Guide to diving Sea of Cortez in Mexico

Discover dive sites, liveaboards, and top sea creatures linked to Sea of Cortez in Mexico.

The liveaboard shown opposite is the highest customer rated Mexico liveaboard diving Sea of Cortez. You can easily book the Adventure Liveaboard, scoring 9.4/10, using this link.

1 Countries

24 Dive sites

6 Liveaboards

138 Creatures

Sea creatures found in Sea of Cortez

Here are the main sea creatures found across dive sites in Sea of Cortez, grouped by type so you can quickly see what marine life you may encounter.

Creature type	Sea creatures
Cephalopod	Humboldt squid , Octopus
Cnidarians	Anemones
Coral	Black coral trees , Brain coral , Finger coral , Gorgonian fans , Sea Fans
Crustacians	Crabs , Lobsters , Skeleton shrimp
Echinoderm	Sea cucumber , Sea stars , Sea urchins , Starfish
Eels	Garden eels , Green moray eels , Jewel moray eels , Moray eels , Panamic green morays , Zebra moray eels
Jack Mackerel Family	Big-eyed Jacks (Bigeye trevally) , Jacks (Jackfish)
Mammal	Sea Lions
Mullidae	Goatfish
Other sea creatures	Galapagos sharks , Pufferfish , Scorpionfish , Silky sharks
Pelagic fish	Anchovies , Dorado (Mahi-Mahi) , Mackerel , Marlin , Pacific Bonitos , Sailfish , Sardines , Sea bass , Wahoo , Yellowfin tuna
Rays	Bat rays , Electric rays , Manta rays (Mantas) , Mobula Rays , Southern stingrays , Spotted eagle rays , Stingrays
Reef fish	Amberjacks , Angelfish , Barberfish , Barracuda , Blacksmith , Blennies , Blue-banded gobies , Blue-eyed damselfish , Blue-spotted jawfish , Butterflyfish , Chinese trumpetfish , Cortez angelfish , Cortez angelfish , Creole fish , Damselfish , Frogfish , Goliath grouper (jewfish) , Green Jacks , Groupers , Grunts , Guineafowl puffer , Hawkfish , Jawfish , King angel fish , Mexican hogfish , Orange garibaldi , Orangethroat pikeblennies , Parrotfish , Reef fish , Seahorses , Sergeant majors , Silversides , Slippery dick , Snappers , Soldier fish , Spadefish , Stonefish , Suitcase fish , Surgeonfish , Triggerfish , Wrasse , Yellowtail snapper
Sea birds	Blue-footed Boobies , Brown boobies , Cormorants , Frigatebirds , Pelicans
Sea slug or Gastropoda	Blue-striped nudibranchs , Marcus' aeolid nudibranch , Nudibranchs
Sea turtles	Black turtles , Green turtles , Hawksbill turtle , Leatherback turtles , Loggerhead turtles , Olive Ridley turtles
Sharks	Blue sharks , Bull sharks , Great hammerhead sharks , Great white sharks , Horn Sharks , Leopard sharks , Mako sharks , Nurse sharks , Scalloped hammerhead sharks , Thresher sharks , Tiger sharks , Whale sharks , Whitetip reef sharks
Sponges and cnidarian	Sea sponges
Whales and dolphins	Blue whales , Bottlenose dolpins , Bryde’s whales , Common dolphins (Short-beaked Common Dolphins) , Dolphins , False killer whale , Fin whales , Gray whales , Humpback whales , Long-beaked Common Dolphins , Orcas (Killer Whales) , Pacific white-sided dolphins , Pantropical Spotted Dolphins , Pilot whales , Risso's dolphins , Rough-Toothed Dolphins , Sei whales , Sperm whale , Spinner dolphins , Striped Dolphins , Vaquita porpoise
Zanclidae	Moorish Idols

Dive sites in Sea of Cortez

The following dive sites are found in Sea of Cortez. Each site below shows the liveaboards that dive there.

