Hammerhead Divers is a dive centre in Cabo San Lucas. The region is especially exciting because the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez meet here – ideal conditions for varied dives ranging from coastal reefs to offshore spots. The team offers guided dives and day trips to various areas of the southern Baja and places emphasis on personalised care.
Diving with sharks: species, spots & best times
Los Cabos is known for seasonal encounters with large fish and a variety of shark species – depending on whether you dive in coastal waters, in protected areas, or on offshore banks.
Scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) – Gordo Banks
- Occurrence: possible year-round
- Best time: autumn and early winter
- Spot: Gordo Banks
Gordo Banks is an offshore spot that can be challenging depending on conditions. Those who prioritise hammerheads should ideally plan for the months mentioned and allow some flexibility in timing (sea state and visibility can vary).
Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) – Cabo San Lucas Marine Park & Corridor
- Occurrence: year-round
- Spots: Cabo San Lucas Marine Park and the ‘Corridor’
These dives are typically closer to the coast and often combine reef environments with a good chance of seeing reef sharks and other marine life.
Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) – Cabo Pulmo National Park
- Occurrence: year-round
- Best conditions: spring and autumn (visibility and water temperature)
- Spot: Cabo Pulmo National Park
Cabo Pulmo is also famous for large schools of fish and a very vibrant reef system. According to the centre, those who want to see bull sharks should particularly focus on spring or autumn.
Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) – Gordo Banks
- Best time: spring/summer, especially May, June, July
- Spot: Gordo Banks
Silky sharks tend to be more pelagic – chances therefore increase on offshore dives and under suitable conditions.
Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) – La Paz (snorkelling) & Gordo Banks (diving)
- La Paz (Snorkelling): December to April
- Gordo Banks (Diving): April to May
Important: In La Paz the whale shark is typically encountered while snorkelling, whereas the centre for Gordo Banks mentions a short period when whale shark sightings may be possible while diving.
Other highlights besides sharks
In addition to shark dives, outings in the region are also suitable for other “Big Animal” experiences. Hammerhead Divers lists, among others (season-dependent):
- Mantas & large rays: possible depending on area and season (e.g. mobulas in spring/summer)
- Sea lions: e.g. at La Paz / Los Islotes, frequently from autumn to early summer
- Whales: depending on species, particularly in the winter months (e.g. humpback whales)
Which encounters are realistic depends heavily on the month, choice of spot and weather windows. For targeted trip planning, it’s worth prioritising your wish list (hammerheads, whale sharks, sea lions, mantas, etc.) in advance.
