Freediving Spots

Named, ‘the aquarium of the world’ by Jacques Cousteau, la Paz lies on the southern shores of the Gulf of the Sea of Cortez, made famous by Steinbeck’s, ‘ The Log from the Sea of Cortez’. Once the pearling capital of the americas and its major industry through till the beginning of the 20th Century, for the best visibility, and clear, warm waters the most rewarding months for freediving in the Baja are from August to November.

Probably the most visited dive location in southern Baja, visitors will often encounter turtles feeding in one of the northern bays plus a breeding area specific to one type of mobula (small manta). The winter months, in particular from February to September is the time when the large whales – greys, Humpbacks and Blue – are most seen, although there are also resident transient Orcas around for most of the year.

Isla Cerralvo (also referred to as Jacques Cousteau Island) is the familiar local name for the 25 mile long desert island in the Mexican UNESCO Biosphere reserve. It’s more than a 2hr boat ride from la Paz and its sharp desert shores make it even more beautifully remote as a freediving spot. About 3 miles off the north shore of Cerralvo there is a rocky outcrop called la Reina, with a small sea lion colony which has gained popularity again in the last couple of years because of the giant pacific mantas.