Sea of Cortez Dive/Snorkeling trip Whale Sharks, sea-lions and more

Whale sharks!! Who doesn’t want to swim with whale sharks, especially when there are loads of them in a deserted bay and national park deep into the reaches and best diving in the Sea of Cortez. Fingers crossed on orcas, fin back and sperm whales.
This adventure combines some of the best diving in the Sea of Cortez with a large seasonal gathering of whale sharks in a deserted bay in the middle of nowhere. This summer gathering of whale sharks is legendary in Baja. Between 80 and 220 whale sharks have been identified during May to October. Bonus is all the other big critters in the Sea of Cortez this time of year. Keep an eye out for orcas, pilot whales, sperm whales and finback whales, as well as going ashore on a desert island with the largest population of blue-footed boobies in the world.
Fly into Los Cabos (SJD). No problem to fly in the same day you are boarding your ship or fly in early and take advantage of some day boat adventures or complimentary photo and video workshop. This is a GREAT time of year to dive Gordo Banks.
Ultimate whale sharks Sea of Cortez Expedition-great for any level diver and non-divers/snorkelers too
Aug 7-14, 2026
Snorkeling opportunities with some of the 220+ whale sharks in the Sea of Cortez during the season
Snorkeling/Diving with sea lions and huge schools of fish
Possible snorkeling with other whales like Orcas, Fin Backs, Pilots and Sperm Whales
Approximately 15 dives in addition to snorkeling and other activities
Going ashore to explore remote islands
Unique dives sites exploring Unesco World Heritage Conservation Parks in the Sea of Cortez
Calm to flat seas are the norm making our journey aboard the luxurious, stabilized Belle Amie even more relaxed
Ok to fly in out of SJD (Cabo) same days as departure/arrival
Dinner is included Aug 7 after boarding
Instructor led-opportunities for further certifications while enjoying your trip
Available Cabins
3 staterooms for 6 people 3200 per person includes port fee, nitrox, trip swag bag, and RT airport transfers
2 suites for 4 people 3700 per person includes port fee, nitrox, trip swag bag, and RT airport transfers
1 luxury premium suite for 2 people 4200 per person includes port fee, nitrox, trip swag bag, and RT airport transfers
Courtesy hold for 72 hours
Then 750 deposit per person
750 due Feb 1, 2026
Trip Balance Due June 1, 2026
Wow!! The whale sharks of Bahía de los Ángeles are amazing. We don’t know of anywhere else on the planet where you can swim with whale sharks and have the sanctuary all to ourselves. Sometimes there may be another boat in the bay, but it’s rare. What makes this even more special is the behavior of the whale sharks themselves as they are often quite friendly and even interactive with us.
Will you always be able to swim with good numbers of whale sharks?? Not necessarily, this is the mother ocean, after
all, not Disney Land! But our success rate has been excellent from June through October every year.
There is a lot more to this adventure aside from the whale sharks. On day 2 of the trip, we will likely start out at Las
Ánimas with loads of sea lions and schooling fish, as well as the best chance of seeing hammerhead sharks in the
Sea of Cortez. After that, we will continue adventuring north, travelling at night and anchoring during the day at our
favorite sites, in some of the most rewarding, remote and difficult areas to get to in Baja. Please note that this trip finishes with a day at sea running south back to La Paz. We will be on sharp lookout for
interesting critters to splash with along the way, and have had very good luck jumping in with pilot whales, as well as
some encounters with finback and sperm whales.
👌🏻Swimming with whale sharks
👌🏻Large numbers of dolphins
👌🏻Super playful sea lions
👌🏻Huge swirling schools of fish
👌🏻Really unique “birding”
🤞🏻Hammerhead sharks
🤞🏻Pilot whales
🤞🏻Finback whales
🤞🏻Sperm whales and orcas
Not included:
Airfare
Pre/post trip excursions (we will likely offer a pre-trip snorkel with sea lions and separate 2 tank dive from La Paz)
Hotel stays for trip extension
Rental gear through nautilus (please rent/purchase from Island Divers at discounted rates)
Day 1 – Boarding Day! The Luxurious Belle Amie awaits our arrival!
Please check in at SeeCreatures Cabo by 4:30 pm for your coach transfer to La Paz, where our hosties will be waiting for you on the back deck with trays of margaritas and champagne, dinner on the stove and departure for the Sea of Cortez.
Days 2 – 7
Every day will be different and your captain and dive guides will update your itinerary to maximize animal and diving encounters and minimize any challenges with weather. This is a stunning time of year to dive the Sea of Cortez with water temps typically in the high 70’s and 80s.
One of the nicest things about this time of year is that the seas are generally very calm without any motion aboard our heavy steel stabilized ships. You can expect to visit Las Animas, Isla San Ildefonso, San Pedro Martir, and Bahia de Los Angeles.
We will spend the last day at sea exploring our secret hot spot near Mulegé, where pilot whales, dolphins, and other incredible marine life are often encountered.
Day 8 – Last Day
Morning breakfast. Disembark at 8:30 am in La Paz. A complimentary transfer back to either SeeCreatures Cabo San Lucas or SJD Airport.