Water Activities: Snorkel at Espiritu Santo Island with Orca Dive Baja

Duration

6 hours

About

This tour offers an opportunity to dive into the vibrant underwater world and encounter an array of extraordinary marine life. The sea lion colony at Espiritu Santo Island (the largest one in the area) is the highlight of this activity, a lively haven where playful and curious sea lions provide an unforgettable experience. You’ll also have the chance to encounter graceful sea turtles, mobula rays performing their stunning aerial displays, and, depending on the season, pods of dolphins and even majestic whales. You will be accompanied by our wildlife guides who are experts on animal behavior and will help you understand the ecology of the animals you will be watching, and swimming with. A perfect adventure for all ages

Options:

We offer daily shared and private trips with or without transportation.

Destination:

La Paz

Season:

Best during August - May (Sea Lion breeding season restrict snorkel at the colony from May to July)

Itinerary:

1. Check your email for the meeting point and inform us about the gear sizes required for the snorkeling. Meet your guide and boat at the designated location and you will try your gear and sign up for a waiver prior to the departure.

2. The navigation to the park where we are allowed to do this activity takes approximately 1.5 hours. On the way, we might observe dolphins, rays, and even humpback whales sometimes. Your guide will give you a briefing about the snorkeling procedures and sea lion ecology upon arriving on the divesite.

3. Time to get in the water! Your guide will be with you all the time and whenever possible we will provide you photos and videos of you enjoying this memorable experience.

4. Before we had back, we will make a stop at a beach or a designated area where you can have a quick lunch and enjoy some of the most stunning landscapes from Baja

Ecology and conservation:

The main species we can find are: The sea lion species commonly found at Espiritu Santo Island is the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). These intelligent and social mammals thrive in the island’s rich marine environment, where they hunt for fish and squid. Their playful behavior and dynamic social structures are vital for maintaining the balance of the local marine ecosystem. Conservation efforts are essential to protect their habitats and ensure their continued presence in these vibrant waters.

During this activity, we can expect to see many different species of sharks, rays, marine mammals and pelagic fish in general. We support different programs of citizen science collecting data from animal behavior and movement that can serve to estimate population dynamics and also the value of the ecotourism industry. With that, we hope to help scientists to better understand and provide the means to protect the marine fauna that we are observing. Whenever it is possible we include Marine Biologists as guides or 2nd guides during our activities to improve the educational experience and also provide them a platform for research programs.

What's included

• Park fees and Federal certified guide
• Water
• Snacks
• Mask
• Fins
• Snorkel & wetsuit
• Underwater photo/video (when conditions allow)
• Light lunch (burritos / sandwich / ceviche)

Not included

• Transportation to La Paz and the marina area, available upon request

What to bring

• Bathing suit
• Towel
• Change of dry clothes

Gratuities are not included, but are greatly appreciated!