Ultimate Whale Shark & Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Trip 2026

 

Ultimate Whale Shark & Sea Lion Sea Of Cortez Trip 2026

Encounter sea lions, sperm whales, whale sharks, and more with Bluewater’s Photo Workshop aboard 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
• Diver to Guide ratio is 6:1
• 25% off rental photo gear from Bluewater Photo
• Fully refundable deposit until 12 months from departure

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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. (Right) The same signal blenny photographed with a saga magic tube.

 

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.

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

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Sample Itinerary

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, Lolos Cove, Sunset Zodiac Cruise with Sea Lions.

Day 3

• Angel Island.
• Potential dive sites: Andreas 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), Chayos Cove.

Day 5

• San Pedro Martir.
• Potential dive sites: Ravijunco, Xarenis Pinnacle, Coromel, Morrito. In the afternoon, the group goes 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 California. Start heading back to Puerto Peñasco in the afternoon.

Day 8

• Disembark at 7 am.

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

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Diving Conditions

August is the peak of the warm season in the Sea of Cortez, featuring calm seas and warm water temperatures.

• Water temperature: 68 – 84°F (20 – 29°C)
• Visibility: 50 – 115 feet (15 – 35m)
• Depth range: 16 – 130 feet (5 – 40m)

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Recommended Scuba Gear

Download our full scuba gear guide to Sea of Cortez. Bluewater Travel guests receive 10% OFF!

Gain in-depth knowledge about diving in the area with our Sea of Cortez Webinar!

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Trip Type

Led by one of our photo instructors and will include daily underwater photography tutorials, in-water photography support, and one-to-one advice and guidance as required.

What to Expect From Our Photo Workshops

• Daily photo workshops – Your photo instructor will schedule seminars each day on topics including, but not limited to, equipment type and selection, the concept of underwater photography, lighting and composition techniques, and post-processing. They will also include additional topics relevant to the location and your experience.
• In-water support – Where possible, each dive group will spend time underwater with the photo instructor, receiving in-water support and guidance on their shooting techniques. Participants can also request in-water assistance during the workshop and the photo instructor will do his or her best to accommodate all requests.
• Consecutive days of practice & review – Each day you will have the opportunity to practice the techniques and skills learned in the previous day’s tutorials. If you are new to underwater photography you will likely see a vast improvement in just a few days. Daily photo image reviews – You are strongly encouraged to bring your laptop, a thumb drive, edit your photos, and submit your shots for review from both the instructor and your peers.
• Quality time with fellow photographers – Both new and experienced photographers from past workshops have expressed the advantages of joining a trip with like-minded divers with a passion for underwater photography.
• Suitable for everyone – New and experienced photographers are welcome on all our trips. Gain the necessary skills to start shooting great photos, increase your confidence in finding the best underwater shots, or hone specific skills. Non-photographers are also welcome.

Enjoy free, unlimited access to a wealth of knowledge and advice from your photo instructor.

Want to learn more about our Underwater Photography Workshops? Check out this video!

Trip Syllabus

Having an opportunity to dive and shoot on many consecutive days while reviewing the various aspects of underwater photography provides an ideal opportunity for learning. Reinforcing lessons covered in our daily classroom sessions, we’ll be doing several dives each day, followed on some days by a review of the previous day’s images. This combination of day-in, day-out shooting, evaluating and discussing of photos is an unbeatable way to quickly improve your results, learn new techniques, gain inspiration, and come home with images you are proud of. It’s also a lot of fun!

Subjects Covered

Our time among Mexico’s Midriff Islands will undoubtedly fly by, and even with daily classes, it’s unrealistic to think that we can do justice to every aspect of underwater photography in a single one-week workshop. Our goal will be to provide as much quality instruction as possible on a variety of topics, while maintaining a balance of activities that also includes 3-4 dives a day, snacks, meals, camera setup and maintenance, and some relax time. Workshop topics will include special considerations for shooting underwater, exposure, reciprocity, choosing appropriate settings, histograms, lighting, composition, subject selection, lens perspectives, shooting angles, marine life behavior, working with models, over/under “splits”, equipment configuration and maintenance, environmental considerations, photo etiquette, and digital editing techniques and considerations.