Dive site	Liveaboards that dive this site
La Reyna	Adventure Liveaboard, MV Nautilus Belle Amie Liveaboard, Nautilus Explorer Liveaboard, Nautilus Gallant Lady Liveaboard, Nautilus Under Sea Liveaboard
Isla Los Islotes	Adventure Liveaboard, Nautilus Gallant Lady Liveaboard, Rocio del Mar Liveaboard
Isla El Bajo	Adventure Liveaboard, Nautilus Explorer Liveaboard, Nautilus Gallant Lady Liveaboard
Isla Las Ánimas	Adventure Liveaboard, MV Nautilus Belle Amie Liveaboard, Nautilus Explorer Liveaboard, Nautilus Gallant Lady Liveaboard, Nautilus Under Sea Liveaboard, Rocio del Mar Liveaboard
Salvatierra shipwreck	Adventure Liveaboard, Rocio del Mar Liveaboard
Swanee reef	Adventure Liveaboard
Fang Ming wreck	Adventure Liveaboard, Rocio del Mar Liveaboard
Corralito	Adventure Liveaboard
Bahia de Los Angeles (Bay of Angels)	MV Nautilus Belle Amie Liveaboard, Nautilus Explorer Liveaboard, Nautilus Gallant Lady Liveaboard, Nautilus Under Sea Liveaboard, Rocio del Mar Liveaboard
San Pedro Martir	MV Nautilus Belle Amie Liveaboard, Nautilus Explorer Liveaboard, Nautilus Gallant Lady Liveaboard, Nautilus Under Sea Liveaboard, Rocio del Mar Liveaboard
Isla San Ildefonso (San Ildefonso Island)	MV Nautilus Belle Amie Liveaboard, Nautilus Gallant Lady Liveaboard, Nautilus Under Sea Liveaboard, Rocio del Mar Liveaboard
The pinnacles west of San Franciscito	MV Nautilus Belle Amie Liveaboard, Nautilus Explorer Liveaboard, Nautilus Under Sea Liveaboard
Isla Espiritu Santo	MV Nautilus Belle Amie Liveaboard, Nautilus Explorer Liveaboard, Nautilus Gallant Lady Liveaboard, Nautilus Under Sea Liveaboard, Rocio del Mar Liveaboard
Las Ventanas	MV Nautilus Belle Amie Liveaboard, Nautilus Explorer Liveaboard, Nautilus Gallant Lady Liveaboard, Nautilus Under Sea Liveaboard
Cerralvo Island (Isla Cerralvo; known as Jacques Cousteau Island)	Adventure Liveaboard, MV Nautilus Belle Amie Liveaboard, Nautilus Explorer Liveaboard, Nautilus Gallant Lady Liveaboard, Nautilus Under Sea Liveaboard, Rocio del Mar Liveaboard
Carpenter Rock	MV Nautilus Belle Amie Liveaboard, Nautilus Explorer Liveaboard, Nautilus Gallant Lady Liveaboard, Nautilus Under Sea Liveaboard
La Paz	Nautilus Explorer Liveaboard, Nautilus Gallant Lady Liveaboard, Nautilus Under Sea Liveaboard
Isla San Jose	Nautilus Gallant Lady Liveaboard
Isla Ángel de la Guarda	Rocio del Mar Liveaboard
Isla Salsipuedes	Rocio del Mar Liveaboard
Midriffs Islands	Rocio del Mar Liveaboard
Coronado Island	Rocio del Mar Liveaboard
El bajo Los Islotes	Nautilus Under Sea Liveaboard
Loreto bay (Loreto National Park)	Nautilus Explorer Liveaboard, Nautilus Under Sea Liveaboard

Liveaboards, dive sites, and top sea creatures in Sea of Cortez

Adventure Liveaboard

La Reyna top sea creatures: Manta rays (Mantas), Sea Lions, Silky sharks, Scalloped hammerhead sharks, Thresher sharks, Jacks (Jackfish), Pacific Bonitos, Yellowfin tuna, Mackerel, Stingrays, Moray eels, Green moray eels, Nudibranchs, Angelfish, Parrotfish, Damselfish, Green turtles, Olive Ridley turtles, Sperm whale, Humpback whales, Orcas (Killer Whales), Bottlenose dolpins, Common dolphins (Short-beaked Common Dolphins), Spinner dolphins, Risso's dolphins, False killer whale

Isla Los Islotes top sea creatures: Sea Lions, Dolphins, Humpback whales, Jacks (Jackfish), Angelfish, Surgeonfish, Parrotfish, Moorish Idols, Silversides, Damselfish, Mexican hogfish, Groupers, Mobula Rays, Stingrays, Moray eels, King angel fish, Bottlenose dolpins, Common dolphins (Short-beaked Common Dolphins), Spinner dolphins, Risso's dolphins, Rough-Toothed Dolphins

