Description

Baja boasts spectacular diving, countless opportunities for adventure and a festive culture, and its just a two-hour flight from Los Angeles. Imagine swimming alongside sea lions, giant manta rays with 15-foot wingspans, hammerheads, huge schools of jacks and, if you're lucky, an awe-inspiring 40-foot whale shark. See pods of pilot whales and dolphins as you sea kayak along rugged coastline. Learn how to surf on the waves of the Pacific. Camp on postcard perfect beaches and hike through stunning desert highlands. Explore desert canyons and swim in a freshwater oasis. Practice your Spanish in colorful markets. Do all this and more on an extraordinary expedition south of the border.

The Gulf of California, better known as the Sea of Cortez, is home to well over 800 species of fish living in a variety of environments from rocky shores and patch reefs to submerged pinnacles and sea mounts. Large pelagic species from the cold, nutrient rich waters of the Pacific mix with marine life from the warmer, tropical waters of the Sea of Cortez. The unique ecosystem created is loaded with an incredible diversity of life ranging from gigantic blue whales to tiny frogfish. Prepare for outrageous diving!*

Day 1-6
Arrive in La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur. After an orientation dinner and a good nights sleep, we head to Espíritu Santo Island, our home for the next week. Here we settle into tents lined up along the shore of a pristine white sand beach and turquoise water. Eager to blow bubbles, we set out on our first dives in search of immense schools of snapper and grouper. Reinita features a wealth of sea life including sea lions, jewel eels and morays. Investigate Fang Ming, the 300-foot wreck of a Chinese fishing boat which is now home to seahorses, frogfish, octopus and spot tail grunts. Dive El Bajito, a shallow granite rock reef that allows extended viewing of tons of marine life.

Day 7-8
Taking a hiatus from the great diving, we trade in our fins for paddles and embark on a sea kayaking journey to the other side of the island. Discover magnificent beaches, paddle through canyons with towering cliff walls and visit areas not accessible by foot. Encounter pods of dolphins playing in turquoise waters. Glide past Los Islotes and marvel at the hundreds of sea lions on the shore. We rise early for a sunrise hike and are rewarded with an extraordinary show of colors and a breathtaking view of the island and sea. On our last night of camping we throw a bonfire party with a traditional piñata celebration.

Day 9-12
Journey to the Pacific coast to explore the laid-back town of Todos Santos, an artist community located where the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains meet the ocean and desert. Walk through the markets, mingle with local artists and practice your Spanish. Hike to the end of Fox Canyon to discover a crystal clear swimming hole at the base of a waterfall. Ever tried surfing? A two-day clinic in Los Cerritos will teach you how& Prepare to have a blast riding Bajas ideal waves. Back in La Paz, walk along the colorful waterfront esplanade, a festive scene with live musicians, dancers and volleyball games.

Day 13-16
Ready to get back in the water, we embark on a six day live-aboard voyage that gives us the flexibility to do tons of great diving. Dive El Bajo, where schools of tuna, barracuda and dorado swarm around underwater seamounts that peak in 60 to 110 feet of water. Drift through canyons where sailfish and mantas cruise through the blue. Cerralvo Islands walls are teeming with life and San Diego Reefs gorgonian corals are beautiful. Off the shores of Los Islotes, swim with hundreds of playful sea lions that follow you throughout your dive, begging you to play. Our local dive guide helps us make the most of our dives by filling us in on the areas marine biology, marine mammals and coral. Our boat optimizes opportunities for wildlife viewing as the second and third decks are high above the water, allowing us to look down on the whales, dolphins, mantas and hopefully whale sharks.

Day 17-19
The small pinnacles and caves at Las Animas create an underwater playground where schooling jacks can number in the thousands and open ocean pelagics abound. Suwannee Reef is amazing with enormous schools of fish, garden eels, barnacle blennies and even a few playful sea lions. After an unforgettable journey at sea, we head back to the city of La Paz for a farewell dinner and our final night together to reflect on our extraordinary adventure.

Highlights

* Intensive scuba diving adventure including week long live-aboard voyage
* Earn multiple PADI certifications and Emergency First Responder (EFR)
* Sea kayak the beautiful shores of Espiritu Santo Island and Los Islotes
* Two-day surfing clinic on the Pacific coast
* Back country hiking, beach camping, cultural exploration
* 4 hours of community service
* Grades 9, 10, 11; prerequisite: scuba certification

Travel Types

• Camping
• Ecology
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Scuba
• Snorkeling
• Surfing

Type of Programs

• Adventure Travel
• High School Study Abroad

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel

in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 10-14

Typically The Application Process Time is

1-3 days

Year Founded

1993