Earlier this summer, the all-female scuba diving group Scuba Marmaids brought their adventurous spirit and shared love of the ocean to the sunny shores of Baja California Sur.
Their destination: Female-owned PADI 5 Star Eco Dive Center, Cabo Private Guide, in Los Cabos, Mexico. What followed was a fun packed and adventurous week of diving, learning, and connection, set against the stunning backdrop of the Sea of Cortez.
This wasn’t just any dive trip. It was a carefully curated experience for 12 passionate divers, blending varied underwater exploration across Baja Sur with a strong focus on marine education, while promoting and suppporting female-owned businesses.
A Warm Welcome with Science & Sustainability
The group’s arrival in Cabo was met with warm smiles and a thoughtful itinerary. The week kicked off with a fascinating presentation led by Cabo Private Guide’s in-house marine biologist, who introduced the divers to the mysterious world of cartilaginous species: sharks, rays, and skates.
With visual aids, engaging storytelling, and real-world insight, the presentation deepened the Marmaids’ understanding of these misunderstood animals and their importance to marine ecosystems.
The talk set the tone for a trip focused on searching and diving with Mobula rays with a foundation of conservation and connection, not just adventure.
Following the presentation, the group headed to a stunning welcome dinner at Outpost, the satellite restaurant of the renowned Flora Farms. Found in Cabo Centro, this venue offered a fusion of rustic charm and gourmet elegance. As the sun set, the group bonded with the dive staff over a delicious spread of organic small plates, ranging from vegan delights like mushroom ceviche or quinoa, to locally sourced meat tapas such as Baja-style short rib tacos and smoked chicken pinchos.
It was the perfect start to what was shaping up to be an unforgettable journey.
Storm Flossie Changes the Plans:
Adventure in La Paz
But, as any diver knows, Mother Nature has her own agenda. Tropical Storm Flossie had been and gone a few days before. But she had left some big swell and bad visibility where the Pacific meets the Cortez in Cabo San Lucas. Undeterred, the Cabo Private Guide team quickly pivoted, relocating the dive plan to the calmer waters of La Paz, a few hours north.
And what a silver lining it turned out to be.
In La Paz, the group explored two of the region’s most iconic dive sites: Fang Ming Shipwreck and Swanee Reef.
The Fang Ming is a Chinese cargo ship sunk intentionally in 1999 to form an artificial reef and protect marine life. Today, it teems with biodiversity. Diving the 183-foot wreck, the Marmaids were awestruck by schools of snapper weaving through its rusted corridors, while green sea turtles rested quietly on the deck. Spotted moray eels peeked from crevices, and curious pufferfish followed divers from a distance.
From there, the group headed to Swanee Reef, a shallow yet vibrant dive full of surprises. With calmer seas away from storm Flossie, visibility was understandably better, it was a macro photographer’s dream. The reef was alive with color, flashes of yellowtail surgeonfish, juvenile damselfish dancing over coral heads, and camouflaged scorpionfish blending seamlessly into the seabed. Nudibranchs, always a crowd favorite, delighted the Marmaids with their psychedelic hues.
Day Two:
Mobula Missions & Cabo Coastline
With conditions improving back in Los Cabos, the second full day of diving turned into an ocean safari and two-tank dive in Cabo’s marine-rich waters.
The day’s mission? To find the majestic mobula rays, which migrate in massive groups, known as “fevers”, along the Baja coast.
Although the Marmaids didn’t encounter one of Cabo’s famous fever formations on this day, the tour included 2 dives at the reef and wildlife encounters aplenty were had.
Corridor Dives: Chileno Bay & Whale’s Head Deliver Surprises
The Scuba Marmaids had the chance to explore two standout sites along the Los Cabos Corridor: Chileno Bay and Whale’s Head. With water temperatures holding steady at a comfortable 27°C (80°F) and visibility at around 10 meters, the diving conditions were calm but slightly stirred from recent swell activity, adding a touch of mystery to every descent.
The first dive at Chileno Bay began with a smooth backroll into gently rippling waters. As the group descended over the sloping reef, the soft, diffused light and slightly hazy water created an intimate, moody atmosphere. The site quickly revealed a vibrant reefscape alive with color and movement.
King angelfish, sergeant majors, balloonfish, and cortez wrasse moved confidently through the reef, unfazed by the divers’ presence. Blennies peered out from coral nooks, while garden eels waved cautiously from the sandy flats. Several divers spotted octopuses tucked into rocky crevices, blending in almost completely with their surroundings. There were huge stingrays, each over a meter wide, sitting in their sand patches.
Whale’s Head, another Corridor favorite known for its rugged rock formations and marine diversity. As they descended, the terrain shifted to larger boulders and ridges, creating a more dramatic underwater landscape.
Here too, the reef life was abundant. Schools of porkfish, grunts, and yellow snapper weaved between the rocks, while parrotfish crunched loudly on coral. A green moray eel emerged partially from its rocky hideaway, mouth agape in its typical resting pose. The group also encountered bullseye rays, eagle rays and Cortez rays.
