Best of the Sea of Cortez
Enjoy the abundance of Mexico's Sea of Cortez as you visit some classic dive locations and venture further to lesser known spots.
The Sea of Cortez is a real haven for divers. Its extraordinary marine ecosystem, combined with striking natural scenery, has earned it UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
Encounter the playful sea lions of Los Islotes, immerse yourself in swirling tornadoes of bigeye jacks and vast schools of skipjacks, and keep an eye out for large pods of dolphins. The area is also home to turtles, mobulas, sperm whales, gobies and hammerhead sharks around El Bajo and Los Animas. Add to this an impressive variety of whale species, fascinating shipwrecks, atmospheric night dives, and, for the truly fortunate, sightings of giant mantas at La Reina.
Itineraries are typically 5 or 7 nights, with select departures in season focusing on whale shark encounters in Bahia de Los Angeles.
View Departures Send Enquiry Speak to an expert. Call 01353 659999
- Holiday type Liveaboard Itinerary
- Recommended Dive Experience Mixed experience
- When to Go Jul-Oct
Itinerary Highlights
- Enjoy dolphins, mobula & maybe hammerheads around El Bajo & Los Animas
- Dive Espiritu Santos, one of the Sea of Cortez' classic dive spots
- Increased chance of big animal encounters with spotter plane support (select departures)
- Whale sharks in Bahia de Los Angeles (select departures, May to November)
Upcoming departures
Upcoming departures for Best of the Sea of Cortez are listed below or view all departures on our Holiday Search where you can also sort/filter.
Nautilus Under Sea
£2,399
- Departure Date: 12 Jul 26
- Country / Itinerary: Mexico, Sea of Cortez - Mobulas and Orcas
- Nights: 7
- Embark Disembark: Cabo San Lucas La Paz
- Spaces Available: 2
Additional information
- Dive areas visited: Mexico: Sea of Cortez
- Typical number of dives on trip: Please enquire
- Minimum dive experience: Please enquire
- Required certification: PADI advanced or equivalent
- Additional costs to be aware of:
– Does not include $35 fee per person port fee:
$35 USD
– Park Fees
Cabins
Stateroom Lower Deck
- Bed Type: Bunk
- Location: Lower deck
- Avble. Spaces: 2
- Air Con: Yes, individually controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Nautilus Explorer
£2,960
- Departure Date: 15 Jul 26
- Country / Itinerary: Mexico, Sea of Cortez - Mobulas and Orcas
- Nights: 10
- Embark Disembark: La Paz La Paz
- Spaces Available: 15
Additional information
- Dive areas visited: Mexico: Sea of Cortez
- Typical number of dives on trip: Please enquire
- Minimum dive experience: Please enquire
- Required certification: PADI advanced or equivalent
- Additional costs to be aware of:
– Park Fees
Cabins
Triple Stateroom Lower Deck
- Bed Type: Double
- Location: Lower deck
- Avble. Spaces: 3
- Air Con: Yes, centrally controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Twin Stateroom Lower Deck
- Bed Type: Twin (2 singles)
- Location: Lower deck
- Avble. Spaces: 6
- Air Con: Yes, centrally controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Superior Suite Upper Deck
- Bed Type: Twin (2 singles)
- Location: Upper deck
- Avble. Spaces: 6
- Air Con: Yes, centrally controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Nautilus Under Sea
£3,201
- Departure Date: 19 Jul 26
- Country / Itinerary: Mexico, Sea of Cortez - Mobulas and Orcas
- Nights: 10
- Embark Disembark: Cabo San Lucas La Paz
- Spaces Available: 13
Additional information
- Dive areas visited: Mexico: Sea of Cortez
- Typical number of dives on trip: Please enquire
- Minimum dive experience: Please enquire
- Required certification: PADI advanced or equivalent
- Additional costs to be aware of:
– Park Fees
Cabins
Stateroom Lower Deck
- Bed Type: Bunk
- Location: Lower deck
- Avble. Spaces: 13
- Air Con: Yes, individually controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Nautilus Belle Amie
£2,199
- Departure Date: 24 Jul 26
- Country / Itinerary: Mexico, Whale sharks and sea of cortez
- Nights: 7
- Embark Disembark: Cabo San Lucas La Paz
- Spaces Available: 4
Additional information
- Dive areas visited: Mexico: Sea of Cortez
- Typical number of dives on trip: Please enquire
- Minimum dive experience: Please enquire
- Required certification: PADI advanced or equivalent
- Additional costs to be aware of:
– Park Fees
Cabins
Triple Stateroom Lower Deck
- Bed Type: Bunk
- Location: Lower deck
- Avble. Spaces: 3
- Air Con: Yes, centrally controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Twin Stateroom Lower Deck
- Bed Type: Twin (2 singles)
- Location: Lower deck
- Avble. Spaces: 1
- Air Con: Yes, centrally controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Nautilus Explorer
£2,960
- Departure Date: 25 Jul 26
- Country / Itinerary: Mexico, Sea of Cortez - Mobulas and Orcas
- Nights: 10
- Embark Disembark: La Paz La Paz
- Spaces Available: 22
Additional information
- Dive areas visited: Mexico: Sea of Cortez
- Typical number of dives on trip: Please enquire
- Minimum dive experience: Please enquire
- Required certification: PADI advanced or equivalent
- Additional costs to be aware of:
– Park Fees
Cabins
Triple Stateroom Lower Deck
- Bed Type: Double
- Location: Lower deck
- Avble. Spaces: 3
- Air Con: Yes, centrally controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Twin Stateroom Lower Deck
- Bed Type: Twin (2 singles)
- Location: Lower deck
- Avble. Spaces: 12
- Air Con: Yes, centrally controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Single Stateroom Lower Deck
- Bed Type: Single
- Location: Lower deck
- Avble. Spaces: 1
- Air Con: Yes, centrally controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Superior Suite Upper Deck
- Bed Type: Twin (2 singles)
- Location: Upper deck
- Avble. Spaces: 6
- Air Con: Yes, centrally controlled
- Ensuite: Yes
Dive areas you may visit on this itinerary
Areas you may visit on Sea of Cortez liveaboard itineraries vary and are decided on the cruise based on the expert local knowledge of the crew and the best diving areas at that particular time.
For those eager to spot the whale sharks, late summer to autumn (August to November) is the prime time, as plankton blooms attract these gentle giants. Love big marine life? Plan your trip between June and October, when the water is warmer, visibility is good, and encounters with manta rays, sea lions, and schooling hammerheads become more common. For waters teeming with nutrients and vibrant biodiversity, the months from November to May provide unforgettable experiences with stunning marine life.
On any itinerary, you're likely to see some of the following:
- Multiple mega pods of dolphins
- Curious & fun California sea lions
- Mobula & cow nose rays
- Hammerhead sharks
- Giant tornadoes of fish
There's also the possibility of manta ray, sperm whale or orca, but these species are spotted less frequently.
7-night itineraries head a little further to Loreto National Park for more excellent diving. 7-night whale shark itineraries also visit Bahia de Los Angeles.
Please note that itineraries vary, and the above is just a sample of what can be seen.
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