Diving in La Paz: what the Sea of Cortez offers divers

Jacques Cousteau called the Sea of Cortez "the aquarium of the world". Dive here and you understand why. On a single day you might share the water with sea lions, schooling fish, rays and turtles, and on lucky days a hammerhead shark.

Our founder, Dani, spent five years diving and leading expeditions across the Socorro Islands and the Sea of Cortez before he started Baja Below Surface. This guide sets out what diving from La Paz looks like with us, from a single day to a full week.

What can you see diving in the Sea of Cortez?

On our day dives, expect sea lions, schooling fish, rays, turtles, and the occasional hammerhead shark. Our multi-day expedition reaches further, to sites with big animals, seamounts, wrecks and walls.

As on every trip, we don't control marine life, so we never promise to see any animal. A hammerhead is a lucky day, not a plan.

Water temperature and wetsuits

Both our diving trips run all year round, and the water changes a lot across the year.

From July to September it is around 30 °C, and in October and November about 28 °C. You will not need a wetsuit in those months.

From December to February it is 23 to 25 °C, and a 3/5 mm wetsuit is comfortable. March and April are the coolest months, at 21 to 23 °C, so plan on a 5/7 mm wetsuit. In May and June it is 25 to 28 °C, and a 3 mm wetsuit is enough.

If you want to combine diving with a particular wildlife season, such as whale sharks or the mobula rays, see our wildlife calendar guide.

The day trip: two-tank dives from La Paz

Diving in the Sea of Cortez is a full day, about 7 to 8 hours, with two guided tank dives at some of the best spots in the area. We meet at the Muelle Fiscal pier in La Paz, on the Malecón. Hotel pickup is not included.

Groups are small, with up to 7 divers. You can take a shared place in a small group, or book the boat privately for your own group.

Dive gear and a certified guide are included, and our guides speak fluent Spanish and English. So are lunch, snacks and water, and a video of the experience. On board you will find water and soft drinks, fruit, cookies and a meal, usually a local fish ceviche. Bring your own camera if you like. A professional photo package can be added when you request your place.

Do I need to be certified?

Not for the day trip. If you are not certified, you will do an intro dive, also called a discovery dive, which follows a different procedure from a certified dive. The trip is rated intermediate, and the minimum age is 12. You should be comfortable in the water.

For the expedition, yes, but an Open Water certification is enough. You also need dive insurance. The minimum age is 12.

The expedition: a week of diving the Sea of Cortez

Our Diving in the Sea of Cortez expedition is 7 days, with 5 days of diving. That is 2 dives a day and 10 dives in total, for up to 7 divers.

The plan is to visit the best sites in the area. The exact sites depend on the weather and on availability. Expect big animals, seamounts, wrecks and walls.

It is not a liveaboard. The expedition is land-based, and we return to the hotel every day after our time at sea. Accommodation, all meals, dive gear, an experienced trip leader, and photos and video of the expedition are included. We can accommodate dietary restrictions.

The expedition is designed around your group, its needs and its expectations.

What to bring

For the day trip: swimwear and a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat, and warm clothing.

For the expedition, we recommend bringing your own dive gear if possible. Also pack a towel, sunglasses, a cap, warm and waterproof layers, and reef-safe sunscreen. Travel insurance is recommended. Gratuities are not included on either trip, and you can pay by card.

How we dive

Touching any animal is prohibited. That matters here, because many animals in the Sea of Cortez are curious and will come close.

We follow one principle on every dive: "The best interaction with wildlife is one in which the animal never had to change its behavior because of our presence." We do not chase, feed or touch wildlife. We keep groups small, we watch, and we let the ocean set the terms.

Which dive trip is right for me?

Choose the day trip if you are in La Paz for a few days, want a taste of the Sea of Cortez, or are not yet certified. Choose the expedition if you hold at least an Open Water certification and want a full week built around the best sites in the region.

Book your dives

Diving in the Sea of Cortez runs as a day trip from the Muelle Fiscal pier in La Paz, and as a 7-day expedition for certified divers. Both run all year, for up to 7 divers. Request your place below, or message us on WhatsApp to talk through your experience and dates.