There’s a certain silence you only hear underwater - like the world is inhaling. The first time I descended into the warm, clear blue off Land’s End, I wasn’t thinking about dive shops or visibility or certifications. I was just suspended in a world of color, shadow, and motion. Since then, I’ve logged dives from Pulmo to Gordo Banks and back again.
If you’re thinking of diving in Cabos, here’s everything you need to know.
Los Cabos sits at the meeting point of two powerful forces: the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. That convergence creates a rich and varied underwater geography from steep drop-offs and seamounts to shallow reefs and sandy-bottom bays. It’s a region shaped by tectonic activity and tidal exchange, offering a dive experience that changes not just site to site, but season to season. Knowing how geography shapes the conditions can turn a good dive into a great one.
This technical junction of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez means shifting thermoclines, dramatic visibility changes, and a unique crossover of pelagic and reef species.
On the Pacific side, you’ll often face stronger surge, colder upwellings, and depths that demand experience. These waters attract big pelagics like hammerheads, mobulas, even the occasional orca; but visibility can be reduced by nutrients stirred up by the current. In contrast, the Sea of Cortez offers more stable thermoclines, warmer water (averaging 75–85°F in peak months), and excellent macro life ideal for photography.
Divers often ask when to dive on which side: spring and early summer tend to bring the clearest water to the Sea of Cortez, while late summer and fall can see dramatic pelagic action offshore.
Jacques Cousteau once called the Sea of Cortez "the aquarium of the world". Over 900 species of fish and 32 types of marine mammals have been recorded in these waters, from elusive nudibranchs to curious sea lions, schooling jacks, giant rays, and in season, migrating whale sharks and humpback whales. The area is part of the Gulf of California Marine Ecoregion, one of the most biologically productive zones on Earth.
The protected zones near Cabo Pulmo and Land’s End offer rare chances to see reef and pelagic life converge, especially in transitional seasons.
Each site in Los Cabos has its own rhythm. Some are mellow, close-to-shore spots where the water feels like a warm handshake. Others are remote and wild places you need to earn with an early boat ride and a bit of nerve. What they all share is variety: reef dives, pelagic encounters, beginner slopes, deep walls.
If you only dive one place in Baja, make it Cabo Pulmo. A two-hour drive from San José del Cabo, this UNESCO-protected reef has rebounded from overfishing to become one of the most celebrated marine reserves in the world. Here's a quick look at three standout dive spots within Cabo Pulmo depending on your skill level and what you're hoping to see.
If you’re certified and confident at depth, Gordo Banks is one of the most thrilling dives in Los Cabos. Located about 8 miles offshore from San José del Cabo, this underwater seamount rises from the deep, attracting schools of scalloped hammerheads, silky sharks, and jacks. The site starts around 110 feet (33 meters), making it suitable only for advanced divers with deep or nitrox certifications. Conditions can change quickly—expect strong currents, thermoclines, and visibility that swings from 30 to 100 feet.
Morning dives tend to have better visibility and more activity. Most dive shops in the area require a checkout dive beforehand, and trips are weather-dependent due to the distance. Bring a reef hook if you're comfortable using one.
These two bays are some of the most accessible and consistent diving spots in Los Cabos. Located along the Tourist Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, both offer shore and boat dive options with depths ranging from 20 to 50 feet. Visibility here is usually excellent from April to July, with calm surface conditions that make them ideal for beginners, refresher dives, or relaxed photography sessions.
Santa Maria has a mix of rocky and sandy bottom, home to rays, reef fish, and the occasional turtle, while Chileno’s larger reef structures attract puffers, angelfish, and eels. Both are often used for PADI Discover Scuba Diving courses and are a top choice for travelers who want quality dives without committing to full-day trips offshore.
These iconic sites near Cabo San Lucas offer some of the most striking underwater terrain in the region. Neptune’s Finger (El Dedo de Neptuno) is a steep pinnacle that drops into deep water, popular for vertical wall dives and sightings of groupers, schooling snapper, and occasionally white-tip reef sharks. Land’s End features dramatic rock formations and archways, with regular visits from sea lions and playful schools of fish.
Visibility is generally good between March and July, often reaching 80 feet or more. Depths range from 30 to 100 feet, and while both sites can be tackled by intermediate divers, conditions can shift.
Land’s End is also famous for its proximity to the sea lion colony. If you’ve never shared a dive with sea lions before, prepare to be outswum, outmaneuvered, and fully entertained.
These dives are typically reached by boat from Cabo San Lucas marina, and many dive shops offer half-day trips that combine the two sites.
The Sea of Cortez and Pacific each shift dramatically with the seasons. Winter brings cool water and big marine life like whale sharks and humpbacks. Spring clears things up with the best visibility and calm seas, ideal for reef dives and courses. By summer, the water warms, but plankton can affect clarity—still, it’s the best time for turtles and tropical species. And fall? Quiet, balanced, and perfect for those looking to avoid crowds while still catching vibrant life. This guide will help you match your dive goals to the right time of year.
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Los Cabos has something to match your diving level. Shore dives and calm reefs make it a beginner’s dream, while offshore seamounts, technical sites, and night dives keep advanced divers coming back.
Don’t forget that water conditions change by season—spring and early summer offer the best visibility for training dives. For planning your course dates, use the seasonal dive table above or check out this weather guide for Los Cabos.
Never dived before? No problem. Los Cabos is one of the most inviting training grounds in North America. Calm bays like Chileno and Santa Maria offer easy shore entries, mild currents, and visibility that often exceed 60 feet in spring.
Chileno Bay in particular is monitored by lifeguards and has marked entry points, making it both safe and straightforward for beginners. Santa Maria is just a 40-minute drive from Beachfront Flats and is a popular spot for check-out dives due to its protected cove.
Those looking for an all-in-one introduction to scuba diving might consider the PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience by Cabo Adventures, which offers beginner packages that include full gear rental, pool training, and boat or shore dives. It's worth booking your dive early, especially in spring and summer when visibility peaks.
Cabo is an ideal place to earn your SSI or PADI Open Water certification. Most local shops, like Dive Cabo, offer full training packages that include theory, pool sessions, and four open water dives, often completed over 3–4 days.
Courses are available in multiple languages, and the calm bays of Chileno and Santa Maria make for the perfect first open-water experiences. For more advanced divers, PADI Advanced Open Water Diver tracks are available.
Technical dive sites like Gordo Banks and the nearby Finger Bank are suited for those with deep, nitrox, or tec certifications. Depths at these offshore seamounts often exceed 100 feet, and dives require excellent buoyancy and comfort in shifting currents.
Night diving, on the other hand, is available closer to the shore. Popular locations include Santa Maria and the Cabo San Lucas Marine Park, where bioluminescence and nocturnal reef creatures transform familiar landscapes. Expect to see octopus, sleeping parrotfish, and even active hunting behavior from morays and rays.
Divers should bring their own dive computers and lights when possible and always confirm gear availability and site conditions in advance, especially for deeper dives that require special gases or staging.
Beachfront Flats offers private residences steps from the sea and just a short ride to dive launches. It's where I sleep off saltwater days in comfort. And if you're splitting your trip between reef and wave, check this Cabo surf guide to paddle into the best breaks. Diving Cabos is a reason to come back. Again, and again. Mask up, fin on, and meet the Baja beneath the surface!
El Encanto de la Laguna
San Jose del Cabo,
Baja California Sur 23403
FIND US IN
Google maps
Check-In
4:00 PM
Check-Out
11:00 AM
