Baja California dive sites

Strong currents, open ocean swells, depth exceeding 30m, and the remote offshore location require advanced skills, excellent buoyancy, and comfort in blue water with limited visibility.

Gordo Banks is approximately 13 kilometers (8 miles) offshore from San Jose del Cabo. The boat ride takes 30-45 minutes.

Hammerhead sharks are most frequently seen from July to November when water temperatures are warmer. The best months are typically September and October.

Surface cage diving does not require any dive certification. You breathe from a hookah system with air supplied from the surface, and the cage sits at the surface with a portion submerged. Submersible cage experiences, where the cage is lowered to 10 to 15 meters depth, do require scuba certification as participants use standard scuba equipment inside the cage. Both experiences are available on most liveaboard trips.

Isla Guadalupe is exclusively reached by liveaboard boats departing from Ensenada in Baja California, Mexico. The crossing takes approximately 18 to 20 hours each way. Trips typically run from August through November, lasting 4 to 6 days total including transit time. Most operators provide 2 to 3 full days at the island. Ensenada is approximately 90 minutes south of the US border at Tijuana and has its own airport, though most visitors fly into San Diego and drive south.