Nautilus Dive Tech

Sea of Cortez, Mexico

The team at Nautilus Dive Tech are our go-to for diving the Sea of Cortez, especially if you’re keen on exploring the area’s big animal encounters. We love their commitment to small groups, which means no fighting for a good view of the mobula rays or the playful sea lions. They really shine when it comes to custom trips. If you have a specific species in mind, or a particular dive site you’ve been dreaming about, they’ll work with you to make it happen – a rare find for many centres. Our favourite mornings started with the smell of the salty air, the sun just warming the boat as we headed out towards Los Islotes. The water there often has that crisp, cool feel on entry, a nice wake-up before descending into the bustling sea lion colony. Below, you’ll hear the barks and clicks of the pups darting around you, their whiskers tickling your mask if you stay still enough. We’ve had some incredible moments with schooling hammerheads further out, too. It’s not an everyday occurrence, but when it happens, you’ll see that unmistakable silhouette emerge from the blue, sometimes dozens of them. Go with Nautilus if you want an experienced crew who understand these patterns and know the best times to find them.