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Freediving in La Paz
The capital of Baja California Sur, on the Sea of Cortez, and the jumping-off point for Espiritu Santo and the sea lion colony at Los Islotes.
Why here
La Paz is not a depth destination and should not be treated as one. Los Islotes bottoms out around 30 meters and the sea lion colony works in the top 10, so what you come for is the animals: several hundred California sea lions that approach freedivers, plus whale sharks in the bay once the regulated season opens. November is the last month of the local teaching window and the last of the sea lion tour season, which makes it the one month where instruction, sea lions and early whale sharks all overlap.
Best months
The main school states plainly that it teaches in the La Paz area from May to November, so November is the end of the window rather than the middle of it. December water drops to roughly 21 to 24C and visibility becomes unreliable, which is why this is a November row and not a December one. Los Islotes has a maximum depth near 30 meters and the sea lion interaction happens shallow, between the surface and about 15 meters. Whale shark season in the bay legally opens between October and May, and November sits at the early, building end rather than the December through March peak. Los Islotes has been subject to seasonal closures during sea lion pupping, so confirm access for your dates.
Getting there & around
Fly into La Paz, or into San Jose del Cabo and drive roughly two hours north. Everything happens by boat out of the marinas: Los Islotes and Espiritu Santo are a boat day, not a shore entry, so budget for pangas and park fees. One operator runs AIDA 1 through 4 alongside wildlife tours and expeditions; the other teaches AIDA privately and caps groups at three people, so book well ahead. Whale shark encounters in the bay are regulated with licensed operators and capped numbers, so book through an authorized operator rather than arranging it on the beach.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate
Schools & guides (2)
Freefall Academy
SchoolAIDA school running AIDA 1 through 4 alongside wildlife tours and multi-day expeditions in the Sea of Cortez, teaching in the La Paz area from May to November.
MT Solomons Freediving
GuideAIDA instructor trainer teaching fundamentals, equalization clinics and residual-volume coaching privately, with groups capped at three people.
Also good for freediving in July:
Torn between La Paz and Dean's Blue Hole for July?
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