Ultimate Whale Shark & Sea Lion Sea Of Cortez Trip 2025
August 23 - August 30 , 2025
Macro Critters
Whale Shark Encounters
Whale Encounters
Free Photo Workshops
Why Join This Trip- Inclusions & Exclusions
- Trip Type
- Trip Overview
- Accommodations
- Photo Gallery
- About the Trip Leader
- How to Get There
- Payment Schedule
Why join this Trip?
Rocio del Mar Cabin
Air Conditioning (AC)En Suite BathroomHot Water ShowerCamera RoomDouble Occupancy
$3,095p/p
OptionalLand Extensions
Inclusions
Exclusions
Trip type
Photography Workshop
Led by one of our photo instructors and will include daily underwater photography tutorials, in-water photography support, and one-to-one advice and guidance as required.
Read more about the trip
Trip Overview
Trip Overview
This trip offers a great combination of big animals and fascinating macro life. There's always something for everyone. Plus, it's really easy to get to being only a 4-hour drive from Phoenix, AZ.
Check out this cool video from diving the Sea of Cortez:
The Sea of Cortez is home to sea lions, whale sharks, manta and mobula rays, dolphins, and huge schools of fish. Sperm whales, pilot whales, and dolphins are also commonly spotted.
It doesn't just stop there as the Sea of Cortez is also a perfect place to practice your macro photography skills. You will get to see nice varieties of nudibranchs, Panamic arrow crabs, Pacific seahorses, jawfish, small and big octopuses, frogfish, and blennies.
Some macro photos from our 2024 trip to the Sea of Cortez
The boat will depart from Puerto Peasco at 6 pm on Saturday and then travel for 12 hours to arrive the next morning for a 7 am dive. You will be diving 3-4 times per day on this trip. Here's a sample day-by-day itinerary of this trip:
- Day 1 - Embark at 5 pm in Puerto Peasco. Depart at 6 pm
- Day 2 - Wake up at Refugio Bay on Angel Island
- Potential Dive sites: Angel Rock, La Vela, Lolos Cove, Sunset Zodiak Cruise with Sea Lions
- Day 3 - Angel Island
- Potential Dive sites: Andreas Eagle, El Aquario, Las Vivoras, Las Vivoras including a night dive
- Day 4 - San Pedro Martir Potential Dive sites: El Arroyo, Punta Martir (Sea Lions), Chayos Cove
- Day 5 - San Pedro Martir
- Potential Dive sites: Ravijunco, Xarenis Pinnacle, Coromel, Morrito, in the afternoon we go looking for whales!
- Day 6 - Salsipuedes & Animas
- Potential Dive sites: Los Cuervos, El Caballo, In Animas, El Lavadero, El Lavadero including a night dive
- Day 7 - Baja and Snorkeling with Whale Sharks in Bahia De Los Angeles
- Potential Dive sites: El Pescador, Baja Ca., start heading back to Puerto Penasco in afternoon
- Day 8 - Disembark at 7 am
To learn more about what you can expect from this Sea of Cortez trip, check our 2024 Sea of Cortez trip report. Also see the reviews on diving the Sea of Cortez here.
Recommended Scuba Gear
- 5mm wetsuit and a hooded vest. Browse Wetsuits at Bluewater Photo
- A good mask and snorkel for whale shark snorkelling. We recommend the Cressi ZS1 & Corsica Snorkeling Package
- Anti-fog.
- Dive light/torch. We suggest Kraken NR-2000 Dive Light
- Pointer.
- Travel BCD. Read our Best Travel BCD Article
- Travel regulator. We suggest Mares Ultra 62X Dive Regulator
Accommodations
About The Rocio Del Mar
Rocio Del Mar is one of the most popular liveaboards sailing in the area, offering excellent service and fantastic food. There are 10 cabins for up to a maximum of 20 divers, all offering private bathrooms with hot shower stalls, Western-style toilets, and above-height windows. Cabins are carpeted and have air-conditioning, plus convenient gear and clothes storage drawers beneath the beds.
Check out this page to see more details and customer reviews on the Rocio Del Mar.
About the Trip Leader
Nirupam Nigam
Nirupam Nigam is the Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and the President of Bluewater Photo & Video - the world's top underwater photo & video retailer. While growing up in Los Angeles he fell in love with the ocean and pursued underwater photography in the local Channel Islands. After receiving degrees in Aquatic and Fisheries Science and General Biology, as well as a minor in Arctic Studies, Nirupam worked as a fisheries observer on vessels in the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Since then, Nirupam has been a full time underwater photographer and photo gear head.
You can get in touch with him at nirupam@uwphotographyguide.com or through his website www.photosfromthesea.com.
How to Get There
Flight Information
Trip attendees will fly in and out of Phoenix, Arizona, which is the closest international airport. You should fly in on Saturday morning and arrive before 11 am. For return flights, book anytime after 2 pm.
Head Out To Rocky Point offers a shuttle service to and from the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and takes you directly to the boat. It takes approximately 3.5-4 hours. The cost is $150 per person, round trip. All passengers will be picked up at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport at 1pm, Terminal 4, Door 5 outside on the far side of the street. The shuttles are clearly marked Head Out To Rocky Point. The shuttle will stop at the border so passengers can purchase Mexico Tourist Cards. If you choose to stay at a hotel the evening prior, be sure to be back at the airport by 12:30 so you can comfortably get to the shuttle departure area by 1pm. On disembarkation day the shuttle departs the boat at 7am.
Book the round-trip Head Out to Rocky Point Shuttle here: https://www.headouttorockypoint.com/scuba.
Flight Package
Our group trips attract guests from all over the globe and many of our customers prefer to book their own flights to take advantage of mileage points or credit card discounts. For these reasons, flights are not included in our group trip packages.
However, we are more than happy to work with you to find the best travel itinerary for your trip and will gladly give suggestions and advice, even if you make the final booking. We will check through your travel reservations at any time to ensure they fit with the trip schedule and can give recommendations on transit hotels and day tours where needed.
If you would like us to book flights and transit hotels for domestic and/or international travel on your behalf, we are also happy to arrange this. Please be advised that there is a ticketing fee for this service. Contact Us for more information.
Payment Schedule
- Deposit: $825 to book your spot
- Payment 2: $825 due 15 January 2025
- Balance: due 15 April 2025
Ultimate Whale Shark & Sea Lion Sea Of Cortez Trip 2025
Book now and experience adventure
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by Jenny Hanna
