Experience scuba diving in la paz for the first time
Do you want to try scuba diving before you get officially certified?
Your First Dive
If you want to experience the underwater world before taking the next step toward certification, our one-day introductory program gives you the chance to complete your first dives alongside a qualified instructor, in controlled conditions and with safety at the forefront.
Experience the feeling of weightlessness, learn how to move comfortably underwater, and discover a whole new way to explore the ocean.
If you are ready to take it further, the next step is the Open Water Diver certification — your gateway to exploring the underwater world.
Oceanographic Guide and Marine Conditions in La Paz
Mar de Cortés, known as the “Aquarium of the World,” offers a unique and exceptional setting to discover scuba diving. We operate under CONANP guidelines within the Balandra Flora and Fauna Protection Area and the Espíritu Santo Archipelago National Park, helping protect both our divers’ safety and the conservation of the marine environment.
Visibility: The waters around La Paz offer exceptional visibility, typically ranging from 15 to 25 meters, and reaching up to 30 meters under optimal conditions.
Seasonal Thermoclines and Temperatures
Thermal protection is crucial for beginner comfort.
| Season | Period | Water Temp | Suggested Exposure Suit |
| Winter | December – February | 19–22 °C (66–72 °F) | Full 5mm wetsuit |
| Spring | March – May | 20–24 °C (68–75 °F) | 3mm to 5mm wetsuit |
| Summer | June – September | 25–30 °C (77–86 °F) | 3mm wetsuit or shorty |
| Autumn / Fall | October – November | 24–29 °C (75–84 °F) | 3mm wetsuit or rashguard |
Current Conditions: We select the dive site based on your skill level and experience.
Balandra Bay and San Rafaelito offer calm, sheltered waters, while more exposed areas such as Swanne Reef, in the San Lorenzo Channel, may experience tidal currents that require greater experience and closer instructor supervision.
Description
Diving Physiology & Fundamentals: Breathing underwater takes some getting used to. Before entering the water, Mexico Travel Adventure explains the basic principles of diving physiology and how your scuba equipment works.
Scuba Equipment: Your setup includes a compressed-air tank, regulator, BCD, weight system, fins, and mask, each serving a specific purpose. The regulator delivers air, the BCD and weights help you control your buoyancy, and the fins provide the propulsion needed to move efficiently underwater.
Itinerary
Adaptation & Progression: We begin by getting comfortable with the equipment and the underwater environment, allowing you to progress gradually, confidently, and at the right pace.
09:00–09:30 AM | Theory Briefing: At Muelle Fiscal, we go over the basic principles of scuba diving, how the equipment works, and essential hand signals.
10:30 AM | Confined Water Practice (<2 meters): This session takes place at a shallow beach, in water less than 2 meters deep, where you can stand. Before the open-water dive, you must master two essential skills: mask clearing and regulator recovery.
12:00 PM | Open Water Dive: A gentle descent to a maximum depth of 10 meters on a shallow reef, where we will work on equalization, breathing, and buoyancy control under the direct supervision of your instructor.
Duration: 1 day.
Requisites: Must be at least 10 years old. No need to have pervious experience diving, but must be in relative good physical condition.
Diffculty: Easy
Discover Scuba Diving: Training Sites Map (La Paz)
Interactive guide to confined water shallow areas, beginner reefs, and meeting points in La Paz Bay.
San Rafaelito Islet
A tranquil rocky islet in La Paz Bay hosting a resident California sea lion colony. Gentle currents, calm water, and depths between 3 to 10 meters make it the ultimate beginner open-water dive site.
Swanne Reef (San Lorenzo Channel)
A vibrant, shallow rocky reef system home to Cortés angelfish, damselfish, and passing sea lions. An extraordinary second dive site under controlled tidal conditions.
Confined Beach Training Zone
Sheltered sandy cove with crystal-clear waters under 2 meters depth. Ideal for building underwater breathing confidence, regulator clearing, and mask equalization before heading to the reef.
Muelle Fiscal (Departure Point)
Official check-in at 09:00 AM on the La Paz waterfront malecón. Includes boarding our shaded panga boat and the morning dive theory safety briefing.
PADI Progression: The PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience is a supervised introduction to scuba diving, not a standalone certification.
Credit Toward Certification: If you decide to become a PADI Open Water Diver within one year, the skills and dive completed with Mexico Travel Adventure may count toward the first confined water module and the first open water dive of your course.
Included
Dive instructor.
Scuba equipment: Compressed air cylinder, two-stage regulator with alternate air source, buoyancy control device (BCD), weight system, submersible pressure gauge, mask, fins, and wetsuit.
Water, lunch, drinks on the beach.
Not Included
Alcoholic drinks.
PADI certificate
You must bring
Ecofriendly sunscreen.
Hat and sunglasses.
Bathing suit, comfortable shoes and a windbreaker.
Towel.
Reviews
Ferrán Ballús Aragón
Unique Experience!!
Without a doubt, my best diving and snorkeling experience so far. Well-done things are rare these days, and when they are exceptional or sublime, it’s worth taking a moment to let people know.
Thank you Andrea, Karen, and Guille — I was able to experience the true essence of magical places with you. Maximum professionalism combined with enthusiasm for what you do results in a truly unique.
Laura Bird
Excellent Service!!
I would recommend it to anyone. I went diving with Andrea for 2 days and it was amazing. With her great knowledge, I felt very safe and enthusiastic. The dive sites were incredible, and seeing all the stops and wildlife along the way was a lot of fun. The lunch spot was also perfect.
Tomas Alonso
Incredible Experience!!
First experience diving and with whales INDESCRIBABLE! Everything that can be explained or shown in pictures falls short: whale sharks, sea turtles, shipwrecks, humpback and blue whales, sardines, and sea lions… an absolutely mind-blowing experience!
Biodiversity Profiles (DSD Dive Sites)
San Rafaelito y Swanne Reef son ecosistemas biológicamente vibrantes. Observarás especies documentadas en el registro taxonómico del Golfo de California:
Local expertise and the MTA Difference
Mexico Travel Adventure (MTA) believes your first dive should be much more than just an introduction. Our PADI Instructors are not only active diving professionals, but also marine biologists and naturalists with a passion for conservation.
Safety Policy: We operate with a maximum of 6 people per trip, ensuring personalized attention, continuous supervision, and greater respect for the marine environment.
FAQ´s
If you have any questions hopefully we can answer them below, if not please feel free to contact us.
Is it possible to dive at sites deeper than 10 meters?
No. For the Discover Scuba Diving experience, the maximum depth is 10 meters. If you would like to dive deeper, we recommend taking the Open Water Diver certification.
Can minors take part in this experience?
The minimum age is 10 years old. Minors must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian to participate in this activity.
Does Discover Scuba Diving count as a certification?
No. Discover Scuba Diving is not an Open Water Diver certification. It is an introductory scuba diving experience that allows you to discover the activity before deciding whether to continue toward certification.