Cabo San Lucas Ocean Guide

In Los Cabos, the seasonal changes are more noticeable in the ocean than on land. Summers are hot and dry while ‘winters’ are warm, pleasant and also dry. Rains (and sometimes tropical storms) arrive almost exclusively around September. In the ocean, the seasons are more complex. The temperature of the water does change along the summer/winter axis but does so with a delay of a few months. This is due to the time it takes the cold winter water flowing South with the California current to reach the bottom of the peninsula.

This can lead to the peculiar situation where, in the middle of summer, outside air temperatures are around 40°C (105°F) while the sea is 15°C (59°F)! The water is warmest in October and can reach a sweltering 31°C (88°F). Divers and snorkelers can expect up 40m (120ft) of in-water visibility around this time of year as well. The rest of the year visibility varies dramatically. During the transitional periods between winter and summer, you can have amazing clear water in the morning and less than 3m (10ft) visibility by afternoon. Thermoclines, where warm and cold water meet, are common and can be dramatic.

Air Temperatures

Annual precipitation

Cabo San Lucas is truly a unique location. It is situated between the warm tropical waters of Central America and the colder seas up North.  The town is located on the very tip of the Baja Peninsula right on the boundary between the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. This unique geographic location combined with big seasonal variations in water conditions ensures a great diversity of marine species.

It is possible to spot over 20 species of Cetaceans and marine mammals around Cabo. Some, like the Humpback and Gray whales, are seasonal visitors. Others such as Bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions can be seen year-round. Certain species, such as Orcas, can show up at any time – sometimes quite unexpectedly! This combination of consistency and the ability to surprise is what makes the waters around Cabo so magical.

Whale watching and ocean safaris are a great way to see these iconic species up close and personal. The whale watching season runs from 15 December – 15 April each year. This is when the Humpback and Gray whales are in the area for mating and calving. These months provide stunning opportunities to get up close and personal with ocean giants. Whale watchers are all but sure to see mothers with newborn calves and observe spectacular Humpback acrobatics! It is possible to see other cetaceans on ocean safaris all year round.

The waters around Los Cabos are some of the richest in the world when it comes to sharks, rays and large fish. The sport fishing in the area is world-famous and a major part of the local economy. This is slowly changing as eco-friendly alternatives emerge and fish stocks decline. You can now go swimming in the open ocean with shark species such as Makos, Hammerheads and Silky sharks.

The area is also home to one of the oceans greatest gatherings. Twice a year in May/June and November/December millions of Mobula rays arrive to mate. They form schools that number anywhere between hundreds and hundreds of thousands at a time. Besides these massive aggregations, they are also famous for leaping from the water acrobatically all day for reasons still not totally clear to science. It is even possible to swim and free dive on top of these mega schools, a truly awe-inspiring experience. Divers may even see them pass overhead as they block out the sun! It is also possible to encounter many other species such as Eagle, Diamond, Cow-Nose and Bat Rays. Occasionally there are even sightings of the mostly pelagic Giant Pacific Manta.

The same factors that create richness and diversity under the waves also create the perfect conditions for birds. The abundance of food and the geography of the region mean that many sea birds such as Pelicans, Shearwaters and Boobies can be seen throughout the year.

Seasonal visitors include the Frigate bird, famous for their long migrations, massive wingspans and the balloon-like red pouches males use as part of their courting rituals. It is also possible to spot the quirky and amazing Blue Footed Booby on the rocks around Land’s End around November each year. In the deserts and coastal plains that surround Cabo, there are a number of birds of prey and vulture species that soar above the city year-round.