San Carlos, Mexico | Sea of Cortez Dive Trip

Four hours from Phoenix. That is how far San Carlos is, and it is far enough that you feel like you have actually gone somewhere and close enough that you are not burning a full day of travel to get there. The Sea of Cortez starts where the desert ends, and what is under the water at San Carlos -- twelve wrecks, sea lions on Isla San Pedro Nolasco, reef life that rewards divers who slow down and look -- has almost nothing to do with what the drive looks like from the outside.

This is a Thursday-to-Sunday trip. You leave early Thursday morning and you are in the water Friday. Six dives across two full days, three nights at Marina Terra Hotel, and the kind of weekend that gets talked about on the way home. The existing copy says it well: you will start planning your next trip before you have even dried off.

Trip at a Glance

• Departs Thursday morning at 8am from Queen Creek -- approximately 4 hours to San Carlos
• 6 guided dives across 2 full days -- 3 tanks each day (Friday and Saturday)
• At least 1-2 wreck dives -- site selected day-of based on conditions and visibility
• Dives at Isla San Pedro Nolasco -- sea lions, reef life, eels, and rays
• 3 nights lodging at Marina Terra Hotel, San Carlos
• Sunday departure, home by afternoon
• Travel and gratuities not included -- everything else is covered

The Diving

Twelve Wrecks

San Carlos Bay has twelve wrecks on the bottom. Which ones you dive depends on the day -- conditions, visibility, and current all factor into which sites are best. The dive guide makes that call in the morning based on what the water is doing. What you get is at least one or two wreck dives on sites that have been sitting long enough to build real marine life on them -- the kind of wrecks where the structure is the background and the fish are the story.

Isla San Pedro Nolasco

Isla San Pedro Nolasco is a protected wildlife island just offshore from San Carlos. It is one of the better dives in the Sea of Cortez for exactly the reasons you want a dive site to be good: the water is clear, the structure is varied and interesting, and the marine life is there because the island has been protected long enough to let it accumulate. Moray eels, rays, reef fish in numbers -- and California sea lions, which are the reason most people pick up a mask here in the first place.

California Sea Lions

Sea lions are a regular presence at San Pedro Nolasco. They are curious, fast, and genuinely interested in divers in a way that most marine animals are not -- they will approach you, circle you, and get very close. They are also wildlife, which means sightings are not guaranteed. Conditions and their own schedules determine whether they show up. The chances are good. Come expecting the possibility and you will not be disappointed either way.

Where We Stay: Marina Terra Hotel

Three nights at Marina Terra Hotel in San Carlos. The hotel sits on the waterfront with views over the marina and the Sea of Cortez. It is close to the dive operation, close to restaurants, and the kind of place that feels like a real destination rather than a place you sleep between dives. Rooms are air conditioned with hot showers -- which matters more than it sounds after a day in the water.

Topside San Carlos

San Carlos is a small coastal town and it rewards divers who walk around it. The food is the first thing worth talking about -- fresh seafood tacos from spots that have been doing this a long time are a legitimate part of what makes this trip worth doing. The malecón runs along the waterfront with bars and restaurants within easy walking distance of the hotel. Between dives there is enough of a town to explore and not so much that you feel like you are wasting dive time to do it.

What's Included and What's Not

Included

• 6 guided boat dives across 2 days (3 tanks per day)
• 3 nights lodging at Marina Terra Hotel
• Tacos (World's best) on Gary's Dive Boat!

Not Included

• Travel to and from San Carlos (see carpooling note below)
• Gratuities
• Meals beyond what is noted above
• Personal expenses

Getting There

San Carlos is approximately a four-hour drive from Queen Creek. The group departs together at 8am Thursday morning. Carpooling options may be available -- call us at (480) 881-4013 and we will connect you with other group members to work out logistics. A valid US passport is required for travel to Mexico.

Payment and Cancellation

• A deposit is required to hold your spot
• Remaining balance is due two weeks before departure
• All deposits and payments are non-refundable and non-transferable

Travel insurance is recommended.

Itinerary

• Thursday: Depart Queen Creek at 8am. Arrive San Carlos early afternoon and stop by Gary's Dive Shop to sign waivers and get prepared. Check in, settle in.
• Friday: Full day on the water. Three dives including wrecks and/or Isla San Pedro Nolasco.
• Saturday: Full day on the water. Three more dives.
• Sunday: Head home.

Frequently Asked Questions

What certification do I need for this trip?

Open Water Diver certification or higher from any recognized agency. If you are close to finishing your Open Water course, call us at (480) 881-4013 -- we may be able to get you certified before the trip.

Which wrecks will we dive?

San Carlos Bay has twelve wrecks on the bottom. The specific sites are selected the morning of each dive day based on conditions, visibility, and current. You will dive at least one or two wrecks across the two days. The guide knows the bay well and picks what is best for the day.

Will we see sea lions?

Probably, but sea lions are wildlife and they do what they want. They are a regular presence at Isla San Pedro Nolasco and curious around divers -- an encounter is the normal outcome here. It is not guaranteed, but the chances are good.

How far is the drive from Phoenix?

Approximately four hours from the Queen Creek area. The group departs together at 8am Thursday and arrives in San Carlos early afternoon. Carpooling may be available -- call us at (480) 881-4013 and we will connect you with other group members.

Do I need a passport?

Yes. A valid US passport is required for travel to Mexico.

What should I bring?

Your dive gear, a valid passport, reef-safe sunscreen, and appetite for tacos. Standard dive travel packing: wetsuit, computer, mask, fins, boots, snorkel, BCD and regulator if you own them. If you need to rent gear, call us before the trip at (480) 881-4013.

Is this trip good for newer divers?

Yes. San Carlos has conditions suitable for divers at all experience levels. The wreck dives are accessible to Open Water certified divers and the Isla San Pedro Nolasco dives are straightforward. The guide manages the group based on experience and conditions.

What is the cancellation policy?

All deposits and payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. Travel insurance is recommended.

Ready to Go?

Add the trip to your cart above or call us at (480) 881-4013. We are open Monday through Saturday 11am to 6pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm, at 18618 S 186th Way, Queen Creek, inside The Shooting Range.