Route Description - Ultimate Whale Sharks in the Sea of Cortez 8 days / 7 nights
Whale sharks!! Who doesn’t want to swim with whale sharks, especially when there are loads of them to see in a deserted bay and national park deep into the reaches of the Sea of Cortez. Bahia de Los Angles is a very special place with up to 220 friendly and curious whale sharks visiting every season and is best accessed by a liveaboard expedition ship. Friendly and curious whale sharks?? Yes indeed. There are so few boats around that these whale sharks behave very differently around humans than in any other place. So break out the good china and sign up for a trip, joining us for a superb 8 or 10 day Ultimate Whale summer expedition.
This adventure combines some of the best diving in the Sea of Cortez supported by our spotter airplane 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. We will be keeping a sharp lookout 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.
Typical Itinerary
Fly into Los Cabos (SJD). While it’s easy to fly into SJD on the same day that you are boarding your ship, we encourage you to come in a day or two early and take advantage of some extra diving. Perhaps warming up with a local 2 tanker, taking a nitrox course or maybe enjoying the more challenging diving at Gordo Banks or a day trip to Cabo Pulmo. Our concierge team will happily assist with finding you the best deal on local hotels.
Day 1 – Boarding Day!
Please check in at SeeCreatures Cabo by 4:30 pm at the latest for your coach transfer to La Paz. Our hosties will be waiting on the back deck for you with silver trays of chilled champagne. Dinner onboard and we will be getting underway for the start of your adventure.
The Sea of Cortez!
Everyday 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 great time of year to dive the Sea of Cortez with water temps in the high 70’s or 80’s. One of the nicest things about this time of year is that the seas are often very calm without any motion aboard our heavy steel stabilized ships. Our spotter airplane will be out scouting for big animals during your trip with fingers crossed on pilot, blue and sperm whales and hopefully even orcas.
Day 2
Las Animas. Sea lions and fingers crossed on hammerhead sharks.
Day 3
Isla San Ildefonso. Lovely diving north of Loreto.
Day 4
Isla San Pedro Martir. The jewel of the Sea of Cortez. Loads of sea lions, black coral, great diving. And the largest population of blue footed boobies in the world
Day 5
Bahia de Los Angeles. Whooohhoooo!! This is it. The dream. The ultimate destination for whale sharks and lots of them. We may have the bay entirely to ourselves with morning and afternoon swimming with these friendly whale sharks using local pangas and captains.
Day 6
Stopping back in a Isla San Pedro Martir because it’s a great dive site. And it’s special diving in such a remote place.
Day 7
At sea with spotter airplane support with special attention to our “secret hot spot” by Mulege. We usually encounter pilot whales and dolphins at the hot spot and sometimes sperm whales. And of course you are very welcome to jump in the water with them.
Day 8 – Last Day
8:00 am arrival in La Paz with complimentary transfers back to SJD or SeeCreatures Cabo. Or better yet, stay with us in La Paz for a bit longer and we will get you out on more local diving!