Surrounded by water on three sides, the southern reaches of Baja California Sur offer some of the best diving in Mexico. Tropical and temperate zones meet to create a shallow playground for hammerheads, whale sharks - and delighted divers.
There's so much to feast your eyes on while diving in Baja California Sur you won't know where to look. Marvel at dense schools of jacks, bait balls, tuna and jawfish as mobula rays glide overhead. Fun-loving sea lions offer amazing photo opportunities as they frolic and pose for cameras.
Nudibranchs, snails, crabs and shrimps ensure macro-lovers are catered for. If diving in Baja California Sur was summed up in three words, they would be 'spoilt for choice'. A special bonus: the region is a jumping off point for Socorro Island.
Diving in Baja California Sur is excellent year-round but each season brings its own gems. July to November has excellent visibility (25m). This season is also prime time for whale sharks (best chances in October/November) and offers the warmest water (73-85°F/23-30°C).
Cooler waters between December and March (64-68°F/18-20°C) bring different creatures. Now is the best time do come face-to-face with humpback whales and mobula rays. Whatever time of year you visit, your logbook will be pleasantly full after diving in Baja California Sur.
You can dive with the famous colony of sea lions at Los Islotes all year except for June-August when the area is closed for mating season. If you plan to extend your trip with a visit to Socorro Island, the liveaboard season is November-May.
Baja California Sur is a Mexican state on the southern end of the Baja California Peninsula. Its glossy capital city - La Paz - is a popular starting point for diving in Baja California Sur. It has one of the state's best connected airports and offers some stellar dive sites in the Sea of Cortez.
For diving in Baja California Sur, travelers from the US, Europe and Asia can fly into Mexico City - a huge international airport and the main gateway into Mexico - then take a short connecting flight to La Paz (2h 25m). Once in La Paz hire a car for maximum freedom.
Alternatively, Los Cabos Airport at the southern tip of the peninsular is very well-connected and puts you at the heart of equally excellent scuba diving. If you plan to include Socorro Island in your trip, you can join a liveaboard from Los Cabos. The journey takes about a day but the world-class biodiversity is worth it.
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