Isla El Bajo top sea creatures: Great hammerhead sharks, Whale sharks, Silky sharks, Manta rays (Mantas), Mobula Rays, Humpback whales, Sperm whale, Green moray eels, Amberjacks, Yellowfin tuna, Dorado (Mahi-Mahi), Groupers, Snappers, Sea Lions, Octopus, Reef fish, Angelfish, Sergeant majors, Damselfish, Bottlenose dolpins

Isla Las Ánimas top sea creatures: Scalloped hammerhead sharks, Sea Lions, Big-eyed Jacks (Bigeye trevally), Yellowfin tuna, Galapagos sharks, Silky sharks, Dolphins, Fin whales, Stingrays, Green moray eels, Jewel moray eels, Octopus, Gorgonian fans, Nudibranchs, Reef fish, Hawkfish, Wrasse, Bottlenose dolpins, Common dolphins (Short-beaked Common Dolphins)

Salvatierra shipwreck top sea creatures: Stingrays, Southern stingrays, Mobula Rays, Green turtles, Olive Ridley turtles, Hawksbill turtle, Sea bass, Spadefish, Angelfish, Cortez angelfish, Parrotfish, Surgeonfish, Sergeant majors, Pufferfish, Hawkfish, Sea sponges, Sea Fans, Gorgonian fans, Jacks (Jackfish), Grunts, Reef fish, Barracuda

Swanee reef top sea creatures: Sea Lions, Green Jacks, Goatfish, Snappers, Pufferfish, Sergeant majors, Barracuda, Seahorses, Nudibranchs, Octopus, Frogfish, Zebra moray eels, Scorpionfish, Stonefish, Stingrays, Mobula Rays, Hawksbill turtle, Sea Fans, Gorgonian fans, Brain coral, Finger coral, Common dolphins (Short-beaked Common Dolphins), Bottlenose dolpins

Fang Ming wreck top sea creatures: Green turtles, Sea Lions, Cortez angelfish, Parrotfish, Groupers, Snappers, Moray eels, Spotted eagle rays, Yellowfin tuna, Manta rays (Mantas), Scalloped hammerhead sharks, Octopus, Lobsters, Black coral trees

Corralito top sea creatures: Green turtles, Scorpionfish, Octopus, Electric rays, Nudibranchs, Moray eels, Sea Lions, Sea cucumber, Starfish, Anemones, Barracuda, Crabs, Lobsters, Bottlenose dolpins, Common dolphins (Short-beaked Common Dolphins), Spinner dolphins, Pantropical Spotted Dolphins, Risso's dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins, Rough-Toothed Dolphins, False killer whale, Vaquita porpoise

Cerralvo Island (Isla Cerralvo; known as Jacques Cousteau Island) top sea creatures: Mobula Rays, Whale sharks, Orcas (Killer Whales), Dolphins, Scalloped hammerhead sharks, Silky sharks, Bull sharks, Manta rays (Mantas), Humpback whales, Blue whales, Gray whales, Sea Lions, Barracuda, Yellowtail snapper, Yellowfin tuna, Dorado (Mahi-Mahi), Groupers, Sergeant majors, Garden eels, Zebra moray eels, Panamic green morays, Green turtles, Hawksbill turtle, Loggerhead turtles, Leatherback turtles, Olive Ridley turtles, Octopus, Lobsters, Parrotfish, Angelfish, Surgeonfish, Hawkfish, Sea Fans, Brain coral, Gorgonian fans, Sperm whale, Reef fish, Moray eels, Jacks (Jackfish), Bottlenose dolpins, Common dolphins (Short-beaked Common Dolphins), Spinner dolphins, Rough-Toothed Dolphins, Risso's dolphins

MV Nautilus Belle Amie Liveaboard

Bahia de Los Angeles (Bay of Angels) top sea creatures: Whale sharks, Sea Lions, Green turtles, Loggerhead turtles, Hawksbill turtle, Olive Ridley turtles, Fin whales, Dolphins, Mobula Rays, Jacks (Jackfish), Snappers, Reef fish, Common dolphins (Short-beaked Common Dolphins), Long-beaked Common Dolphins, Bottlenose dolpins, Spinner dolphins, Risso's dolphins, Rough-Toothed Dolphins

San Pedro Martir top sea creatures: Sea Lions, Sperm whale, Dolphins, Fin whales, Anchovies, Sardines, Groupers, Scalloped hammerhead sharks, Mobula Rays, Manta rays (Mantas), Green turtles, Olive Ridley turtles, Loggerhead turtles, Leatherback turtles, Humboldt squid, Black coral trees, Bottlenose dolpins, Spinner dolphins, Risso's dolphins, Rough-Toothed Dolphins, Striped Dolphins, Pantropical Spotted Dolphins, False killer whale

