Ultimate Whale Shark & Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Trip 2026

Ultimate Whale Shark & Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Trip 2026

Photography Workshop

Join us for the chance to encounter sea lions, sperm whales, whale sharks, and some awesome macro life! Explore the Sea of Cortez aboard one of Mexicos top liveaboard, the Rocio del Mar.

Why Join This Trip?

• FREE daily photo workshops
• The Rocio Del Mar is one of the most experienced liveaboards sailing in the Sea of Cortez
• Dive in an area Jacques Cousteau called the Aquarium of the World
• Big animal sightings like whale sharks, sea lions, dolphins, sperm whales and much more
• Easiest liveaboard to access from the US - fly or drive to Phoenix, AZ
• 25% off rental photo gear from Bluewater Photo
• Fully refundable deposit until 12 months from departure. 

Check out this cool video from diving the Sea of Cortez:

Trip Overview

This trip offers a great combination of big animals and fascinating macro life. There's always something for everyone. Plus, it's really easy to get to being only a 4-hour drive from Phoenix, AZ. 

The Sea of Cortez is home to sea lions, whale sharks, manta and mobula rays, dolphins, and huge schools of fish. Sperm whales, pilot whales, and dolphins are also commonly spotted.

(Left) A playful sea lion. (Middle) Van Gogh patterns on a whale shark on the hunt for krill in Bahia de los Angeles.
(Right) Dolphins in the Morning Light.

It doesn't just stop there as the Sea of Cortez is also a perfect place to practice your macro photography skills. You will get to see nice varieties of nudibranchs, Panamic arrow crabs, Pacific seahorses, jawfish, small and big octopuses, frogfish, and blennies. 

(Left) A tiny 1-inch long reveals its position with a colorful dance in a desert of sand.
(Right) The same signal blenny photographed with a saga magic tube

The boat will depart from Puerto Peñasco at 6 pm on Saturday and then travel for 12 hours to arrive the next morning for a 7 am dive. You will be diving 3-4 times per day on this trip. Here's a sample day-by-day itinerary of this trip:

• Day 1 - Embark at 5 pm in Puerto Peñasco. Depart at 6 pm
• Day 2 - Wake up at Refugio Bay on Angel Island
• Potential Dive sites: Angel Rock, La Vela, Lolo’s Cove, Sunset Zodiak Cruise with Sea Lions
• Day 3 - Angel Island
• Potential Dive sites: Andrea’s Eagle, El Aquario, Las Vivoras, Las Vivoras including a night dive
• Day 4 - San Pedro Martir Potential Dive sites: El Arroyo, Punta Martir (Sea Lions), Chayo’s Cove
• Day 5 - San Pedro Martir
• Potential Dive sites: Ravijunco, Xareni’s Pinnacle, Coromel, Morrito, in the afternoon we go looking for whales!
• Day 6 - Salsipuedes & Animas
• Potential Dive sites: Los Cuervos, El Caballo, In Animas, El Lavadero, El Lavadero including a night dive
• Day 7 - Baja and Snorkeling with Whale Sharks in Bahia De Los Angeles
• Potential Dive sites: El Pescador, Baja Ca., start heading back to Puerto Penasco in afternoon
• Day 8 - Disembark at 7 am

To learn more about what you can expect from this Sea of Cortez trip, check out 2024 Sea of Cortez trip report. Also see the reviews on diving the Sea of Cortez here.

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Inclusions

• Three meals per day & snacks,
• Beverages including soft drinks, juice, domestic beer & wine
• One morning of whale shark snorkeling, & several dives with a friendly sea lion colony
• Tanks, weights & weight belts

Exclusions

• Transfers from Phoenix airport ($150 roundtrip)
• Park fees ($35, subject to change)
• Fuel Surcharge, if applicable (none currently)
• Nitrox ($140)
• Gratuity
• Mexican Tourist Card: purchased at the border ($36 CASH ONLY)
• Travel Insurance: click here to learn more about our preferred plan

Trip Type

This trip is a PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP. It will be led by one of our photo instructors who will provide daily instructional tutorials, in-water photography support (when appropriate), and one-to-one advice and guidance, as required. Each workshop offers a bespoke syllabus, crafted by the trip leader and detailed on the trip webpage. While our Photography Workshops are aimed at divers with an interest in underwater photography, anyone is welcome to join.

Learn more about what's included in this trip type.

About the Rocio Del Mar

Rocio Del Mar is one of the most popular liveaboards sailing in the area, offering excellent service and fantastic food. There are 10 cabins for up to a maximum of 20 divers, all offering private bathrooms with hot shower stalls, Western-style toilets, and above-height windows. Cabins are carpeted and have air-conditioning, plus convenient gear and clothes storage drawers beneath the beds. 

Dining Room & Salon

Camera Table & Dive Platform

Sundeck & Outdoor Kitchen 

Check out this page to see more details and customer reviews on the Rocio Del Mar. 

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Flight Information

Trip attendees will fly in and out of Phoenix, Arizona, which is the closest international airport. You should fly in on Saturday morning (Aug 29th) and arrive before 11 am.  For return flights, book anytime after 2 pm (Sep 5th). 

Head Out To Rocky Point offers a shuttle service to and from the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and takes you directly to the boat. It takes approximately 3.5-4 hours. The cost is $150 per person, round trip. All passengers will be picked up at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport at 1pm, Terminal 4, Door 5 outside on the far side of the street. The shuttles are clearly marked Head Out To Rocky Point. The shuttle will stop at the border so passengers can purchase Mexico Tourist Cards.  If you choose to stay at a hotel the evening prior, be sure to be back at the airport by 12:30 so you can comfortably get to the shuttle departure area by 1pm. On disembarkation day the shuttle departs the boat at 7am.

Book the round-trip Head Out to Rocky Point Shuttle here: https://www.headouttorockypoint.com/scuba.

Flight Package 

Our group trips attract guests from all over the globe and many of our customers prefer to book their own flights to take advantage of mileage points or credit card discounts. For these reasons, flights are not included in our group trip packages.

However, we are more than happy to work with you to find the best travel itinerary for your trip and will gladly give suggestions and advice, even if you make the final booking. We will check through your travel reservations at any time to ensure they fit with the trip schedule and can give recommendations on transit hotels and day tours where needed. 

If you would like us to book flights, hotels, and transfers for your domestic and/or international travel on your behalf, we are also happy to arrange this. Please be advised that there is a 10% fee for this service to cover our booking and administration costs. 

Contact Us for more information.

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Recommended Scuba Gear

• 5mm wetsuit and a hooded vest. Browse Wetsuits at Bluewater Photo
• A good mask and snorkel for whale shark snorkelling. We recommend the Cressi ZS1 & Corsica Snorkeling Package
• Anti-fog.
• Dive light/torch. We suggest Kraken NR-2000 Dive Light
• Pointer.
• Travel BCD. Read our Best Travel BCD Article
• Travel regulator. We suggest Mares Ultra 62X Dive Regulator

Payment Schedule

• Deposit: $500
• Payment 2: $750 due July 22, 2025
• Payment 3: $750 due January 13, 2026
• Balance: $1,095 due April 14, 2026

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