The Cortez Club - Sea of Cortez

We’ve spent a lot of time diving the Sea of Cortez, and The Cortez Club site is always a good time, especially if you’re staying near La Paz. It’s got a real mix of everything we love about the region. You’ll often drop into visibility that stretches out thirty metres, with that classic Cortez blue. The main draw for us is the sheer number of those common, everyday species you just don't see in such density elsewhere. We’re talking about schools of Manini so thick they shimmer like a silver curtain, or big groups of Raucous Grunts making their peculiar sounds. Listen closely, you can often hear them clicking and croaking. Our favourite spot is usually around the deeper rocks where you’ll often find Chestnut Morays poking their heads out, or sometimes a Lumptail Searobin doing its odd little walk along the seabed. We always keep an eye out for the Gungo Highhat, they’re a really striking fish with those tall dorsal fins. It’s a site that suits divers who appreciate the subtle beauty of a healthy, busy reef. Go in the morning before the boat traffic picks up, you’ll have it mostly to yourselves.

Location
Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America
Coordinates
24.203540, -110.300385

Marine Protected Area: Humedales Mogote - Ensenada de La Paz

Best Time to Dive in Sea of Cortez

The warmest water temperatures in Sea of Cortez occur in September, averaging 30.4°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 21.1°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 22.2°C
  • February: 21.1°C
  • March: 21.5°C
  • April: 22.6°C
  • May: 24.8°C
  • June: 27.1°C
  • July: 29.1°C
  • August: 30.1°C
  • September: 30.4°C
  • October: 29.8°C
  • November: 27.6°C
  • December: 25.1°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Sea of Cortez

Nearest Dive Centres to The Cortez Club

Marine Life in Sea of Cortez

Home to 197 recorded species including 172 reef fish, 14 whales & dolphins, 5 sharks & rays, 3 other, 1 sea cucumbers, 1 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for The Cortez Club

Based on average water temperature of 26.0°C, currents 9 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 26°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories