Mexico, La Paz Baja California

Diving with playful sea lions and snorkeling with whale sharks – that's what La Paz is known for. We were there in December 2024.

Temperatures between 22 and 29 degrees Celsius, water temperature approx. 22 degrees Celsius, so a 5mm wetsuit is sufficient. Visibility approx. 15-20 meters.

The most famous dive site, Las Islotes, offers diving with playful sea lions. A dive site suitable for beginners, maximum diving depth 12 meters, on average no more than 5 meters. Here are some pictures of diving at Las Islotes:

This is what it looks like on the surface:

The dive site is visited disproportionately often because most divers are interested in it.

Most dive centers also offer snorkeling with whale sharks:

Often, the animals are stressed by large groups of snorkelers. In our case, it was very well organized. The snorkeling tour takes place in small groups, so that the animals can feed in peace.

But wreck diving is also possible; a few wrecks have been sunk in the marine protected area, like the Fang Ming:

The ship transported Chinese refugees in 1995 and was seized by the Mexican Coast Guard. Later, it was sunk as an artificial reef.

The C56 is a decommissioned Mexican patrol boat that was also sunk after being taken out of service. Here, it is possible to dive into various rooms, provided the diver has the necessary qualification.

The dive sites Baja and La Reina should also be visited. However, one week or 10 days is sufficient, as a maximum of 6 dive sites are regularly visited. It is recommended to explore other regions in Baja California, such as the Sandfalls in Cabo San Lucas.