Ultimate Whale Shark & Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Trip 2027

 

Ultimate Whale Shark & Sea Lion Sea Of Cortez Trip 2027

Encounter macro, sea lions, whale sharks, and more with Bluewater’s Photo Workshop aboard the brand new Quino del Mar.

 

Why Join This Trip?

• Big animal sightings like whale sharks, sea lions, dolphins, sperm whales and much more
• Dive in an area Jacques Cousteau called the Aquarium of the World
• Easiest liveaboard to access from the US – fly or drive to Phoenix, AZ
• Huge diversity of marine life – blennies, nudibranchs, octopus, and more on one of Mexico’s newest liveaboards – Quino del Mar
• FREE optional photo workshop
• The Quino del Mar crew is one of the most experienced sailing in the Sea of Cortez
• Diver to Guide ratio is 6:1
• Fully refundable deposit until 12 months from departure
• 25% off rental photo gear from Bluewater Photo

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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.

Marine Life

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 Zodiak 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 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 Peñasco 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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Diving Conditions

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

• Water Temperatures: 68 – 84F (20 – 29C)
• 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

This is a PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP. 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. These are fun and interactive sessions encouraging you to improve throughout the trip.
• 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. We also encourage non-photographers to join, as many of them really enjoy the daily photo reviews, learning about underwater photography, and some have even returned to a photo workshop with an underwater camera setup!

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!

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Inclusions

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

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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 us about our preferred partner plan

* Onboard fees and charges are subject to change

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About the Quino Del Mar

Launched in July 2025, the Quino del Mar is owned by one of the top dive operators specializing in trips to the Sea of Cortez and Socorro Islands in Mexico. This 89-foot liveaboard yacht offers 10 cabins for up to 20 divers.

Quino del Mar’s Key Features

What excites us about the Quino del Mar liveaboard is the promise of knowledgeable and friendly dive staff, exceptional stability for navigating the often-rough waters to the Socorro Islands, mouthwatering Mexican cuisine, and ample space designed for underwater photographers to set up their gear. This liveaboard is shaping up to be a dream for avid divers and underwater photographers eager to explore Socorro and the Sea of Cortez!

Check out our walkthrough video of the Quino del Mar!

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Trip Leader

Henrique Pedroso

Henry (Henrique) first found the ocean through a surfboard, and later through a camera pointed at waves. He grew up in southern Brazil, photographing, surfing, and chasing swells along the coast. Eventually, the ocean pulled him below the surface, where he fell in love with scuba diving and later freediving — moving from waves to reefs, shipwrecks, and long quiet moments underwater.

Henry worked as a dive instructor across Indonesia, Australia, South America, and Central America — teaching, guiding, and learning from the ocean, locals and the culture in each place.

Now based in Portugal, he continues to dive and explore the colder, wilder side of the Atlantic — especially the Azores, Madeira, and the rugged Portuguese coastline.

When he’s not diving, Henry can usually be found surfing, running coastal trails, hiking cliffs, or planning his next trip.

Read more about Henrique Pedroso.

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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 (Aug 22nd) and arrive before 11 am. For return flights, book anytime after 2 pm (Aug 29th).

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: 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 and transit hotels for domestic and/or international travel on your behalf, we are also happy to arrange this. Contact Us for more information.

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Payment Schedule

• Deposit: $600 to book your spot
• Payment 2: $750 due 22 July 2026
• Payment 3: $750 due 13 January 2027
• Balance: Due 14 April 2027

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