Los Cabos & Gordo Banks

Los Cabos combines short local dives from Cabo San Lucas with a much harder offshore seamount at Gordo Banks. Land’s End offers sandfalls, rocky reefs and sea-lion visits close to the marina.

Best time
Sep–Dec
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 forGordo Banks offshore seamount.

Main tradeoffHammerheads at Gordo Banks are unpredictable.

Los Cabos & Gordo Banks dive region

Local operator matching

Find a dive centre for this trip

Share where you could go, when you can travel and your experience. We'll introduce up to three suitable local operators.

Free to request. No account needed. Submission is not a booking.

Find a dive centre

Start with where and when. Change anything we've pre-filled.

Where are you considering?

Keep this destination, replace it or add alternatives.

When could you travel?

Which months could work?

Plan within this destination

What works for your trip?

When are you going? (optional)

What do you want to see? (optional)

Your outlook

Explore 4 dive sites

Browse the map and wildlife below, or add an optional preference to narrow Los Cabos & Gordo Banks.

Most relevant wildlife

  • California sea lionJan–Dec
  • Greater amberjackJan–Dec
  • Giant oceanic manta rayNo reliable month
  • Scalloped hammerhead sharkNo reliable month

Plan the trip

Links coming soon

Loading dive-site map…

4 sites shown.

Conditions referenceSeason, water and visibilityBest Sep–Dec · Strong current · 20–31°C (coldest Feb, warmest Sep)
Best months Operating
Current
Strong
Water temperature
20–31°C (coldest Feb, warmest Sep)
Visibility
8–30m: Pacific influence, plankton and seasonal water masses cause fast changes.
Experience
Local sheltered sites 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.

California sea lionZalophus californianus
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.

Greater amberjackSeriola dumerili
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.

Giant oceanic manta rayMobula birostris
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryrare
Februaryrare
Marchrare
Aprilrare
Mayrare
Junerare
Julyrare
Augustrare
Septemberrare
Octoberrare
Novemberrare
Decemberrare

Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported peak is applied.

Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryrare
Februaryrare
Marchrare
Aprilrare
Mayrare
Junerare
Julyrare
Augustrare
Septemberrare
Octoberrare
Novemberrare
Decemberrare

A sought target at Gordo Banks, but many dives see none.

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 1.5h boat crossing.

Airport options

SJD

Los Cabos International Airport

About 30–60 minutes by road to San José del Cabo or Cabo San Lucas marinas

Typical trip cost

$–$$

under $2,000 to $2,000–4,000

Per person, excluding international flights.

  • Local two-tank trips commonly cost USD 120–180; Gordo Banks charters are materially more and may require a checkout dive.

Sources & last checked

Checked September 2026

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

View 1 source and checking notes

Note on the data: Gordo Banks seasonality lacks strong independent monthly data, so hammerheads remain rare with no synthetic peak. Water temperature: Rounded southern Baja surface bands; thermoclines can be much cooler. Access: Local sites are close to Cabo San Lucas; Gordo Banks is a longer open-water run from Puerto Los Cabos.