Nautical Voyage on the Sea of Cortez
A Once in a Life Time Experience
Embark on a once in a life time experience on this live-aboard voyage off the coast of Cabo, Mexico. This flexible itinerary geared towards seeking out the marine life in the Sea of Cortez, offers a unique experience to get up close and personal with sea life including whale sharks, blue whales, rays, dolphins, and even orcas through diving and snorkeling. Accompanied by a spotter plane, our chances of witnessing these once in a life time experiences are greatly increased. We can't wait to welcome you on this nautical adventure!
Itinerary
July 13 - 20, 2025
Day 1 | Arrive in Cabo
You will arrive in Cabo (SJD airport) and receive a complimentary transfer to our Yacht where our hosts will be waiting on the back deck for you with trays of margaritas and champagne.
Day 2 - 7 | Voyage the Sea of Cortez
Everyday will be different and your captain and dive guides will update your itinerary to maximize animal and diving encounters and minimize any challenges with weather. This is a stunning time of year to dive the Sea of Cortez with water temps in the high 70’s or 80’s and the beautiful cobalt blue typical of summer. One of the nicest things about this time of year is that the seas are generally very calm without any motion aboard our heavy steel stabilized ships. We will have the opportunity to see different marine life everyday.
Day 8 | Safe Travels Home
Morning breakfast. Disembark at 8:30 am and complimentary transfer back to Cabo San Lucas or SJD Airport.
verve
/vərv/
verve
1. vigor and spirit or enthusiasm:
"Travel with verve"
/vərv/
1. vigor and spirit or enthusiasm:
"Travel with verve"
Who is this trip for?
This trip is best suited for solo travelers, couples, families, and friends ready for a true at-sea adventure
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The entirety of this trip will be at sea, searching for marine life, diving, and snorkeling
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This is an adventure on board a real yacht, which means living spaces, cabins, bathrooms and showers need to be shared with other passengers. Sleeping quarters can be quite compact, but you will be spending the majority of your time above board in the open air and in the water with the wonders of the sea!
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Time on the water also means time in the sun. Remember to pack sun protection, such as sun screen and a hat, and drink plenty of water to keep hydrated. See ‘Essential Trip Information’ below for a full packing list.
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Please note that smooth sailing is dependent on the weather, so itinerary changes may occur at the last minute if the weather becomes unfavourable. If any changes are made, you can trust in your knowledgeable skipper to choose an alternative route or activity.
Why you'll love this trip
What better way to get up close and personal with exotic sea life?
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The Sea of Cortez offers a special opportunity that overlaps 2 seasons in July combining mobula rays / orcas / whale sharks with spotter airplane support.
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Whale sharks!! Who doesn’t want to swim with whale sharks, especially when there are lots of them to see in a deserted bay and national park deep into the reaches of the Sea of Cortez. Bahia de Los Angeles is a truly special place with up to 220 friendly and curious whale sharks visiting every season, nestled deep in the reaches of the Sea of Cortez and best accessed by a liveaboard dive ship and Nautilus. Friendly and curious whale sharks?? Yes, indeed. There are so few boats around that these whale sharks behave very differently around humans than in any other place.
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Between 80 and 220 whale sharks have been identified during May to October. Bonus is all the other big critters in the Sea of Cortez this time of year. We will be keeping a sharp lookout for orcas, pilot whales, sperm whales and finback whales, as well as going ashore on a desert island with the largest population of blue-footed boobies in the world.
Meet your Boat
We will be embarking on the Nautilus UnderSea!
The UnderSea first entered service in 1968 as the personal submarine tender to Dr. Perry of Perry Oceanographic. This sturdy and brave ship became one of the most famous dive boats in the world as the Undersea Hunter voyaging out to Cocos Island and in IMAX adventures around the South Pacific. We graced the ship with a massive shipyard refit including: stretching the hull out to 105 feet, a new superstructure and extended sun deck, a bulbous bow and stability system.
Specifications:
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105 ft long
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Launched in 1968, rebuilt in 2018
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Stabilized
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ISM safety certified
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9 ensuite staterooms and suites
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19 guests, 9 crew
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Internet access and satellite phone
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High capacity water makers
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Freshwater hot tub
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Air fills, nitrox, rebreather friendly.
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Fully-stocked extensive bar (single malts, micro brews, a great selection of wine)
Available Staterooms:
We have partnered with Athens Scuba for our trip. We have 4 staterooms available for our group, meaning 8 people can join us. Spots are limited! Should we fill up the boat with more interest, there is a possibility of arranging a larger boat pending availability. The premium suite comes with an upcharge.
Inclusions
Accommodation and Meals:
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Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner on Board
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Round Trip Airport Transfers
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Airplane spotter support
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Oxygen tanks for diving
Exclusions:
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Alcohol is available for purchase on board at a very reasonable price
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International airfare
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Trip insurance
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Gratuities
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Diving Certifications
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Rental Gear
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Internet
Packing and Prparing:
You should definitely pack all the typical items for a shipboard vacation at sea in Mexico, like sunscreen, shorts,
bathing suits, sunglasses, hats, windbreaker and sweater as it can be cooler at night. We are sometimes asked about
seasickness and what works best. The Sea of Cortez is generally calm but it’s best to be prepared and we say that you
can’t beat drugs and alcohol! By which we mean “the patch” (scopolamine) and a nice glass of wine! We also have “sea
safe” sunscreen and body wash for our guests which helps us preserve the health and vibrance of the Sea of Cortez.
There is 24 hour AC power on your ship so don’t worry about charging your phone, laptop and cameras or CPAP
machine. For the safety of everybody onboard, we only allow unattended charging of lithium ion batteries in
designated protected areas. You will have cell reception in some areas but no reception in other places. For a modest
fee, you can get onboard satellite internet, which allows you to stay connected but it is much slower than shoreside
due to the complex satellite connection. Streaming services such as Netflix won’t be available, so it is best to predownload all of your movies and shows!
Cost + Payment | $3,500 per person
A nonrefundable deposit of $1,000 is required to secure your spot on our tour!
The final payment is due 60 days prior to departure (Wednesday, May 14, 2025).
Cancellation Policy:
The deposit is nonrefundable and nontransferable.
A note:
We have partnered with Athens Scuba for our group trip, meaning you have access to our Dive Master to get you certified prior to our trip. We are offering $150 off for anyone interested in getting certified prior to our departure.
While this trip will have diving involved, for those not interested in doing dives, snorkeling is available and is just as incredible as diving. While certain depths won't be able to be explored unless you are geared up, you will absolutely have the opportunity to swim and witness the same/similar ocean life.
