POSTOPNED-New Dates TBC
Join us on an exhilarating adventure in the Sea of Cortez swimming with orcas and mobula rays! Late spring/early summer sees the return of orcas and the mobula ray aggregation to the Sea of Cortez & Baja, Mexico. Our journey will take us in and around the waters of Loreto National Park and south to Cabo San Lucas for the best encounters. Our home for the week is the luxurious Nautilus Gallant Lady, a 116 ft yacht designed with divers and snorkelers in mind.
Trip Details:
Day 1
This adventure begins in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico meeting in the late afternoon at Seacreatures in downtown Cabo on embarkation day. After check-in and completing paperwork we'll hop onboard our transfer to La Paz, Mexico to board the Gallant Lady with her friendly crew waiting for us with trays margaritas and champagne! We'll enjoy dinner and settle into cabins and get ready for an action packed week ahead.
Day 2-7
We'll be out at sea for the week searching for the best mobula ray and orca encounters. Finding the marine wildlife is made easier with the support of a spotter airplane, the Citabria, a low flying ultralight aircraft used for enhanced observation. Between the aircraft, our vessel & the high speed RHIB boat (skiff) the crew will have us in the water with some amazing encounters. While the focus is on mobulas and orcas, during these trips there can be other exciting encounters including blue whales, humpback whales, whale sharks, cow nose rays, dolphins and more. Be prepared to expect the unexpected with marine wildlife in the Sea of Cortez. The general schedule is morning out on the RHIB boat snorkeling with mobula rays & orcas. Back to the boat for lunch/rest and back out for another round in the afternoon.
This trip is primarily a snorkeling and free diving trip, as this is the best way to observe the wildlife. We will have the opportunity for some diving 3-4 dives during the trip, possibly more, our focus is snorkeling/free diving. Additional activities include: paddle boarding, kayaking, local area hikes, etc.
Day 8
Disembark after breakfast and begin our drive back to Seacreatures in Cabo or the Cabo San Lucas airport, SJD.
Dates: June 21-28, 2025
Duration: 7 nights/8 days
Yacht: Nautilus Gallant Lady
Package Cost: All costs are in USD
Main Deck:
Superior Suite: $4400.00 USD per person
Rooms configured either 2 doubles or 1 quasi-King bed (Rosario, Nautilus)
Lower Deck:
Premium Suite: $4830.00 USD per person
(Emerald: King or Two Doubles)
Superior Suite: $4195.00 USD per person
Rooms configured either 2 doubles or 1 quasi-King bed (Dolphin, Swell)
One lower superior suite 2 twin beds only (Indie)
Price Includes 5% tax
Inclusions
7 nights on the luxurious Nautilus Gallant Lady
All Meals & snacks
All non-alcoholic beverages
Snorkeling from a comfortable 32 ft RHIB skiff boat
Spotter support aircraft finding marine wildlife
3-4 dives
Nautilus LifeLines, DiveAlerts and SMB safety sausages
Experienced guides
Use of kayaks & paddle boards
Presentations on marine life
Travel with a marine biologist and travel/educational expert
Photography advice & tips
Private small group charter just for us, max 12 passengers
Transfers from Seacreatures to La Paz and return transfers from La Paz to Seacreatures or SJD ariport on June 28th, 2025
Taxes
Exclusions
International and domestic flights
Dive Insurance
Travel Insurance
Nitrox
Rental Gear
Alcoholic beverages
Gratuities
Port fee ($35.00 USD per person, paid on board)
Hotels prior/after liveaboard
Transfers from airport to Seacreatures on arrival day
Getting There
Arrival Airport: Los Cabos International Airport (SJD airport code)
Arrival Time:
Please arrive no later than 3:30pm into SJD airport on June 21, 2025
Departure Time:
Please book return flights after 1:00 pm on June 28, 2025
From North America:
Many airlines within North America fly into Los Cabos, Mexico. The airport code is SJD. Please plan to arrive no later than early afternoon on June 21, 2025.
From Australia:
For most, the first international port of entry will be the United States. The closest US airports are (Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Everyone flying to the US must clear immigration and customs even if you are continuing onward to Mexico. There is currently no option to stay in transit in the US. If you have a connecting flight, you’ll drop your luggage at baggage re-check or at the ticket counters and head back through security to your connecting flight to Cabo San Lucas (SJD) airport. You might consider a layover in California prior to continuing down to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Please plan to arrive no later than early afternoon of June 21, 2025.
From Europe:
For most, traveling via the US and onward Mexico will be the most efficient way to get to Cabo San Lucas. Alternatively flights to Mexico City (MEX) and onward to Cabo San Lucas, (SJD).
