Snorkeling or diving in La Paz? Which to choose based on what you want to see
It depends on what you want to see. Whale sharks are only allowed as surface swimming with a snorkel [1]; for sea lions, both work outside the breeding season [3]; and for walls, canyons and shipwrecks, diving takes you further. If you've never dived, you can try it without certification on a Discovery dive.
It's one of the most common questions when planning a trip. The good news: in La Paz there's no wrong answer. There are different answers depending on the encounter you're after.
The differences at a glance
| Snorkeling | Diving | |
|---|---|---|
| Prior experience | No (just be comfortable floating) | Discovery: no. Independent diving: Open Water certification |
| Where you are | At the surface | Underwater, with a tank |
| Best for | Whale sharks, sea lions, beaches and shallow reefs | Walls, canyons, schools and shipwrecks |
| Minimum age with Keabelmet | Varies by tour | 12 years |
Encounters where snorkeling is the star
- Whale sharks: the official standard defines the activity as surface swimming with mask, snorkel, fins and a life vest or wetsuit [1]. No scuba diving with them. Read the rules of the encounter.
- Mobula rays: many of their aggregations happen very close to the surface and the coast, as near as 4 meters from shore [2].
- Sardine Run: it's open-water snorkeling.
Encounters where diving takes you further
- Espíritu Santo's walls and canyons, with schools and reef fish.
- Shipwrecks turned into artificial reefs.
- Cabo Pulmo, where reef life is best enjoyed from inside it.
What about sea lions?
You can meet them snorkeling or with a tank. Just remember that from June 1 to August 31 swimming, free diving and scuba diving at Los Islotes are restricted for the breeding season [3]. Read swimming with sea lions in La Paz.
Never dived before? Read can I scuba dive without certification in La Paz?.
Experience it with Keabelmet
Frequently asked questions
Can you scuba dive with whale sharks?
No. The standard defines the activity as surface swimming with snorkel, mask, fins and a life vest or wetsuit [1].
Which is better at Espíritu Santo, snorkeling or diving?
Both: snorkeling combines beaches, reefs and sea lions; diving explores walls, canyons and shipwrecks.
Do I need to know how to swim to snorkel?
It's best to be comfortable in the water; we always use a life vest or wetsuit and a guide is with you.
Scientific sources
The wildlife, season and geography facts in this article come from these publications. The [n] citations in the text link here.
- Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (Semarnat) (2019). NOM-171-SEMARNAT-2018, observación y nado con Tiburón Ballena (Rhincodon typus). Diario Oficial de la Federación, 19 de noviembre de 2019. sidof.segob.gob.mx/notas/docFuente/5579132
- Palacios, M. D., et al. (2023). Reproductive behavior, seasonality, and distribution of three devil ray species (Mobula mobular, M. thurstoni, and M. munkiana) in the Southern Gulf of California, Mexico. Marine Biology 171(1): 12. doi.org/10.1007/s00227-023-04314-0
- Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (Conanp) (2018). Restricción de nado, buceo libre y buceo autónomo en Los Islotes durante la temporada reproductiva del lobo marino. Documento de caso publicado en PANORAMA Solutions. panorama.solutions/sites/default/files/restriccion_nado_islo…
