La Paz on Baja California's southern peninsula opens onto the Sea of Cortez, the body of water Jacques Cousteau famously called "the world's aquarium." The area offers a year-round rotation of megafauna encounters: whale sharks (October–April, inside the bay of La Paz), California sea lions at Los Islotes (year-round, with playful pups August–October), and the spectacular Munk's devil ray aggregations off Espíritu Santo (May–July). Most encounters are snorkel or shallow dives. Easy logistics and proximity to Los Cabos make it an accessible, low-intensity destination.
What you'll see
Top species with their June status.
Munk's Devil Ray (Mobula)
Seals & Sea Lions
Dolphins
Whale Shark
The year at a glance
- Water
- 20–23 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 19–22 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 20–23 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 21–24 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 23–26 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 25–28 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 26–29 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 24–27 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 21–24 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
Signature dive sites
The sites you'll hear about in every briefing.
- 01
Los Islotes
Rocky outcrops with resident California sea lion colony.
- 02
Espíritu Santo mobula aggregation
Snorkel from boats; thousands of Munk's devil rays.
- 03
La Paz whale shark bay
Shallow snorkel with juvenile whale sharks in winter.
Marine life by month
Peak Present Rare
Getting there
Gateway
Fly into La Paz (LAP). Visa: Tourist card on arrival for most nationalities, 180 days.
Best months
Jan, Feb, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec