effect. Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) is the main international airport servicing the region and receives multiple daily flights from the US. Escape the crowds for a dive site unlike any other on our Marieta Islands Scuba Dive experience. For divers looking for a quieter alternative, Cabo Pulmo protected National Marine Parkcovers 27 square miles of the northernmost hard-coral reef in North America. Whether youre into hiking, climbing, sightseeing, historical towns, diving, swimming in waterfalls or snorkelling with sea lions, they can arrange it all especially for you. We recently held a Girls that Scuba event in Los Cabos, with our awesome dive friends Dive NinjaExpeditions,and were so amazed at the life we saw underwater that we couldn't wait to tell you about it! One of thebest sites globally for diving with sharks, huge numbers of resident Galapagos, silky, oceanic whitetip, and hammerheads can be found schooling around the islands rocky pinnacles and steep reefs. Depending on the time of year, divers can encounter hammerhead sharks, mobula rays, and several types of whale, as well as a myriad of other local and migratory species. For the best dives at the best locations, there is no better place to book than right here at Cabo Adventures. The westernmost is located along the Pacific Ocean; the other is located on the Sea of Cortez. The coldest water temperatures are in January and February, and the visibility drops to 20 feet on the coldest days. A true highlight in Cabo San Lucas is diving with the local sea lions. If you have lots of dive equipment, taxis, Uber, and bus services are plentiful. Rather than Spring breaks, many people choose to take their winter breaks here because they can get away from the cold and enjoy the warm crystal blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. For non-divers or on a day off diving, cultural tours and watersports are available, as well as ATV and buggy rides into the desert dunes. The strong currents that are such a magnet for pelagic species also render these sites best suited to experienced divers. According to locals, the 8th of February of 1954, a loud noise was heard near The Archs coasts, soon after some vestiges where washed up on the beaches, but no ship was ever found. Have you ever been diving with thousands of Mobula Rays, schools so massive they literally block out the sun? Many visitors opt to spend a few days diving and exploring Cabo San Lucas at either end of their Socorro trip. You can have the unique experience of diving in two bodies of water at the same time. Two hours north of Cabo San Lucas, on the eastern side of the Baja California Peninsula, La Paz offers an exciting diversity of dive sites including wrecks, caves, offshore pinnacles, and rocky reefs, as well as some sheltered inshore diving and snorkeling in the Bay of La Paz. Neptunes Finger is a finger-like rock that reaches up into the sky from deep beneath the ocean. Check out the amazing Pelagic Safari who are a conservation oriented marine life encounter group who will take you out in search ofdolphins, whales, turtles, huge schools of diversity of dive sites including wrecks, caves, offshore pinnacles, and rocky reefs, as well as some sheltered inshore diving and snorkeling in the Bay of La Paz. Inshore dives take place straight off the beach, or from speed boats and in some cases traditional wooden pangas used by fishermen. Sheer walls and rock formations packed with life at Pelican Rock, underwater sand falls at North Wall, Guitar rays and colorful macro life at Neptunes finger and pelagics pass over the shipwreck at Lands End. Even though the Scuba Diving excursion to Marietas Islands does not include a visit to the famous Hidden Beach, you can take a specific tour that will take you there comfortably on a fast inflatable boat, from where you will jump to the water and swim -with a snorkel mask, to this iconic place. Cabo San Lucas is diveable year-round, however, species sightings will vary with the season. Only half-a-mile from shore, this intricate site is covered in coral trees and sea fans and is great for critter-spotting. The sailing companies typically provide all the scuba and snorkel gear you will need. Is there a way for divers of all levels to enjoy the beautiful ocean depths of Cabo? Or encounters with gigantic, breaching Through the winter months, humpback, gray, and sperm whales can also be spotted around El Bajo seamount (not to be confused with El Bajo at La Paz), where bait-balls of schooling jack offer a tasty pit-stop for these migrating giants. Listen out for the mesmerizing songs of humpback whales who cruise by in winter. Gordo Banks is where you will find hammerhead sharks. Explore our site to learn more about our many dives, and book with our team today! Interested in whales? Lands End is a must-see for anyone interested in Marine wildlife. Large