La Paz / Sea of Cortez

Jacques Cousteau called the Sea of Cortez the aquarium of the world, and La Paz is the gateway to its finest diving. Whale sharks gather in the bay from November through April, while the sea lion colony at Los Islotes puts on a year-round performance. El Bajo seamount draws schooling hammerheads and giant mobula rays in summer aggregations that darken the water. Manta rays cruise cleaning stations from June through November. The combination of large pelagic encounters, rich reef life, and dramatic underwater topography makes La Paz one of the most productive dive destinations in the Pacific.