Dive For Fun · New Year's in the Sea of Cortez

La Paz

A week of scuba diving in the world's aquarium, plus one day in Bahía Magdalena. Ringing in the new year in Baja California Sur.

✦ Dec 28, 2026 to Jan 4, 2027 ✦ 7 nights at Villa Carey ✦ + 1 day in Bahía Magdalena ✦ USD 2,519 per person
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Explore

The destination

The world's
aquarium

Jacques Cousteau called the Sea of Cortez "the world's aquarium", and the nickname stuck. It is the only sea on the planet that belongs to a single country, and it is home to roughly 40% of every marine mammal species in existence. Outside, desert. Inside, life everywhere you look.

La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, a city of about 300,000 people with a waterfront malecón and ecotourism as its main activity. That is where the boats leave from for Los Islotes, for the wrecks and for the encounter with the whale sharks that visit the bay.

Whale shark seen head on, mouth open filtering water, in the Bay of La Paz
Whale shark in the Bay of La Paz
600+
Sea lions at Los Islotes
10to20m
Average depth
40%
Of the planet's marine mammals
34
Years of Buceo Carey operation
1
Day in Bahía Magdalena

Video

See La Paz from the inside

The video from Buceo Carey, the local operator: the boats, the house, the sea lions and what happens underwater.

Hosted on YouTube in enhanced privacy mode.

The diving

Four ways to
dive La Paz

Average depth at the sites runs between 10 and 20 meters. This is accessible diving: from Open Water up, with no advanced certification required.

Los Islotes
The sea lion
colony

More than 600 sea lions live at Los Islotes. The pups are curious, they come close, nibble at your fin and play with the bubbles. It is the most photographed site in La Paz, and for good reason.

Pecios
Wrecks in
shallow water

Boats sunk on purpose to create artificial reefs, at an average depth of 20 meters. Open to all levels, and today taken over by life: schools of fish, turtles and reef fish.

Reefs
Schools of fish,
rays and mantas

The coral reefs in the region gather big schools of fish, nudibranchs, moray eels, rays and mantas. Easy dives, with good light and plenty to look at up close.

Whale shark
Snorkeling with the
biggest fish in the sea

Around 30 whale sharks visit the Bay of La Paz every year, 15 minutes by boat from the marina. The season runs from October to April. The encounter is done snorkeling, not on scuba.

Diver lighting up the structure of a wreck in the Sea of Cortez Sea turtle resting on the hull of a wreck

Gallery

What is waiting
for you below

Sea lion with its mouth open swimming toward the camera
Sea lion colony resting on the rocks of Los Islotes
Sea lion pup playing underwater
School of yellow fish over the reef in the Sea of Cortez
Mobula gliding through blue water in the Sea of Cortez

The extra day

Bahía Magdalena

On the other side of the peninsula, on the Pacific, lies Bahía Magdalena. The expedition sets aside January 3 for it: a transfer of about 2 hours from La Paz, a boat trip of roughly 5 hours for snorkeling and the return to La Paz at the end of the day.

January is also the window when gray whales show up in the region, using the bay as a nursery. What the package covers is the boat trip with snorkeling, and the encounter with the whales is not part of the itinerary and is not guaranteed. The sea is the sea: what shows up that day is whatever the bay feels like showing.

Gray whale surfacing in Bahía Magdalena Gray whale approaching a small observation boat Sardine bait ball attacked by a marlin in open water

Reference images from the region. What the package covers is the boat trip with snorkeling; marine life sightings depend on the day.

Villa Carey pool during the day, surrounded by loungers and garden
Accommodation

Villa Carey

Since 2020 Buceo Carey has had its own dive house, exclusive to its guests. There are 20 double rooms, and the place was designed by people who dive: everything you need between one boat day and the next is right there.

20 double rooms, exclusive to Carey guests
Pool with jacuzzi, garden, fire pit and massage area
Private bar with draft beer, lounge room and gym
Camera rinse area and 220v outlets
Symmetrical 600 Mb internet
Farewell barbecue at the end of the week
Villa Carey pool lit up at night Villa Carey lounge room with sofas and social area
Local operation

Buceo Carey

A family business, running La Paz since 1992. That is 34 years of the Sea of Cortez, led by founder Gabriel Vázquez, an instructor evaluator. These are people who know every rock in the bay and know where the animals are in each week of the year.