Isla San Ildefonso (San Ildefonso Island) top sea creatures: Scalloped hammerhead sharks, Whale sharks, Great white sharks, Sea Lions, Dolphins, Pilot whales, Fin whales, Sperm whale, Barracuda, Jacks (Jackfish), Mobula Rays, Reef fish, Green turtles, Hawksbill turtle, Nudibranchs, Manta rays (Mantas), Humpback whales, Gray whales, Blue-footed Boobies, Pelicans, Frigatebirds, Cormorants, Whitetip reef sharks, Silky sharks, Bull sharks, Bottlenose dolpins, Common dolphins (Short-beaked Common Dolphins), Spinner dolphins, Risso's dolphins, Pantropical Spotted Dolphins, Rough-Toothed Dolphins

The pinnacles west of San Franciscito top sea creatures: Whale sharks, Scalloped hammerhead sharks, Silky sharks, Manta rays (Mantas), Mobula Rays, Dolphins, Reef fish, Jacks (Jackfish), Yellowfin tuna, Parrotfish, Groupers, Pufferfish, Moray eels, Starfish, Sea urchins, Bull sharks, Stingrays, Big-eyed Jacks (Bigeye trevally), Creole fish, Sea sponges, Black coral trees, Humpback whales, Orcas (Killer Whales), Bottlenose dolpins, Long-beaked Common Dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins, Risso's dolphins

Isla Espiritu Santo top sea creatures: Sea Lions, Sardines, Angelfish, Surgeonfish, Scalloped hammerhead sharks, Manta rays (Mantas), Whale sharks, Mobula Rays, Green turtles, Black turtles, Olive Ridley turtles, Reef fish, Bottlenose dolpins, Common dolphins (Short-beaked Common Dolphins), Spinner dolphins, Risso's dolphins, Pantropical Spotted Dolphins

Las Ventanas top sea creatures: Mobula Rays, Orcas (Killer Whales), Whale sharks, Humpback whales, Blue whales, Sperm whale, Fin whales, Dolphins, Sea Lions, Silky sharks, Scalloped hammerhead sharks, Marlin, Sailfish, Yellowfin tuna, Wahoo, Spotted eagle rays, Olive Ridley turtles, Loggerhead turtles, Hawksbill turtle, Green turtles, Leatherback turtles, Nudibranchs, Parrotfish, Bottlenose dolpins, Spinner dolphins, Risso's dolphins, Pantropical Spotted Dolphins

Carpenter Rock top sea creatures: Butterflyfish, Groupers, Moray eels, Hawkfish, Surgeonfish, Angelfish, Soldier fish, Suitcase fish, Octopus, Scalloped hammerhead sharks, Tiger sharks, Galapagos sharks, Whitetip reef sharks, Reef fish, Bottlenose dolpins, Risso's dolphins, Common dolphins (Short-beaked Common Dolphins), Spinner dolphins, Pantropical Spotted Dolphins, Rough-Toothed Dolphins

Nautilus Explorer Liveaboard

La Paz top sea creatures: Bottlenose dolpins, Common dolphins (Short-beaked Common Dolphins), Spinner dolphins, Risso's dolphins, Orcas (Killer Whales), Striped Dolphins, Whale sharks, Scalloped hammerhead sharks, Blue sharks, Mako sharks, Silky sharks, Sea Lions, Humpback whales, Blue whales, Green turtles, Reef fish, Groupers, Goliath grouper (jewfish), Chinese trumpetfish, Guineafowl puffer

Loreto bay (Loreto National Park) top sea creatures: Blue whales, Humpback whales, Gray whales, Fin whales, Sperm whale, Bryde’s whales, Sei whales, Dolphins, Orcas (Killer Whales), Sea Lions, Mobula Rays, Manta rays (Mantas), Spotted eagle rays, Stingrays, Whale sharks, Scalloped hammerhead sharks, Thresher sharks, Mako sharks, Whitetip reef sharks, Nurse sharks, Leopard sharks, Green turtles, Hawksbill turtle, Olive Ridley turtles, Risso's dolphins, Spinner dolphins, Bottlenose dolpins, Common dolphins (Short-beaked Common Dolphins)