schools of hammerhead, mobulas, silkies and whales migrate through these waters. Ranging in depth from approximately 20 feet to 100 feet (6 meters - 30 meters), the North Walls ability to accommodate divers from beginning to advanced skill levels makes it one of the best diving spots in Mexico. Located 2 hours drive However, it is during this winter season that you can also catch sight of some of the many Grey and Humpback whales that frequent the Sea of Cortez during those winter months. Alternatively, driving to Cabo San Lucas from the southern border of the US takes about a day using Highway 1 and Highway 19. Yes, there is. It was very easy to supply our condo because a grocery store and liquor store were also within walking distance. In the open water, you can often see large schools of fish, more massive rays, and sharks. You may want to rent a car during your stay in Cabo and visit nearby towns like Todos Santons and Cabo Pulmo - check out our friends guide to road tripping in Baja California We traveled to Baja California Sur to dive both the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez on the same trip. Cabo Pulmo is far quieter, with snorkeling and relaxing as the main top-side activities. Hammerheads, Silkies and Mako sharks, Manta rays, turtles, tuna, wahoos and even whales can be seen here. Cabo San Lucas is home to a wide variety of marine wildlife, making it an ideal scuba diving and snorkeling destination. There are many seahorses and blennies as well. We were walking distance to the marina where the dive shop we were using is located and their boat was moored right in front. Located at the very southern tip of Baja California where the waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez meet, Lands End is of the most unique dive sites in all of Mexico. While it may not boast the world-class diversity found in the Sea of Cortez, a broad range of marine species can be found in the waters around Cabo San Lucas and Cabo Pulmo. This is also the time for lucky divers to spot mako sharks, blue sharks and marlin. If you love the ocean and the wonderful wildlife it holds within Cabo is the place to go. This area can be crowded if a cruise ship is in port, but its easy to escape the crowds by walking down a few of the streets away from the marina. You can also check outCabo Shark Dive who runs snorkelling tours specifying on sharks. December to May is prime time to go diving in Cabo San Lucas if you're looking for bigger marine mammals. Disclaimer. Diving in Cabo San Lucas offers just about everything. Depending on the time of year, divers can encounter hammerhead sharks, mobula rays, and several types of whale, as well as a myriad of other local and migratory species. Larger species also pass through the bay, and manta rays, turtles, and nurse sharks frequently visit the reef. If you are looking for the best scuba in Mexico, make sure to book some water time at a couple of Cabo San Lucas dive sites. Regardless of whether you are a novice snorkeler or an expert underwater photographer whatever your schedule or skill level, Cabo is a great place to experience the undersea spectacles of nature. A great place to dive with sea lions where the Pacific Ocean and the. Visiting Hidden Beach at the Marietas Islands can be a life-changing experience for some, so dont miss the opportunity while staying in Puerto Vallarta. There are many dive and tour operators in the region, but weve picked the GTS approved- and highly recommended one -Dive Ninja Expeditions! Within easy reach of the US and offering a diverse and exciting range of dive and snorkeling options, scuba diving Cabo San Lucas is not to be missed and is the perfect Mexican dive destination for families and friends alike. We had a rental car and found driving around Cabo to be very easy and found most places without GPS. Right outside the marina, just a 5-10 minute boat ride from downtown , you will find interesting dive spots. mobula rays, and everything else the open ocean has ready for you that day. Read also: Best scuba dive destinations in Mexico. Visit Sea of Cortez from October to June to swim with sea lions. If you are seeking out that kind of a party, Cabo will not disappoint. They put on a spectacular show doing backflips and showing off their skills as they search for mates. Have you ever wanted to swim with sharks? Donna Schechter is world traveler and scuba instructor currently writing for Dive Ninja Expeditions. The rich Mexican dive scene makes Cabo San Lucas is perfectly located to support combination trips with several other world-class dive destinations. lobsters and in season, Bull sharks. Jacques Cousteau, the world-famous French oceanographer, once called Cabo the aquarium of the world. For skilled scuba divers, that may a kind of siren song, luring them out into the deeps to see the vibrantly colorful life of the coral reef at Lands End. The