Scuba Diving in Cabo for Beginners: Best Sites and What to Expect
Updated: Oct 7
Yes, you can scuba dive in Cabo San Lucas with no experience and no certification. You can also come here to get certified, or to get comfortable again if you learned years ago and have barely dived since.
This guide to scuba diving in Cabo for beginners explains how each of those options works, which dive sites are easiest, what the water is like and what actually happens on a first dive.
Can you scuba dive in Cabo without a certification?
Yes. The way to do it is Discover Scuba Diving, a PADI program designed for people who have never dived. You go with an instructor who stays next to you the whole time.
Minimum age: 10. Divers under 18 come with a parent or guardian.
Swimming: you do not need to be a strong swimmer, only comfortable in the water.
Maximum depth: 40 ft (12 m).
Time: about 2 hours for one dive, or about 4 hours if you add a second.
Gear: everything is included, wetsuit too.
Why Cabo works well for a first dive
The dive sites are close. Pelican Rock, where many first dives happen, is about five minutes by boat from the marina, inside a sheltered bay. You spend your time in the water, not getting there.
The reef is shallow and full of life. In many places beginners spend their first dive looking at sand. Here the rocks start a few feet down, and you are surrounded by fish from the first minute. And it is a protected area. The Cabo San Lucas Marine Park has been protected for decades, which is why there is so much to see so close to town.
What your first dive is like, step by step
Briefing on shore. We go through the equipment, the hand signals and what you will see.
Practice in shallow water. In calm, shallow water, in conditions similar to a pool, you breathe underwater for the first time and practice a few basic skills.
The dive. When you are ready, you go down slowly with your instructor and explore the reef. Nobody rushes you.
A second dive, if you want it. Many people add a second dive at a different site once they see how it feels.
We dive in small groups, usually two or three divers per guide, so the pace is yours.
Best dive sites in Cabo for beginners
Pelican Rock
The classic first dive in Cabo. It is five minutes from the marina, protected from the swell, with shallow rocky platforms where you can practice and still be surrounded by schools of fish and curious pufferfish. Deeper down, certified divers visit the famous Sand Falls.
North Wall
An easy wall inside the bay, with plenty of pufferfish and scorpionfish and usually very little current. Good for a relaxed second dive or for newly certified divers.
The Corridor: Whale Head, Chileno and Santa Maria
The Corridor is the stretch of coast between Cabo San Lucas and San José, 20 to 30 minutes from the marina. Its reefs are shallow, mostly between 30 and 50 ft (9 and 15 m), with sea turtles, rays and a lot of tropical fish. In winter you can sometimes hear humpback whales singing while you dive.
We usually dive the Corridor with certified divers, and it is a great choice if you have only a few dives in your logbook. Discover Scuba divers can come too once they have done a dive in the Marine Park. See our Corridor scuba diving trips.
What the water is like
Season | Water temperature | What to expect |
August to mid-December | 79 to 86°F (26 to 30°C) | Warmest water and best visibility of the year |
Mid-December to April | 64 to 74°F (18 to 23°C) | Cooler water, humpback whales in the area |
May to July | Warm at the surface, colder at depth | The most changeable months |
Visibility goes from about 25 ft to 100 ft (8 to 30 m) depending on the season. A wetsuit for the season is included on Discover Scuba Diving and on our courses. If you are certified and bringing your own gear, see our scuba diving packing list for Cabo.
Which first step is right for you?
Your situation | Best option | Time |
Never dived and want to try it | 2 to 4 hours | |
Want to become a certified diver | 3 half days | |
Started a course at home and want to finish it here | 2 half days | |
Certified, but it has been a year or more | About 4 hours |
Our Open Water course is private. You do the theory online before you arrive, then practice in confined water and finish with four dives in the ocean.
Tips for your first dive
Breathe slowly and never hold your breath. It is the first rule of diving, and it also keeps you calm.
Equalize your ears early and often. Start as soon as you go under, before you feel pressure.
Go at your own pace. If something feels off, signal your instructor and you both stop.
Do not chase the fish. Stay still and they come closer.
The equipment matters too. We use XDEEP BCDs because they are stable and make it easier to stay level in the water, which is exactly what a new diver needs.
Scuba diving in Cabo for beginners: quick answers
Do I need to know how to swim to scuba dive?
Not well. For Discover Scuba Diving you only need to feel comfortable in the water. For the Open Water course there is a simple swim and float test.
How deep do beginners dive in Cabo?
Up to 40 ft (12 m) on Discover Scuba Diving. You start much shallower and only go deeper if you feel ready.
Is scuba diving in Cabo safe for beginners?
Yes, when it is done properly: a certified instructor by your side the whole time, a full briefing, practice in shallow water first and a small group.
Can children try scuba diving in Cabo?
Yes, from 10 years old, as long as they are comfortable in the water and come with an adult.
Can I fly after my first dive?
Wait at least 12 hours after one dive and 18 hours after two before flying.
Ready for your first dive?
If you have never dived, start with Discover Scuba Diving in Cabo San Lucas. You will know after one dive whether you want to go further.
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