Nautilus Gallant Lady Liveaboard

Isla San Jose top sea creatures: Common dolphins (Short-beaked Common Dolphins), Spinner dolphins, Pantropical Spotted Dolphins, Risso's dolphins, Mobula Rays, Damselfish, Reef fish, Blue-eyed damselfish, Parrotfish, Grunts, Snappers, Moray eels, Green turtles, Hawksbill turtle, Slippery dick, Whale sharks

Nautilus Under Sea Liveaboard

El bajo Los Islotes top sea creatures: Sea Lions, Parrotfish, Reef fish, Angelfish, Surgeonfish, Pufferfish, Sardines, Cormorants, Blue-footed Boobies, Pelicans, Brown boobies, Scalloped hammerhead sharks, Whale sharks, Silky sharks, Mobula Rays, Manta rays (Mantas), Yellowfin tuna, Pacific Bonitos, Wahoo, Amberjacks, Green moray eels, Barracuda, Snappers

Rocio del Mar Liveaboard

Isla Ángel de la Guarda top sea creatures: Barracuda, Mexican hogfish, Barberfish, Mobula Rays, Nudibranchs, Whale sharks, Blue-spotted jawfish, Blue-banded gobies, Marcus' aeolid nudibranch, Blue-striped nudibranchs, Bottlenose dolpins, Common dolphins (Short-beaked Common Dolphins), Spinner dolphins, Risso's dolphins

Isla Salsipuedes top sea creatures: Nudibranchs, Skeleton shrimp, Reef fish, Scorpionfish, Blennies, Orangethroat pikeblennies, Dolphins, Moray eels, Sea Lions, Mobula Rays, Stingrays, Octopus, Common dolphins (Short-beaked Common Dolphins), Pantropical Spotted Dolphins, Risso's dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins, Rough-Toothed Dolphins

Midriffs Islands top sea creatures: Blue whales, Sperm whale, Orcas (Killer Whales), Humpback whales, Dolphins, Whale sharks, Scalloped hammerhead sharks, Mobula Rays, Reef fish, Cortez angelfish, Barberfish, Parrotfish, Blue-spotted jawfish, Blennies, Jawfish, Nudibranchs, Green turtles, Hawksbill turtle, Leatherback turtles, Olive Ridley turtles, Bottlenose dolpins, Common dolphins (Short-beaked Common Dolphins), Risso's dolphins, Spinner dolphins, Rough-Toothed Dolphins

Coronado Island top sea creatures: Sea Lions, Orange garibaldi, Parrotfish, Angelfish, Butterflyfish, Triggerfish, Blacksmith, Dolphins, Blue whales, Fin whales, Humpback whales, Manta rays (Mantas), Stingrays, Bat rays, Horn Sharks, Sea urchins, Sea stars, Nudibranchs, Moray eels, Octopus, Lobsters, Green turtles, Bottlenose dolpins, Long-beaked Common Dolphins, Risso's dolphins, Common dolphins (Short-beaked Common Dolphins)

Top liveaboards diving Sea of Cortez

The following liveaboards are the highest ranked dive boats by SDE Liveaboard Rating, to help you compare the best options for diving Sea of Cortez.

How SDE Liveaboard Rating works for the Nautilus Gallant Lady Liveaboard: 83%

The SDE Liveaboard Rating is Scuba Diving Earth’s own scoring system for comparing dive liveaboards at a glance. It adds together six individual category scores, each scored out of 10, covering the boat, cabins, diving, food, drinks, and non-diver companion features.

For the Nautilus Gallant Lady Liveaboard, those category scores combine into an overall SDE Liveaboard Rating of 83%. This helps you compare the overall onboard experience more quickly across the liveaboards shown below.

The SDE Liveaboard Rating for the Nautilus Gallant Lady liveaboard works by taking the six individual SDE Liveaboard Rating scores, with each one being scored out of 10 and then adding them together. For the Nautilus Gallant Lady liveaboard are ([Diving:10/10] + [Cabin:6/10] + [Boat:9/10] + [Dining:8/10] + [Drinks:0/10] + [Non-diver:8/10] = 41/60). This total is compared to the maximum possible score of 60/60 to turn it into an overall percentage – which for the Nautilus Gallant Lady liveaboard is calculated as 41/60 = 83% SDE Liveaboard Rating.

This makes it easy to compare different liveaboards at a glance. See a more detailed explanation of how SDE Liveaboard Rating works together with all dive liveaboards ranked by SDE Liveaboard Rating .