nautilus gallant lady – divedate | a bespoke dive travel agency

ocean safaris: sea of cortez▼

7 nights, 8 days

Day 1: ARRIVING IN CABO

If you are arriving by airline, you will be landing at SJD international airport which is a 20-minute drive from our SeeCreatures base in San Jose del Cabo, and a 45-minute drive from our SeeCreatures base in Cabo San Lucas.

On the morning of embarkation day, please make your way to SeeCreatures Cabo (not San Jose del Cabo) so you can check-in, drop off your luggage, and arrange for your antigen test. You can then enjoy the rest of your day and please be back at SeeCreatures by 4:45 pm latest and ready for boarding.

Day 2 to 7: ADVENTURING THE SEA OF CORTEZ

Every day is different. Every trip is different. Mother ocean is always full of surprises and your Captain and crew will do their very best to maximize your onboard experience taking into account our 5 decades of experience in the Sea of Cortez, recent animal sightings, weather, and our spotter plane!

Your first day at sea typically starts anchored off a quiet beach across from Cerralvo Island which is one of our secret mobula ray sites. Large schools of mobulas usually gather here overnight and if we time it right, you will be able to get in the water surrounded by large numbers of these rays. It’s magnificent. People travel from all over the world to see these mobulas.

Where we go next will vary. We might have reports of a huge pod of dolphins or even orcas in which case we’ll make full steam ahead to get you close or even in the water maintaining full respect for these animals. Interactions are always on their terms.

During your days at sea we will almost certainly visit Isla Las Animas which boasts a large population of sea lions. This can be a great shark destination for divers and a great snorkelling opportunity, and a chance for everyone else to go ashore. We are also certain to visit Isla La Reyna which is home to the vast schools of fish pictured on the cover of this booklet. It’s also your single best opportunity to see manta rays in the entire Sea of Cortez.

We’ll likely spend time around the National Park of Espiritu Santo to check out some wreck diving, go ashore for beach time, or hike into the hills guided by our naturalist guides.

Whale watching and encounters are always on the agenda including a resident pod of giant finback whales. Divers will always have the option of 4 dives a day.

Day 8: DISEMBARK IN CABO

We will arrive back in Cabo around 7:30 am on the last day of your trip for breakfast and disembarking at 8:30 am. We will have shuttles on standby for those who want to drop off their bags and spend one last day in town before an afternoon flight home. Or for those who prefer, your transfer van can pick you up directly at the boat and take you to the airport.

magdalena bay: mexico sardine run & striped marlin▼

7 nights, 8 days

Day 1: ARRIVAL TO SJD LOS CABOS INTERNATIONAL – EMBARK

Gateway La Paz, San José or Cabo SeeCreatures (SJD). Land transfer to Magdalena Bay. The scenic drive takes 5-1/2 hour from Cabo, plus a short meal break. Panga pickup for transfer to the vessel.

Day 2-7: CHASE THE BAIT BALLS OF MAGDALENA BAY

Cooperative eco-experience program with local pangas and highly knowledgeable captains. Nobody does a better job at finding bait balls than Captain G and his family and friends.

Spend as much or as little time as you want on the water each day.

The more time, the more striped marlin encounters! Scuba diving is available with prior arrangements.

Magdalena Bay is loaded with life this time of year, and aside from marlin, you might also spot whales, dolphins, turtles, sharks and sea lions. Don’t forget to check out the mangroves and gorgeous sand dunes.

Day 8: CABO SAN LUCAS – DISEMBARK

In the morning, after breakfast, we will sadly wave goodbye as we transfer you back to San Carlos for the drive back to Cabo San Lucas. Arriving mid-afternoon with an enroute break.

ocean safaris: mobulas and orcas▼

7 nights, 8 days

Day 1: ARRIVAL TO SJD LOS CABOS INTERNATIONAL – EMBARK

Our Nautilus-owned SeeCreatures is located right in the harbor in downtown Cabo San Lucas and is your home away from home. You are welcome to drop your bags off and check in whenever is most convenient. We ask that you please be at SeeCreatures by 4 pm for the pre-boarding health check. This trip is predominantly focused on snorkeling and freediving. However, if you would like to dive you will need to bring your own gear. We have full rental gear available and can get you suited and booted. Please be back at SeeCreatures by 7 pm for the safety video and boarding the boat at 7:30 pm. Settle into your cabin before enjoying a delicious dinner as we cruise towards the Sea of Cortez.

Days 2 – 7: SPOTTER AIRPLANE SUPPORTED OCEAN SAFARI

We have our own spotter airplane with a 2-person crew, flying up to 2 missions a day / 6 days a week. Our new Citabria is the perfect plane for this mission, flying as low as an ultralight for enhanced observation, with speed to scout north to Loreto national park and south to Cabo, providing the best coverage. Our pilot and naturalist/observer specialize in finding orcas and are the very best in the business. They have one goal in mind: to maximize your encounters with the animals.

You might have heard that the best place to find the Mobula rays is in the triangle between Espiritu Santo, Carpenter Rock on the west side of Cerralvo, and Las Ventanas on Baja, and, well, this might have been true In the days before our spotter aircraft. Our Citabria aircraft working in tandem with our expedition yacht and high-speed RHIB changes the calculus on this completely. We are finding animals like never before and will take you to where a mama blue whale and calf might be waiting for you, or humpback whales, whale sharks, cow nose rays, hundreds of dolphins, and hopefully orcas. Be patient, as it might take ten splashes for the Mobula rays and orcas to allow snorkelers and freedivers into the middle of the pack, but you’ll be rewarded with truly spectacular encounters.

Your day might start with a dive or snorkel with typical RHIB missions heading out at 11 am after the local Corumuel wind lies down making it easier to critter spot. Our RHIB, or high-speed skiff, carries 12 guests, so everyone is welcome onboard at the same time.

After a delicious lunch on the deck, we’ll head back out on the water in the afternoon. We will keep our support boat running as late as anyone wants up until dusk. You will get plenty of time in the water.

The Nautilus Gallant Lady is always close by. Take a break whenever you want and relax on the sundeck with a good book or by soaking in the hot tub. We also have kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.

In the evening, you’ll have the chance to see the Mobula rays in a different light. There will be the opportunity to go snorkeling at night in a calm, protected bay, where we will suspend lights off the bottom of the boat to attract swarms of Mobulas. The Mobulas come in to feed on the plankton exposed by the lights, providing a spectacular show against the inky ocean. If you’re a certified diver with your own gear, we can also arrange for you to go night diving.

Day 8 Saturday: CABO – DISEMBARK

After a final breakfast we’ll disembark the boat in Cabo at 8:30am.