reef itself has a number of fingers of hard coral atop rock outcroppings that run parallel to the coast, each occurring in progressively deeper water offshore. If you want to dive in Cabo In particular, visitors can experience one of the best places in the world to snorkel with whale sharks, as well as dive and snorkel with the entertaining sealion colony at Los Islotes. Rocky terrain and sandy slopes inhabited by schools of grunts and jacks, a variety of Other open ocean visitors include mobula rays, hammerhead sharks, and the occasional whale shark. here. More adventurous visitors can join an open ocean safari trip to snorkel and freedive with some iconic pelagic giants. Share your love of diving, experience new adventures, expand your dive skills, and help save the ocean. Join Bluewater's 2-Day Marine Life Safari in Cabo and the Sea of Cortez. In Cabo, water temperatures range from 68F/20C in March to 84F/29C in August/September. These are the Marietas Islands, home to some of the best scuba Mexico has to offer. The establishment of Los Cabos Wildlife Protection Area around 1973 has helped keep the western coast of Mexico clean, vibrant, and brimming with flora and fauna. From the tip of the peninsula where sea and ocean meet, to the North Wall at the beginning of the bay, Cabo San Lucas scuba diving sites are some of the best you will experience. The deep submerged Sea of Cortez is also known for its great colony of sea lions which make it one of the only places in the world where you can swim with sea lions in their natural environment, and activity perfect also to be practiced just with snorkeling gear. Even in the late winter months, you can still enjoy warm temperatures. Cabo San Lucas is home to a good number of hotels and accommodation options catering to all budgets and tastes. Mexico has many options to offer. recreational and technical scuba Dolphins? Sign up to get the latest updates, offers and more. The most famous feature here is the Sand Falls, which is a unique sand waterfall caused by rock formations about 50 feet deep in the water. However, that can be equally as frightening to those who are amateur scuba divers. However, this kind of atmosphere is really focused in on a few small areas. Featuring the northernmost hard coral reef in the Northern Hemisphere, Cabo Pulmo Marine Sanctuary is home to over 17 fascinating dive sites and some of the best diving in the area. You may also see groups of jacks and snapper, large rays, and tuna swimming here. Healthy, colorful reefs with an amazing array of life forms that cannot be found anywhere else in the region. A shallow site close to shore featuring an abundance of tropical species swarming amongst sea fans on a gently sloping bottom. At Lands End you may see barracuda and tuna, and you can frolic with the sea lions at their colony in the flat rock formation. stingrays and eels, nudibranchs, seahorses, lobsters, angelfish and coral. Here are some of the best dive sites in Cabo San Lucas. She started traveling 6 years ago and couldn't stop! And while it is agreat place to encounter whale sharksin the winter months, its Socorrosmanta ray divingthat is really world-class. You have the option to leave first thing in the morning (for best visibility) or later in the afternoon (for warmer temperatures). of mobula rays? courting and breeding. We found it to be a family friendly city with welcoming people, a wide variety of restaurants and accommodations, and plenty of fun things to see and do. Liveaboards depart from Cabo San Lucas between May and November, and the journey takes around 24 hours. From December through to May water temperatures are cooler and plankton blooms reduce visibility, however, this is the best time to spot hammerhead sharks and whales, as well as other deepwater species that migrate to warmer surface waters. Resort overlooking the Cabo San Lucas Marina. Choose your design and prove your PADI certified diver status across the world with a recycled plastic card, eCard or both. Surfing, kayaking Operators will offer two or three dives a day at sites best suited to the divers experience. More information here. Dive into the waters of Cabo Pulmo National Park on our Cabo Pulmo Diving Tour here at Cabo Adventures, and experience all that this amazing site has to offer. With shark experts on-board and underwater photographers it is an unforgettable experience coming This is a great way to include the whole family in a dive trip to Cabo San Lucas, and many divers rave about these safaris as they offer such unique encounters. hours away. During the early summer and late autumn months huge schools of acrobatic mobula rays enter the bay for This is a great site for photography and full of colorful life. White tips, tornados of sardines, mahi mahi, & turtles can all be spotted: even marlin and orcas occasionally. In addition to the colorful and varied flora