Typical Daily Routine

While we’ll likely do a bit of fine-tuning the schedule as the week unfolds, this sample should give you an idea of what to expect in terms of organized class activities. This is in addition to any individualized, hands-on help you may need or desire, which the instructor is happy to provide as time permits.

• Day 1 (Saturday August 29) – Arrive in Puerto Penasco, embarkation, boat briefing, individual help as needed for photo equipment preparation, precautions for avoiding floods.
• Day 2 (Sunday August 30) – Presentation: Introduction / review of how light behaves underwater, special considerations for shooting underwater, choosing appropriate exposure settings, utilizing histograms.
• Day 3 (Monday August 31) – Mini-session between dives: Demonstration on strobe positioning and edge lighting. Presentation: Maximizing Your Macro. Choose a couple images for next day’s image review. Possible night dive.
• Day 4 (Tuesday September 1) – Presentation: Wide-angle Underwater Photography, including a review of appropriate camera, lens and strobe settings, exposure strategy and equipment considerations. After dinner: Image Review – friendly critique and discussion about participants’ images.
• Day 5 (Wednesday September 2) – Presentation: Composition for Underwater Photography Part 1, including elements that attract the viewer’s eye, shooting angles, and lens perspectives.
• Day 6 (Thursday September 3) – Presentation: Composition for Underwater Photography Part 2, including visual flow, working with models, and visual storytelling. Choose 2 images for Friday’s photo contest and a maximum of 10 images for the guest slide show. Optional review of Digital Workflow with Lightroom Classic.
• Day 7 (Friday September 4) – Morning scuba dive(s), followed by whale shark snorkeling and photography at Bahia De Los Angeles. Afternoon / evening: Photo contest and guest slide show.
• Day 8 (Saturday September 5) – Disembarkation and board bus to Phoenix.

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Trip 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
• FREE daily photo workshops

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Trip Exclusions

• Transfers from Phoenix airport ($175 roundtrip)
• Park fees ($85, subject to change)
• Fuel surcharge, if applicable (none currently)
• Nitrox ($140)
• Gratuity
• Mexican Tourist Card: purchased at the border ($48, variable depending on exchange rate, CASH ONLY)
• Travel insurance – ask about Bluewater Travel’s preferred partner plan

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Accommodation

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.

Rocio del Mar & Dive Tender

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.

Check out our walkthrough video of the Rocio del Mar!

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Trip Leader

Mark Strickland

Mark Strickland’s life-long interest in the sea has included over 10,000 dives and careers as an ocean lifeguard, boat captain, and scuba instructor. His passion for underwater photography has led him to many top dive locales, including the Virgin Islands, Australia, and Thailand, where he spent 17 years as Cruise Director on a series of liveaboards. Mark now resides in Ventura County, California.

An avid marine naturalist, Mark has discovered several nudibranch species. He is co-author and principal photographer for Lonely Planet’s award-winning book, “Diving and Snorkeling Thailand”, and his work appears in many magazines, books, and displays around the world. Mark’s editorial credits include Action Asia, Alert Diver, BBC Wildlife, National Geographic World, Natural History, and most major dive publications.

Read more about Mark Strickland

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How To Get There

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 (August 29) and arrive before 11 am. For return flights, book anytime after 2 pm (September 5).

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 $175 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: Head Out to Rocky Point Shuttle.

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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 and transit hotels for domestic and/or international travel on your behalf, we are also happy to arrange this. Please be advised that there is a ticketing fee for this service. Contact Us for more information.

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Payment Schedule

• Deposit: $500 to book your spot
• Payment 2: $750 due July 22, 2025
• Payment 3: $750 due January 13, 2026
• Balance: Due April 14, 2026

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