Cabo Pulmo

Cabo Pulmo is a community-based national-park dive destination on Baja California Sur’s East Cape. Its draw is fish biomass, large jack schools, bull sharks and compact reef sites rather than resort infrastructure.

Best time
Aug–Nov
Certification
Open water
Budget
$–$$ · under $2,000 to $2,000–4,000
Trip length
2–5 days
Trip style
Land based, Day trip
Access
Moderate

The short version

Known forCommunity-led no-take park recovery.

Main tradeoffWind can close the park to boats.

Cabo Pulmo dive region

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Your outlook

Explore 4 dive sites

Browse the map and wildlife below, or add an optional preference to narrow Cabo Pulmo.

Most relevant wildlife

  • Bigeye trevallyJan–Dec
  • Bull shark (Zambezi shark)Jan–Dec
  • Green sea turtleJan–Dec
  • Whitetip reef sharkJan–Dec

Plan the trip

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4 sites shown.

Conditions referenceSeason, water and visibilityBest Aug–Nov · Moderate current · 20–31°C (coldest Feb, warmest Sep)
Best months Operating
Current
Moderate
Water temperature
20–31°C (coldest Feb, warmest Sep)
Visibility
8–30m: Warm autumn water is often clearest; wind and plankton reduce visibility.
Experience
Several reefs suit Open Water divers.

01 · Marine life

What you may see

rareoccasionalcommonly seenpeak seasondestination closed

Sightings are never guaranteed. The bars show typical likelihood by month.

Bigeye trevallyCaranx sexfasciatus
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januarycommonly seen
Februarycommonly seen
Marchcommonly seen
Aprilcommonly seen
Maycommonly seen
Junecommonly seen
Julycommonly seen
Augustcommonly seen
Septembercommonly seen
Octobercommonly seen
Novembercommonly seen
Decembercommonly seen

Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported peak is applied.

Bull shark (Zambezi shark)Carcharhinus leucas
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryoccasional
Februaryoccasional
Marchoccasional
Apriloccasional
Mayoccasional
Juneoccasional
Julyoccasional
Augustoccasional
Septemberoccasional
Octoberoccasional
Novemberoccasional
Decemberoccasional

Possible at El Vencedor; daily presence varies.

Green sea turtleChelonia mydas
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryoccasional
Februaryoccasional
Marchoccasional
Apriloccasional
Mayoccasional
Juneoccasional
Julyoccasional
Augustoccasional
Septemberoccasional
Octoberoccasional
Novemberoccasional
Decemberoccasional

Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported peak is applied.

Whitetip reef sharkTriaenodon obesus
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryoccasional
Februaryoccasional
Marchoccasional
Apriloccasional
Mayoccasional
Juneoccasional
Julyoccasional
Augustoccasional
Septemberoccasional
Octoberoccasional
Novemberoccasional
Decemberoccasional

Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported peak is applied.

See all 8 species

02 · Dive sites

Dive sites worth knowing

A starting point, not a ranking. Conditions decide what works on the day.

See all 4 dive sites
03 · LogisticsGetting there and costsModerate. Fly to SJD. Typical trip $–$$.

Route overview

Moderate

Reachable but with some friction: a 2.5h overland transfer.

Airport options

SJD

Los Cabos International Airport

About 2–3 hours by road, including an unpaved final section

Typical trip cost

$–$$

under $2,000 to $2,000–4,000

Per person, excluding international flights.

  • Two-tank park trips commonly run around USD 140–200 before equipment, park fee and transport from Los Cabos.

Sources & last checked

Checked September 2026

Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.

View 2 sources and checking notes

Note on the data: Current fee amount was not asserted because the official page points to the annually indexed federal schedule. Species calendars remain conservative. Water temperature: Rounded East Cape surface bands. Access: The last road section can be slow. Dive sites are short panga rides from the village.