La Paz
Latin America
Mexico
£2.50
La Paz: The Aquarium of the World
Jacques Cousteau famously called the Sea of Cortez the "Aquarium of the World," and La Paz is its front door. While the region is home to Whale Sharks and Mobulas, the real star attraction is Los Islotes. This rocky islet is home to a massive colony of California Sea Lions who have absolutely no concept of personal space. Diving here means becoming a chew toy for the pups, who will tug on your fins, check out your camera, and blow bubbles in your face. It is fast, chaotic, and arguably the most interactive marine life experience on the planet
Why We Chose This Sticker Design
The focal point of this design is the playful curiosity of the California Sea Lion. We illustrated the main character in a dynamic, upward pose to capture that inquisitive nature they are famous for. To complete the scene, we filled the background with a massive, shimmering school of sardines, mimicking the incredible density of life found in the nutrient-rich waters of Baja. The rocky brown foreground grounds the image, representing the volcanic islands that make this seascape so unique.
Diving La Paz
La Paz sits on the Sea of Cortez side of Baja and is the easiest base for its best-known encounters. Los Islotes, a rocky islet an hour by boat, holds a California sea lion colony where the juveniles are relentlessly playful with snorkellers and divers. Between autumn and spring, juvenile whale sharks feed in the shallow, plankton-rich water of the bay itself, and encounters there are snorkel-only and tightly regulated. Add the Salvatierra wreck and reefs full of schooling fish, and it is a varied, accessible destination.
- Best time to dive
- October to November for diving; whale sharks October to April
- Difficulty
- Beginner to intermediate
- Water temperature
- 20–29°C
- Visibility
- 10–25m; low in the whale shark shallows
Top dive sites
- •Los Islotes — Sea lion colony — closed seasonally for pupping
- •La Paz Bay shallows — Whale shark snorkelling, permit-controlled
- •Salvatierra wreck — Ferry wreck at around 18m
- •El Bajo seamount — Offshore site with schooling fish and rays
What you’ll see
Frequently asked questions
When can you swim with whale sharks in La Paz?
Roughly October to April, when juvenile whale sharks feed in the shallow plankton-rich water of La Paz Bay. Encounters are snorkel-only, run under a permit system with limited boats, designated zones, capped group sizes and a guide in the water enforcing distance. Expect murky green water rather than blue — that plankton is precisely why the sharks are there. Touching is prohibited, and boats must keep to strict speed limits within the zone.
Is Los Islotes open all year?
No. The sea lion colony closes to in-water visitors during the pupping and breeding season, generally over the summer months, when bulls are territorial and the animals need to be left alone. Exact dates are set by Mexican authorities and shift year to year, so check before booking if sea lions are your main reason for visiting. Outside the closure the colony is one of the most enjoyable and reliable animal encounters in Mexico.