Though not a high-visibility, postcard-perfect day, the 27°C water and 10-meter clarity provided more than enough to experience the reef’s dynamic personality. These dives offered a different kind of beauty, layered, shifting, and brimming with life. For the Marmaids, it was a reminder that in the ocean, wonder isn’t always about perfection, it’s about presence.
A Grand Finale,
Mobulas and Cownose Rays
On the final day of diving, luck finally tipped in favor of the Marmaids. Fingers were crossed for an up-close mobula encounter, and it worked.
The Scuba Marmaids geared up for two unforgettable dives in the heart of Cabo San Lucas Marine Park, starting with a dive at the renowned Neptune’s Finger, followed by a scenic drift from North Wall to Pelican Rock. The morning brought calm seas, clear skies, and warm, blue water on the surface, a perfect setup for a big day underwater.
Dive 1: Neptune’s Finger – Rays and a Canyon Full of Life
The dive at Neptune’s Finger began with a back roll into 27°C water under ideal surface conditions. As the group descended past 70 feet, they passed through a distinct thermocline, where the temperature dropped sharply and the water turned a deeper, cooler shade of blue. Below the layer, visibility remained steady at around 10 meters, and the marine life was immediately active.
The entry point sat at the edge of a gradual canyon wall, sloping gently downward and dotted with rocky outcrops, ledges, and sandy shelves. This site is well-known among locals and experienced divers as one of the best places in Cabo to witness migrating rays, thanks to the unique underwater topography and the way currents funnel through the area.
Within moments of entering the water, the group was surrounded by fish: yellow snapper, grunts, goatfish, and sergeant majors moved in tightly packed schools around the rocks. Pufferfish hovered calmly near the bottom, while parrotfish and Mexican hogfish picked at algae along the reef. A big stingray flew past. The reef is full of life.
The safety stop brought the moment so many had been waiting for.
As they glided along the canyon’s edge, half of the Marmaids finally got their mobula moment, a sweeping formation of mobula rays appeared just ahead, emerging overhead and moving in graceful unison through the cool water. The divers froze in awe, maintaining a respectful distance as the rays passed silently by.
When they surfaced, the excitement was uncontainable, cheers, whoops, and high-fives echoed across the water, with everyone reliving the magic through wide-eyed smiles.
The other half of the group had a similarly incredible sighting: cownose rays! Like mobulas, their broad, rounded wings flapping slowly as they moved together just above the reef. Their group behavior was just as mesmerizing.
With both teams having had incredible encounters, Neptune’s Finger lived up to its reputation as a top site for big animal sightings, especially during the peak of ray migration season.
Dive 2: North Wall to Pelican Rock – A Relaxed Drift with a Shark Surprise
After a surface interval filled with fresh snacks and excited storytelling, the Marmaids returned to the water for a second tank: a gentle drift dive from North Wall to Pelican Rock. The current was steady but manageable, offering an easy ride along a reef system known for its diverse fish life and colorful personalities.
The group drifted along the reef slope, passing coral-covered boulders and ledges where marine life was busy as ever. Balloonfish and porcupinefish cruised slowly by, giving their curious wide-eyed stares. King angelfish, triggerfish, and schooling barberfish filled the mid-water column, while trumpetfish stalked prey vertically near coral heads.
The reef felt alive and familiar, classic Sea of Cortez diving, where every rock could hide something unexpected.And it did!
As the dive neared its end at Pelican Rock, the dive guide signaled and pointed toward a shallow cave tucked into a rock formation. Nestled inside, perfectly still and calm, was a white tip reef shark, resting in the shadows. The group approached slowly, keeping a respectful distance, and observed the graceful predator in its element. It was a peaceful, powerful moment, the kind of experience that brings everything full circle.
Diving with Purpose:
Scuba Marmaids x Cabo Private Guide
Throughout the trip, the synergy between Scuba Marmaids and Cabo Private Guide was undeniable. Both groups are led by women passionate about diving, science, and sustainability. From the eco-conscious dive practices to the thoughtful daily briefings and cultural immersion, this trip was more than a vacation, it was a celebration of empowered women exploring and protecting the ocean together.
Even with Storm Flossie’s surprise, the Marmaids walked away with new friendships, countless memories, and a deeper appreciation for Baja’s rich marine life.
Final Thoughts
For divers seeking a meaningful and professionally guided adventure in Baja, Cabo Private Guide delivers unmatched expertise, warmth, and flexibility. And for women looking for dive travel with like-minded souls in a supportive, female-powered environment, Scuba Marmaids offers exactly that, and more.
Whether it’s mobulas in motion or sunken shipwrecks teeming with life, the Sea of Cortez holds treasures that never cease to inspire. The Marmaids’ journey proves that even when the seas shift, the spirit of the ocean, and the sisterhood it fosters, remains unshakable.
Follow Scuba Mar Maids for more info:
- Website: https://marhostedtrips.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/scuba.mar.maids
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/marhostedtrips
