Diving in La Paz

Scuba diving expedition in La Paz

Why dive in La Paz?

La Paz and the Sea of Cortez are one of the most magical and undiscovered diving destinations in Mexico and the world. Diving with friendly sea lions, playing with their pups, and exploring shipwrecks are just a few of the wonders hidden in La Paz’s underwater world. Check here out our diving spots.

Here, in Mexico Travel Adventure we are diving fanatics and we perfectly know what is needed to have a completely satisfying underwater experience. We just work with small groups because we don’t like crowded dives, and we want our divers to experience authentic, fulfilling adventures.

Have you never scuba dived and want to experience it for the first time? We can teach you! Click here to see our Diving courses.

Description

Our diving expeditions in La Paz take place in such incredible places as wrecks, rocky reefs, and colonies of friendly sea lions. In addition, it is common to see sea turtles, mobulas, schools of fish and some marine invertebrates such as octopuses or nudibranchs. And sometimes, in the right places and with a little luck, we can see sharks, dolphins, diving cormorants, and giant manta rays.

Diving with sea lions is not allowed during their reproductive season (June, July, and august). We’ll take you to other cool dive sites!

Diving in La Paz is a unique experience!

Itinerary

The day begins at 8 am, when we meet at the marina to depart from La Paz. The closest diving site is around 40 minutes away, and the farthest one around 2 hours.

Depending on weather conditions and the wishes of the group, we will visit the sites with the most potential. Either after both dives, or in between them, we will stop at one of the many beautiful beaches of La Paz to enjoy a delicious lunch with shade, drinks, and local fresh food. We will return to La Paz at around 3 and 4 pm.

Gallery

Duration: from 7 to 8 hours.

Requirements: Be certified in scuba diving or take the 1-day “Discovery” course.

Difficulty: Most of the dives are shallower than 20m, and the visibility and current vary throughout the year, however, they are not considered dives that require a lot of technical experience. We adapt to the level of the group.

Minimum number of participants: 3 people. In case of not reaching the minimum, we will connect you with one of our collaborators.

Included

Trained guide and captain.

Permits for the protected natural area.

Safety equipment on the boat.

Tanks and boat insurance.

Water, lunch and beverages.

Tanks, weights, fins and mask.

Not Included

Alcoholic beverages.

Diving Insurance.

Wetsuit, BCD, regulator, divecomputer, lamp or buoys.

You must bring

Environmentally friendly sunscreen.

Waterproof wind jacket and bathing suit.

Diving certification.

Sun protection.

Book

Price per person: MXN 3790

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Reviews

Elia Medina Villalba

Simply incredible

An amazing experience. Guide Karen is delightful; you can tell she loves what she does and conveys it. The MTA company made things very easy. I will repeat with them. I recommend it 100%

África Almagro

Diving with sea lions

The overall experience was unbeatable. One of the main reasons I embarked on my trip to La Paz was to enjoy diving and explore the depths of the Sea of Cortez. Throughout the journey, I was accompanied by a team of professionals who helped me become familiar with the marine environment.

Marius Carbonell del Hoyo

Unique experience

Our group of friends was delighted. The experience with sea lions was unforgettable!!! The boat that took us to the sea lion colony was very comfortable and fast. The lunch after the second dive was a spectacular. Ceviche served on a completely pristine beach. Our dive guide was Andrea, a dive master and biologist, who explained in great detail all the questions we had about all the animals we saw, like having an encyclopedia on board!! A 10 out of 10 experience!!

José Felix

Top expedition!!

Marvelous diving experience at Espiritu Santo Island. We did multiple dives with the Mexico Travel Adventure agency (who organized a week of tourism in La Paz for us, including hotel, excursions, and diving). Both Karen and Andrea were fantastic hosts. We dove with sea lions at their colony, visited two shipwrecks, explored a magnificent reef teeming with life in the ‘Aquarium of the World.’ And all the diving outings included a lunch where we enjoyed ceviche and burritos. We sailed with excellent captains on the pangas (speedboats) in small groups, creating a cozy and pleasant atmosphere.

Mauricio Ramirez

Perfect diving

Impeccable diving! We visited the sea lion colony and Fang Ming, a fascinating sunken ship with abundant marine life! I would definitely do it again. Highly recommended.

Diving Sites in La Paz

In La Paz, you can enjoy various diving spots, from sunken ships teeming with turtles to stunning coral reefs filled with fish and other marine invertebrates. However, the main attraction for diving in La Paz is the playful sea lions that inhabit Los Islotes.