and fauna, this Cabo San Lucas dive site is also home to the largest sand falls of the Cabo San Lucas Marine Park. This page wouldn't be possible without contributions from the following PADI members: Migrating humpback and gray whales can be spotted here between December and May, and this is also the best time to encounter schooling hammerhead sharks. Most hotels are linked to one of the towns many dive operators offering shore diving and day boat trips. Combining a trip to Cabo San Lucas with La Paz gives visitors access to a huge diversity of pelagic species and some phenomenal diving. Offshore dives tend to be more challenging, with choppy surface conditions and swell making for sometimes tricky entries and exits. Lands End is the place where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean. Eagle rays and Electric rays are a common sight and sharks often cruise the area. One of the best-known sites in the area, Sand Falls features unique underwater topography where sand eroded from the surrounding cliffs cascades down ravines to the deep canyon below. Cabo San Lucas is a lively resort that offers plenty of entertainment, restaurants, bars, and a healthy nightlife. During your dive, you may have the pleasure of seeing pufferfish, moray eels, porcupine fish, and even seahorses. A highlight of any trip to Cabo San Lucas and Cabo Pulmo is diving or snorkeling with the local sea lion colonies. Famed for its congregations of scalloped hammerheads and whale sharks, Gordo Banks steep walls and submerged plateau attract countless ocean-going giants such as huge manta rays, marlin, tuna, sailfish, wahoo, dolphins, devil rays, and bull sharks. It is home to sea lions, Comorans, vast schools of baitfish, pelagic fish, and more. Rescued from overfishing and pollution during the latter half of the 20th century, Cabo Pulmo National Park is a living monument to the powers of preservation in action. The lesser-known but even better attraction that Cabo offers is incredible world-class scuba diving opportunities. There is an excellent dive infrastructure here, and many operators also cater to snorkelers. Acrobatic mobulas show up every spring and autumn in their thousands for courting and breeding when water temperatures start to shift. It is also the quieter tourist season so many resorts can offer good deals. The corridor offers opportunities for drift dives where you may find pelagic fish, sharks, and sometimes even whales. Give the perfect gift for your favorite ocean lover and explorer. Coral and reefs are more abundant here and tiny critters and reef fish Ready to go scuba diving? From Los Cabos Airport it's a 30m drive south to reach the main hub for diving in Cabo San Lucas. The good news is that they can take the reading part and the written tests at home, and once they get to Cabo, they will continue with the practicing, making the whole process easier and faster. Included in our Lands End diving tour is the rock formation known as Neptunes Finger. courses, with experienced instructors, and organize world wide diving trips and expeditions. This area is also home to seahorses, moray eels, octopuses, and blennies that feed around the reef. With centers in Puerto Vallarta and Cabo, our award-winning team proudly leads dives at some of the top sites across Mexico. A perfect site for intrepid adventurers! humpback whales and their newborn calves? This was a great area because all the action is nearby. If there are people who want to learn to dive in your group, they can make the most of their vacations by learning how to scuba dive at Cabo. The west coast of Mexico is actually home to two separate coastlines. Pulmo talk to GTS gal Laura from Cabo Private Guide. Three of the best snorkeling sites are Pelicans Rock, which is a three-hour boat ride out, Santa Maria Bay, and Chileno Bay. If you are traveling from farther away, you will usually arrive into Mexico City Airport or Los Angeles International Airport and take a connecting flight to Los Cabos (2-2h 30m). Top 5 Reasons to Have Your Wedding in Cabo. On the regions southernmost point, the sheltered San Lucas Bay provides ideal novice diving conditions amongst rocky reefs and corridors, while the offshore walls and plateaus of Gordo Banks attract oceanic pelagics on migration into the Sea of Cortez. The North Wall near Lands End is home to a variety of eels, stingrays, puffer, box, cornet, and trumpetfish. Cabo San Lucas has a reputation for hosting spring break all year long, being a celebrity-infused party location, with tequila as far as the eye can see. On non-diving days take a boat taxi from the marina to see the iconic Land's End arch and spot sea lions en route. and stand up paddle boarding is also a popular pastime. Enjoy 20% OFF select PADI eLearning programs, FREE ReActivate online refresher, subscription to Scuba Diving magazine + so much more when you join PADI Club. She's