Liveaboard Diving in Cabo Pulmo

What To Expect On A Cabo Pulmo Liveaboard

Cabo Pulmo liveaboards visit this protected marine park which hosts the oldest reef on the western coast of North America. Located on the Southeast coast of the Baja California Peninsula, this reef is around 20,000 years old, and after many years of extreme overfishing, the Mexican Government agreed for it to become a protected reef in 1995. In the years from 2000-2010, the biomass of the reef increased by 400 percent, making it one of the most successful marine parks in the world, to date. It currently hosts over 6000 species of all shapes, sizes, and colors making it a true photographer's paradise.

Cabo Pulmo Underwater

The ancient but still thriving reef and its massive coral heads, in Cabo Pulmo attracts all kinds of species. From smaller species such as schools of Angelfish, groupers, Mobula Rays, and the famous Panamic Green Eel, to the larger species such as Whale sharks in Autumn time, Humpback whales, Orcas and sharks in Winter. If you are lucky you could see the spectacular show that the hundreds of schooling Mobula Rays display when jumping out of the water flapping and twisting mid-air right next to your liveaboard dive boat.

Dive Sites Of Cabo Pulmo

El Bajo: A popular drift provides divers with a chance to swoop along the ridge of the fingered reef, observing the schools of Groupers, Snappers, and Sardines. On a good day, you will see some turtles gracefully swim by, and on a lucky day, you will see some White Tip sharks come by as well.

El Islote: A wall dive where you have the chance to see schools of hundreds of Jacks, Rays, Eels, and many more species that inhabit this wall. The wall itself is covered in its own jungle of corals, sea fans, and surrounded by tiny reef fish. A great place to see spiny lobsters hiding amongst the large boulders spread around the base of the site.

Nearby you will also find a large colony of Brown Californian sea lions who will provide divers and snorkelers with some serious fun.

Tips For Divers

Cabo Pulmo, in general, is an advanced diver dive area due to strong currents and big waves, however, each liveaboard has their own minimum dive experience level, please always check this before booking and it is important to remember your dive logs/logbooks. It is possible to rent equipment but it will be more comfortable to use your own gear, so if possible bring that with. With the large diversity of marine life, you will have the chance to see, it would be completely worth it to bring an underwater camera, to capture the memories.

The main language is Spanish, however, English is widely spoken all around the country and on the liveaboards. The currency is the Mexican Peso and you can easily exchange all popular currencies such as US dollars and Euros etc.

The plug is the same plug as the US; two flat prongs with the standard voltage being 127V. Please remember to bring an adaptor for all your electrics if you are not coming from the US.

Getting To Cabo Pulmo

There are two ports from which the liveaboards we have to offer depart from, these are La Paz and Puerto Penasco.

Puerto Penasco is located in the state of Sonora which is the small piece of land that connects Baja California with the rest of Mexico. In July 2016 Puerto Penasco Airport will receive flights from domestic destinations, till then most fly into Yuma International Airport in Arizona, which is located 180km (112mi) from Puerto Penasco.

La Paz is the capital city of Baja California and the port from which the Mexican liveaboards depart is called Marina Fonutar. The closest International airport is El Alto International airport, which has flights arriving from international destinations such as the United States, Peru, and other South American destinations, and from multiple domestic locations as well. The airport is located approximately 15km (8mi) from La Paz center.


Cabo Pulmo Diving Reviews

  • 9.5 Exceptional
  • 4 Verified Reviews
  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Thomas R
  • United States United States

Great. Abundant fish life.

Diving Cabo Pulmo in August on the Valentina

  • 8.4 Very good
  • Colleen W
  • United States United States

Poor visibility, didn't see any hammerheads

Diving Cabo Pulmo in November on the Valentina

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Dora C
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Fantastic - diving with bull sharks

Diving Cabo Pulmo in March on the Nautilus Belle Amie