Private marina in the heart of La Paz
3 boats, with capacity for 30 divers
3 of their own vans for the transfers in the itinerary
Nitrox membrane and 120 tanks
Family run since 1992
Buceo Carey boat under way with divers on board in the Sea of Cortez

How it works

The shape of
the expedition

🤿
8 boat dives
Four days of diving, with two dives on each. The trips leave from Carey's private marina, in downtown La Paz, with a transfer from the house to the boat.
🐋
One day in Bahía Magdalena
January 3, on the other side of the peninsula, on the Pacific. A boat trip of about 5 hours for snorkeling.
🏠
7 nights at Villa Carey
The operator's dive house, exclusive to guests, in a standard double room, with breakfast and lunch.
🚐
Private transfers
Private transfers for the group, as per the itinerary, arriving and departing through the La Paz airport.
🎓
From Open Water up
The sites sit between 10 and 20 meters. No advanced certification is needed to join.
👥
Dive For Fun staff
The DFF team is with you throughout the trip, from the welcome briefing to the last dive.

Itinerary

Day by day

From December 28, 2026 to January 4, 2027, eight days between La Paz and Bahía Magdalena.

Dec 28, Monday · Day 1
La Paz

Meeting point at the La Paz airport and transfer to the hotel. Start of the 7 nights of accommodation, with breakfast and lunch.

Dec 29, Tuesday · Day 2
Boat dive trip

Boat dive trip for 2 dives.

Dec 30, Wednesday · Day 3
Boat dive trip

Boat dive trip for 2 dives.

Dec 31, Thursday · Day 4
Boat dive trip

Boat dive trip for 2 dives.

Jan 1, Friday · Day 5
Free day

Free day.

Jan 2, Saturday · Day 6
Boat dive trip

Boat dive trip for 2 dives.

Jan 3, Sunday · Day 7
Bahía Magdalena

Transfer of roughly 2 hours to Bahía Magdalena, a boat trip of roughly 5 hours for snorkeling, and the return to La Paz at the end of the day.

Jan 4, Monday · Day 8
End of services

Transfer to the airport and end of services.

Conditions at sea

What the historical
average says

Approximate numbers from past seasons, so you can plan your exposure suit and your expectations. The sea is the sea: these are estimates, not a guarantee.

🌡️
November and December
Water 28 to 25 °C
Visibility of 25 to 20 meters. Air between 18 and 28 °C.
❄️
January to March
Water 24 to 18 °C
Visibility of 15 to 20 meters. Air between 18 and 25 °C.
🦈
Whale shark
October to April
Season in the Bay of La Paz, 15 minutes away by boat. Snorkeling activity.

Prices

Land package, per person
USD 2,519

Per person, in double occupancy. The IRRF (Brazilian withholding tax) is charged separately, and airfare is not included.

IRRF (Brazilian withholding tax)
USD 198
Brazilian tax, charged separately from the land package price.
Airfare
Not included
Flights are up to each participant and are quoted separately.

⚠️ Prices subject to adjustment and availability. Nothing is confirmed until the booking is closed: the figures above are a quote.

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The package

What is
included

Included
  • 7 nights of accommodation at Villa Carey, which appears in the quote as Carey Village Guest House, in a standard room.
  • Breakfast and lunch. Drinks are not included.
  • Private transfers for the group, as per the itinerary.
  • 4 boat dive trips, with 2 dives on each, for a total of 8 dives.
  • Snorkeling trip in Bahía Magdalena.
  • Travel assistance insurance.
  • Nitrox for certified divers.
Not included
  • Airfare.
  • Visa.
  • Equipment rental.
  • Departure taxes.
  • Personal extras and tips.
  • Drinks.
  • Anything not described in the itinerary.
⚠️ Mind your flight
The included transfer is at the La Paz airport

The package transfers happen at the La Paz airport, on the itinerary dates: arrival on December 28 and departure on January 4.

If you choose to fly Copa into Los Cabos instead of La Paz, the transfer is not included and is on you. Talk to us before buying your ticket so there are no surprises.

Documents

What you need
to have on hand

Check it well in advance. A missing document is the silliest way to lose a trip.

🛂
Passport
Valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure.
🤿
Certification and logbook
Dive certification and logbook, to show the local operation.
💉
Yellow fever
International certificate of yellow fever vaccination.
📄
Visa
A visa is required for Mexico.

New Year's in the Sea of Cortez

Ring in the year in
the world's aquarium.

A week of scuba diving in La Paz, plus one day in Bahía Magdalena. Land package of USD 2,519 per person in double occupancy.

Chat on WhatsApp Send an email

IRRF (Brazilian withholding tax) of USD 198 charged separately. Airfare not included. Prices subject to adjustment and availability.

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Developed by Gabriel Vieira Costa