a vagabond at heart who loves If you are ready for the best scuba in Mexico, it is time to head out with our Diving Tour at Lands End and the Arch. 310-915-6677 Snorkelers can spend hours exploring the nooks and crannies of the regions shallow bays, complete with sea lion encounters in San Lucas Bay. Non-certified divers can take a PADI Discover Scuba Diving course with a certified open water scuba instructor. Cabo San Lucas is a resort city on the southern tip of Mexicos Baja California peninsula where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez. courses. Live a life others only dream about. Sealion activity also tends to increase during the winter. Photos from Tim Yeo's Eco Socorro Recap, Dec 2019 - Jan 2020. The park is home to at least 350 marine species, and the sea lion action here is fantastic. Check out diving in Moorea. Looking for other great liveaboard dive destinations? The majority of diving in Cabo San Lucas and Cabo Pulmo is shore-based, either from, speedboats, pangas (small wooden boats), or straight off the beach. Among them: humpbacks, orcas, schooling mobula rays, blue whales, and even whale sharks. Experience Mexico with Latitude Encounters. These make truly amazing backdrops for dives ranging in difficulty from beginner to advanced. Spectacular marine flora and fauna thrive along the slopes of a breathtaking underwater mountain range. Lucky divers may meet the resident whitetip reef shark. PADI Dive Resorts for all budgets, in the best dive locations around the world. Baja California Sur. Frailes Rock in the south of the park is home to a lively sea lion rookery, and the shallow waters of the park allow great access to explore the fascinating macro and tropical fish of the inshore reefs. Pelican Rock has a school of snapper just outside its pinnacle. In particular, visitors can experience one of the, Little Cayman GoPro Video Workshop: April 2023, best sites globally for diving with sharks, best places in the world to snorkel with whale sharks, The World's Best Places to See Blue Whales. Replace or update your card, buy a Special Edition or Project AWARE version of your PADI certification card, or go digital with the purchase of a PADI eCard. Many liveaboards depart from Cabo San Lucas and may stop to dive the area on their way into the Sea of Cortez. here. Scuba diving in Los Cabos gives you the chance to do all of that and much more! They arrange scuba diving, whale watching and whale shark snorkelling tours in Los Cabos, with a personal touch. By contrast, the water gets up to 86 degrees in the fall (August-November), and on the warmest days, you can see up to 90 feet deep in the water. Cabo Sailing is offering both shared (public) and private daily sailing adventures that consistently exceeding our guests expectations. Like Cabo Pulmo National Park, the Sea of Cortez was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is protected from overfishingmaking it a location where you can experience some of the best diving in Mexico. Also in Santa Maria Bay, large schools of Cortez rays can sometimes be spotted in the shallow water, and lucky divers may encounter a banded guitarfish. Adventures in Baja can take you on a personalized tours of the whole of Create unforgettable memories in Cabo by embarking on the adventure of a lifetime with our wide selection of world-class tours! There are also many mountain and other nature activities available, like mountain biking and ATV rides, waterfalls, hikes and even bungee jumping for the extreme sports lovers. Los Cabos spans 3 areas at the southernmost tip of the Baja California Peninsula located in western Mexico - Cabo San Lucas, San Jose Del Cabo and the Corridor that connects them. You can make these dives whether you are a certified or non-certified diver. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, Cabo Pulmo National Park is an underwater treasure that cant be missed. It is home to banded guitarfish and rays during the spring and schools of fish and sea fans throughout the year. diving, hiking and adventure. For diving in Cabo San Lucas, fly into Los Cabos airport (SJD) which has excellent connections with the main cities of USA, Canada and Mexico. have beautiful beaches based at the mouth of the Sea of Cortez, with a beautiful mountainous desert in their background. Inshore sites such as Santa Maria and Chileno Bay are a great places to discover nudibranchs, crustaceans, and other critters sheltering under rocky reefs and amongst unique rock formations. Schooling rays and jacks can often be spotted, as well as numerous tropical fish and macro species amongst the gorgonian fans. We found some excellent restaurants that arent frequented by tourists and werent crowded. With breathtaking diversity and a unique ecosystem you can see why Cousteau named this area The World's Aquarium. As the most northern coral reef in the eastern Pacific and