Intermediate Mexico
La Paz
A colony of sea lions that plays with divers, and a bay where whale sharks feed in winter
On an islet north of the bay lives a colony of sea lions where the juveniles come close to nibble fins and spin around your mask. And in the bay, in winter, whale sharks feed just a few meters below the surface.
In this profile you'll find how diving works in the southern Sea of Cortez, what you'll see each season, how the regulated encounters with sea lions and whale sharks work, what the water temperature demands, and when it's best to go.
The Sea of Cortez is one of the most productive seas on the planet, and this is its easiest access point: big animals, regulated encounters, and city logistics, all in the same place.
Geography and access
La Paz is on the east coast of the Baja California peninsula, inside the gulf that separates the peninsula from the mainland.
That gulf is a young, deep sea, with seafloors that exceed a kilometer and exceptional productivity driven by upwellings of cold, nutrient-rich water.
Off the city, a large island and several islets shelter a shallow bay of turquoise water and sandy bottoms.
At the northern tip of that island, a rocky islet holds a stable colony of sea lions, the most visited dive site of the destination.
The inner bay, sheltered and shallow, is where juvenile whale sharks gather during the cold season.
Access is by domestic or international flight to the city, with boat departures of twenty to ninety minutes depending on the site.
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