Nautilus UnderSea Itinerary
Combo: Whales, Mobulas, Orcas + Ultimate Whale Sharks11 days / 10 nights
About Nautilus UnderSea
- Exciting trips to Socorro and Revillagigedo and Guadalupe Island
- Comfortable cabins for all guests, including differently-abled guests
- Enjoy photo workshops, marine life presentations, paddleboards and kayaks
- Outstanding amenities for divers, with nitrox, gear storage, zodiacs, and camera table
Nautilus UnderSea liveaboard offers some of the region's most comfortable dive voyages, with exciting itineraries focused on the eastern Pacific's most famous marine wildlife. Spend a week or more getting up close and personal with mantas, sharks and dolphins at Socorro and Revillagigedo, or head to Guadalupe - home to Mexico's infamous great white sharks. You’ll enjoy personalised service, cabins and common areas designed to suit every guest, and outstanding facilities for divers to help you make the most of your trip. This boat balances creature comforts with legendary underwater experiences, and with fewer divers than other vessels, it also boasts an intimate and adventurous atmosphere, ideal for underwater explorers.
Itinerary details
Length of trip 11 days / 10 nights
Number of dives 15
Experience Open Water - Minimum 5 dives
Insurance Required
Highlights
- Chance of seeing California sea lions, dolphins, and more
- Snorkel and freedive with whale sharks and orcas
- Spot humpbacks and, if you’re really lucky, even orcas or blue whales!
- Possibility of sharing the water with pods of predatory orcas
- Kayak amongst huge pods of dolphins
Day 1:
Your complimentary transfer to the ship in La Paz departs from SeeCreatures in Cabo San Lucas at 4:30 PM (approximately a 2.5-hour drive). Please allow ample time beforehand for check-in and fitting any rental gear.
You can also join us directly in La Paz — either at Baja Expeditions HQ, with transfer to the ship departing at 6:45 PM (please arrive earlier for check-in), or via complimentary local hotel pickup (approx. 6:45–7:00 PM) for direct transfer to the ship, with check-in onboard. Please notify our concierge team in advance if you'd like hotel pickup arranged. If you're renting dive or snorkelling gear, please stop by our Baja Expeditions HQ in La Paz before 4:00 PM to try it on and confirm your sizes so you have the best-fitting equipment ready for your adventure.
On the ship, our hosts will be waiting for you on the back deck with trays of margaritas and champagne, followed by dinner and departure for the Sea of Cortez.
Please note:
A few departures between late June and mid-July board directly in Cabo instead, without a La Paz boarding option for those trips. For these departures, your complimentary transfer departs from SeeCreatures in Cabo San Lucas at 7:30 PM.
Some October trips also disembark in Cabo rather than La Paz. You'll find the exact boarding time and disembarkation details for your specific dates when you select your trip. If it's more convenient for you to fly into La Paz, we're happy to arrange a complimentary transfer from Baja Expeditions HQ in La Paz to SeeCreatures Cabo.
Days 2-3 – Ocean Safari (Southern Sea of Cortez)
Mornings in the southern Sea of Cortez begin with an ocean safari. Our crew knows these waters well, and they have one goal: to maximise your encounters with the wildlife. The Sea of Cortez is vast, so spotting marine life takes patience. When we find something, we approach respectfully — our naturalists and captains assess whether in-water encounters are appropriate, and if conditions are right, you'll slip in to experience the animals up close.
No two days look the same. Some days you might hop in and out of the water half a dozen times; others, we'll spend hours searching before the perfect moment presents itself. That's the nature of a wildlife safari.
After lunch on deck, we head back out for the afternoon. The support boat runs as late as anyone wants, right up until dusk, so you'll have plenty of time in the water.
Days 4-8 – Journey North: Scuba Diving the Sea of Cortez
Four days of diving with up to four dives daily, including night dives. Travelling at night and anchoring by day, your captain and dive guides adjust the itinerary daily to maximise encounters and work with conditions.
We'll explore Isla Las Ánimas, then venture north to visit either Bahía de Loreto National Park or Isla San Ildefonso (wherever diving conditions are best that particular week), and Isla San Pedro Mártir, where we hold one of only two permits in Mexico to go ashore
Day 9 – Bahía de Los Angeles
Swimming with whale sharks! We partner with authorised local operators using permitted pangas. Whale sharks gather here to feed on plankton blooms (visibility typically 30-40 feet). While we can't guarantee specific numbers—this is the ocean, not Disneyland—our success rate from June through October has been excellent.
Day 10:
A day at sea heading south. We'll keep watch for marine life and explore our secret spot near Mulegé, where pilot whales, dolphins, and other incredible creatures are often encountered.
Day 11:
Enjoy breakfast onboard before disembarking in La Paz at 8 AM. From there, choose an included transfer to a local hotel (we're happy to arrange hotel reservations for you) or a transfer to either San José del Cabo Airport (SJD) or SeeCreatures in Cabo San Lucas. We highly recommend booking your outbound flight from SJD at 1 PM or later to allow for transfer time and any possible delays on the highway to Cabo.
Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.
Transfer details
Departure
04:30pm
SeeCreatures, Cabo San Lucas
Los Cabos International Airport: SJD
Return
08:30am
SeeCreatures, Cabo San Lucas
Los Cabos International Airport: SJD
Current availability and prices: https://www.zubludiving.com/itineraries/nautilus-under-sea/itn-2405150149431-combo-whales-mobulas-orcas-ultimate-whale-sharks