a UNESCO World Heritage site, this dive spot is a must for any scuba diver who comes to the area of Los Cabos. hang out among the boulders. Dive Cabo, Dive Ninja Expeditions. Those who are not ready for full scuba expeditions can enjoy snorkeling at several of these sites instead. Other regular visitors include tuna, turtles, and a variety of rays including mobula, devil, and manta rays. drifting in blue waters, which is also where most of the big animals spend their time hunting and swimming. Undersea Adventures: The 10 Best Snorkel and Dive Excursions in Los Cabos, Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, Land's End Adventures: 10 Best Outdoor Activities in Los Cabos, Cabo for Couples: 10 Best Romantic Things To Do in Los Cabos, Holiday Spirit in Los Cabos: Things to Do in December, Cost-Free Cabo: A Guide to Free Attractions in Los Cabos, Adventure Awaits: The 10 Best Activities and Attractions in Los Cabos, Photo courtesy of High Tide Sea Expeditions, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Nowhere else will you see this spectacular show of jumping, flipping and splashing on the surface, or be surrounded by hundreds of rays while freediving. Some people get concerned about swimming in cold, murky water. Between San Jose and Cabo San Lucas, where the bays and beaches are dotted with lavish resorts, the water teems with life. Book your fun dives, snorkelling trips and courses online with thousands of PADI Dive Centers. These playful pups are regulars at many of the areas dive sites and never fail to amuse and entertain with their mischievous antics. These latter two locations are swimmable beaches, also easily accessed by boat. giant manta rays in La Reina too! As a diver, with a PADI account you can access your eLearning along with many more tools to help you on your adventures. The best dive site in Los Cabos for pelagic marine animal sightings. Those looking for calm dive sites near Cabo San Lucas, teeming with a myriad of marine life will find no shortage of amazing mammals, fish, and other animals in the Sea of Cortez. On top of that, during the whale season in Puerto Vallarta, which goes from mid-December to the end of March, you have great chances to watch Humpback Whales on your way to your dive site at Marietas Islands. Nestled between the Baja California peninsula and the mainland of Mexico, the Sea of Cortez (also called the Gulf of California) is known for its calm waters and an incredible array of marine life, including colorful corals. All of this and more is possible in Cabo and the surrounding areas! Cabo San Lucas offers something for everyone, and the lively resort makes it a great holiday destination. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned diver, youll find that we have a myriad of expeditions tailored to meet your needs. Scuba dives are offered at all the most popular and exciting sights. The area is famous for its breathtaking rock formations, including the picturesque El Arco (The Arch), an enormous rock arch that divers can swim through, and the site of the Lunderberg, an American-German boat that shipwrecked mysteriously. Visiting Hidden Beach at the Marietas Islands. Just under the surface, the islands show their true colors. road tripping in Baja California Choose from a selection of more than 250 vessels and 18,000 trips worldwide. If you are not yet a scuba diver, or you fancy some time away from the tank, there are so many amazing snorkel sites and activities. Read more about diving the Socorro Islands or find out why it is one of our top liveaboard destinations. Snorkeling with these gentle giants is an experience like no other. Tell them Girls that Scuba sent you, you'll be part of the family in no time! Several operators in Cabo San Lucas offer non-divers a taste of the regions exciting marine diversity, running ocean safari trips to snorkel and free-dive with some iconic pelagic giants. face-to-face with some of the most beautiful animals in the ocean. North of Cabo San Lucas, Cabo Pulmo National Park offers scenic diving made for marine wildlife lovers. And While your there you can also go snorkeling with sea lions near the island of Espritu Santo, there's also Approximately 8 miles offshore at Cabo San Lucas, Gordo Banks is an exposed seamount and submerged plateau that attracts large ocean-going pelagics around its steep walls. This course entails 15-20 minutes of short explanations of the necessary skills you need to learn before heading out on your scuba adventure. With a PADI Travel account, you can favourite dive operators to come back to later on any device or computer. All rights reserved. During the autumn and through till spring is Whale shark season in La Paz, which is only 2 June to November has the warmest water temperatures in the Sea of Cortez, with good visibility and hot, dry surface conditions. We stayed at a condo resort near the marina.