Fang Ming Wreck
Depth: 21 meters
Level: Intermediate
The Fang-Ming is one of our favorites. It was part of a government project to create artificial reefs in Espiritu Santo. It sank in 1999 and is now a refuge for a multitude of species. Along its 54-meter length, you can often spot turtles, large groupers, and black coral. This ship has been adapted for interior exploration, making it a spectacular adventure filled with discoveries.
Salvatierra Wreck
Depth: 20 meters
Level: Intermediate
The Fang-Ming is one of our favorites. It was part of a government project to create artificial reefs in Espiritu Santo. It sank in 1999 and is now a refuge for a multitude of species. Along its 54-meter length, you can often spot turtles, large groupers, and black coral. This ship has been adapted for interior exploration, making it a spectacular adventure filled with discoveries.
C-59
Depth: 19 meters
Level: Beginner
The ship is a sunken vessel that was part of the government project to create artificial reefs in Espiritu Santo. Donated by the American government, it is now used as a refuge by various species of fish and invertebrates. Turtles are also frequently spotted at this site..
San Rafaelito .
Depth: 12 – 25 meters
Level: Beginner
This is an excellent site near La Paz, home to a small colony of sea lions. Here, you can observe a wide variety of reef fish, soft coral, and, of course, the sea lions. It is particularly special for night dives, offering great opportunities to observe various invertebrates.
Punta Lobos
Depth: 10 – 30 meters
Level: Beginner
This site is the former location of the main sea lion colony; it was abandoned over 30 years ago and is now a rocky reef where a wide variety of species can be observed. With a bit of luck, you may even see schools of mobula rays feeding in the area.
El Bajo
Depth: 25 – 30 meters
Level: Advanced
This is a seamount located north of the archipelago. This site is exposed to strong currents and is suitable for advanced divers only. Due to its location, with a bit of luck, you may encounter schools of hammerhead sharks during the spring and summer seasons.
La Reina
Depth: 15 – 30 meters
Level: Intermediate
This is an islet located at the northern tip of Cerralvo Island. This site is frequented by giant manta rays during the summer months and is also a resting area for sea lions. It boasts a wide variety of species that can be enjoyed by intermediate and advanced divers.
Los Islotes
Depth: 5 – 30 meters
Level: Beginner
Los Islotes is the gem of La Paz diving sites, consisting of two islets at the northern tip of the Espiritu Santo archipelago, located 1.5 hours away from La Paz. In this area, you can encounter anywhere from 500 to 800 sea lions. Within Los Islotes, there are various routes to explore, catering to divers of all levels.
Swanee Reef
Depth: 12 meters
Level: Beginner
Swanee is our favorite reef for both beginner and advanced divers. Located in the San Lorenzo channel, it serves as a sanctuary for schools of sardines, barracudas, mackerels, snappers, sergeant majors, triggerfish, grunts, and many other species. It is also a special spot for observing nudibranchs, moray eels, garden eels, and octopuses.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it necessary to be certified in diving to join diving expeditions in La Paz?

No, you can do the Discover Scuba Diving with us, which will allow you to make a dive accompanied by an instructor.

What is the best season for diving in La Paz?

Any season is good to dive in La Paz, but October and November are the best time of the year for scuba diving, with excellent visibility of up to 80 feet, and water temperature at around 72-84 F. From January to June we can enjoy dives at around 66-71 F, and a visibility of 19-49 feet.

How long does the diving tour in La Paz typically last?

The tour has a duration of 6 to 7 hours.

Is it possible to do more than 2 dive tanks in La Paz?

Yes, as long as it’s a private tour, you can contact us to quote for 3 tanks, provided that the number of passengers and weather conditions allow for it

Can I scuba dive in La Paz if I am a beginner?

We have a wide variety of sites that can be enjoyed by beginner, intermediate, and advanced divers.

What is the booking and cancelation policy?

For day tours, a 40% deposit of the total payment is required to complete or secure the booking if the reservation is made more than 7 days in advance. If the reservation is made with less than 7 days notice, full payment is required.

For packages that include multiple activities, a 40% deposit of the total payment is required to complete or secure the booking if the reservation is made more than 60 days in advance. If the reservation is made with less than 60 days notice, full payment is required.

If we cancel the activity due to “unforeseen circumstances” such as weather, mechanical difficulties, or insufficient participants, you will receive a 100% refund.For all cancellations requested by clients, any amounts paid in advance are non-refundable and non-transferable.

We strongly recommend obtaining travel insurance to cover unforeseen personal emergencies, such as illness or accidents.