Marine Park Scuba Diving
in Cabo San Lucas
Small-Group Scuba Diving in the Cabo San Lucas Marine Park
Escape the Crowds and Explore the Best Dive Sites
Cabo Marine Park is where most people fall in love with diving here, whether you're already certified or ready to discover scuba diving for the first time. A short boat ride from the marina, at the very tip of the Baja peninsula, the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez and the seafloor drops from rocky reefs and sandy slopes into a submarine canyon that seems to have no bottom.
Best Dive Sites in Cabo San Lucas Marine Park
We choose each day's sites based on conditions and the group's experience, and since we usually dive with 2 or 3 divers per guide and never more than 5, we can adjust on the spot rather than sticking to a fixed plan. Depths start at 25 ft (8 m) in the shallows, and the canyon drops well past 400 ft (120 m) and keeps going, with every dive planned within your certification limits.
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Land's End. The tip of the peninsula, right by the famous Arch, where the two seas meet. Sea lions sometimes stop by.
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Neptune's Finger. A deep dive where you drift over the edge of the bay's canyon, for advanced divers.
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Pelican Rock. A rocky reef with hard coral, and home to the Sand Falls, where a river of sand pours down the canyon like an underwater waterfall when conditions are right.
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North Wall and Middle Wall. Steep walls that fall away toward the canyon, home to pufferfish, scorpionfish and much more.
What You Might See
On your dives, keep an eye out for moray eels tucked into every reef crevice, octopus and lobsters hiding among the rocks, and the occasional whitetip reef shark cruising the sand. Mobula rays pass through mainly from May to July, and a second, smaller migration arrives around November, when you may come across small groups on a dive. Cownose rays show up in season too.
01.
What are the requirements to dive the Cabo San Lucas Marine Park?
You need an Open Water certification or higher from any recognized agency, such as PADI, SSI or NAUI, and to be in good general health for diving. Minors are welcome as long as they dive with a parent or guardian. Never dived before? Try our Discover Scuba Diving experience, which also takes place here in the Marine Park.
02.
Do I need a Scuba Refresher if I haven't dived in a while?
If it's been a year or more since your last dive, we recommend starting with our Scuba Refresher. It takes place right here in the Marine Park, so you can brush up your skills in the same waters before diving the deeper sites.
03.
What's the schedule, and how long is the trip dock to dock?
We run daily morning and afternoon departures, and the trip lasts about 4 hours dock to dock. The Marine Park is just minutes from the marina, so the boat ride is short and easy.
04.
What should I bring on the Marine Park dive?
Just your swimsuit, sunglasses and a hat or cap. A camera is a great idea for the marine life. If you get seasick, take your medication at least one hour before boarding.
05.
What's not included in the price?
• Dive gear, which you can rent with us • Personal travel or medical insurance • Gratuities for the captain and crew
06.
Can I book a private Marine Park dive?
Yes. Our Marine Park dives are already in small, semi-private groups, and you can add a private guide or book a fully private trip for one-on-one attention.
07.
Can you see the famous Sand Falls in Cabo San Lucas?
Often, but it's not guaranteed. The Sand Falls are at Pelican Rock, and they depend on the swell and the conditions each season: some days the sand pours down the canyon wall like an underwater waterfall, and other days it barely flows or doesn't flow at all.
08.
What's the best time of year to dive the Marine Park?
Diving in Cabo San Lucas is good all year round, but each half of the year has its own character. From January to July the water is cooler, with lots of marine life and changing visibility, plus seasonal rays passing through. From August to December the water turns warm and tropical, with the clearest visibility of the year.
09.
Is scuba diving in the Cabo San Lucas Marine Park worth it?
Yes, especially if you've mostly dived flat reefs. The underwater canyon here makes it a completely different kind of dive. The nutrients it brings up feed an amazing amount of marine life for such a short boat ride: octopus and lobsters in every crevice, and pufferfish that sometimes pick a favorite diver and follow them the whole dive. Add the seasonal rays and small groups where your instructor adapts the plan to you, and it's one of the best dives in Cabo.
10.
How long should I wait to fly after diving?
Wait at least 12 hours after one dive, 18 hours after two dives, and 24 hours if you've done more than two dives or dived on several days.