How to Secure Your Spot
Please note that this trip has limited spots, so you will need to get in quick to secure your booking. The following payments will be required:
In 2024:
$800.00 USD per person deposit to secure your spot
In 2025:
Deposits listed above and the following:
30% of Invoice due Sept 1, 2024
Remaining Balance due April 1, 2025
We will be in touch via e-mail for your payment and provide individual invoices. We would recommend purchasing your flights into Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD) as soon as possible to secure reasonably priced flights.
To book and check for available spaces email: info@designedforscuba.com
Designed for Scuba, LLC highly recommends you purchase travel and dive insurance as soon as possible after confirming your travel plans. We recommend Dive Assure or DAN for diving insurance. We recommend Dive Assure or DAN for diving insurance. Dive Assure offers a Dive and Travel Insurance annual and short-term (per trip). You can purchase it here: https://diveassure.com/en/home/?pid=18662
Evidence of adequate travel and dive insurance must be provided prior to departure.
Bookings made more than 100 days out from the start of a trip require a deposit of $800.00 USD per passenger in 2024 and a regular deposit schedule will commence in late 2024/early 2025.
All deposits are non-refundable.
Bookings made less than 100 days out from tour commencement require payment in full to secure your booking.
Payment in full is required 100 days out from the start of the trip. We will email you a final payment reminders. No refunds will be given within 100 days of the start of any trip, under any circumstances.
If you cancel your spot more than 100 days before the start of a trip, and we are able to resell/fill the spot, a trip credit for your remaining balance (minus a $300 USD service fee deducted) will be issued for use on another Designed for Scuba, LLC trip within 2 years of the cancellation.
If you cancel your spot less than 99 days prior to the start of a trip, no refund or credit will be issued for deposits that have been paid.
If our In-Country Providers cancel or if aForce Majeure Event occurs, meaning any act of God, war, terrorism, fire, flood or any other extreme weather conditions, loss of power, epidemics or pandemics, industrial disputes, slow-downs or other strike activities, riots or civil disturbances, acts of government, semi government or other authorities, inability to obtain any necessary license or consent and delays caused by sub-contractors, suppliers or other third parties (including telecommunications carriers), material shortages or other disruption to the trip beyond our control, Designed for Diving shall not be held responsible for matters outside of our control or any failure to deliver the trip.
The affiliated and established company such as Nautilus Adventures, holds the relevant insurances and maintains responsibility for the dive and snorkel insurance policies and procedures. As such when in the water diving, snorkeling or swimming you are diving under the affiliated company's policies and procedures and must adhere to either the Captain, Dive Instructor or Divemaster’s instructions.
Designed for Scuba, LLC takes no responsibility for loss, damage or injury arising from any shortfall, error or omission in the information passed to the customer during the course of the sale or subsequent delivery of the product. The company takes no responsibility nor can be held liable for loss, damage, or injury that occurs on a supplier’s or service provider’s premises or transport, or between two such premises.
Participation in any of the Activities involves certain risks which may result in injury or death. This warning does not purport to describe or disclose all risks associated with participation of the Activities. There are a wide range of inherent risks when engaging in sports and particularly underwater sports; for example, with diving there is the risk of decompression sickness, embolism or other hyperbaric injury can occur that requires treatment in a recompression chamber. Open water scuba diving trips may be conducted at sites that are remote, either by time or distance, from emergency services or recompression facilities. Scuba diving, snorkeling and tours will involve uncontrolled encounters with wild animals which bears the risk of stings, bites, and at the extreme end, more serious injury and death. Participants should be responsible and aware of animal behaviors and their own interactions and engage in these activities entirely at their own risk.
We will not be liable to you in respect of any personal injury (including without limitation serious injury or death) that you may suffer or sustain directly or indirectly as a result of attending the Trip or participation in the Activities. Nor will we be liable to you in respect of any other losses arising as a result of any such personal injury (including without limitation loss of profit or earnings or other consequential losses). We will not be liable to you in respect of any of your personal property that is lost, stolen or damaged before, during or after a trip.
Please ensure you understand our cancellation policy prior to providing any deposits and agree to the booking and trip. By placing a booking with Designed for Scuba, LLC, this implies that you accept these booking terms and conditions and cancellation policy.
Most travelers to Mexico can enter the country under the following conitions:
1. A valid passport with more than six months of validity (Mexican authorities require a passport to be valid for the duration of the stay in Mexico, but transit countries and airline companies may have other requirements).
2. A properly completed Multiple Migratory Form (FMM). The FMM can be obtained from the airline or at the port of entry, but to expedite your registration at the border, you can now fill out and print it in advance in this link.
Remember to keep the FMM in a safe place during your trip! You will be asked for it at your departure from Mexico.
3. The Immigration Authorities at the port of entry may request certain documents to prove the purpose of your visit depending on the activity you will undertake in Mexico:
Tourism: Hotel reservation, itinerary, and return tickets (to home or another country)