Open Ocean Safari and Whale Watching

The main appeal here is the chance to search the open Pacific and Sea of Cortez for a remarkable mix of wildlife in one morning. Humpback and grey whales, dolphins, sea lions, mobula rays, sharks, marlin, and colorful fish are all possible, though the ocean decides what appears.

I like the small maximum of 10 people, which gives the crew room to adjust the plan and keep encounters calm. I also like the care shown toward marine life, along with the included photos and video, since you can stay focused on the water instead of guarding your camera. The main caution is simple: nature makes no promises, and one outing included only a few minutes of snorkeling despite excellent whale sightings.

Key points

• Small groups of up to 10: More room on the boat and more personal help in the water.
• Wildlife variety: You might see whales, dolphins, sea lions, mobula rays, sharks, marlin, and reef fish.
• Three distinct stops: El Arco, Pelican Rock, and the Sea of Cortez each offer a different setting.
• Photos and videos included: The crew may capture underwater scenes, wildlife, and photos near the Arch.
• Four hours on the water: The morning start at 9:00 am makes this easy to fit into a Cabo schedule.
• Nature controls the show: A spectacular whale morning is possible, but no species or amount of snorkeling is guaranteed.

What this Cabo ocean safari is really about

This is not a fixed parade of guaranteed animal sightings. It is a search across open water, guided by conditions, recent sightings, and the crew’s judgment. That distinction matters when you are paying $215 per person.

The reward can be exceptional. One four-hour outing included a large group of cownose rays, dolphins playing with sea lions, a humpback whale, a marlin, the Arch, and reef snorkeling with colorful fish. Another produced many humpback and grey whales, including two breaches, but almost no other wildlife and only about three minutes in the water.

Both outcomes fit the nature of the trip. If your priority is seeing whales, this can deliver a memorable morning. If you need a guaranteed swim with rays or a set list of animals, you should choose a more predictable activity.

The strongest part of the experience is the combination of searching and learning. Guides such as Nick, Rafa, and Alex have been praised for their effort, patience, and care around marine life. Kyla has also been noted for taking photos at El Arco. The exact crew may vary, but the trip is designed around an attentive team rather than a large commercial boat operation.

Leaving Dock C at 9:00 am

You meet at Dock C at Marina del Rey on Blvd. Paseo de la Marina in central Cabo San Lucas. The tour begins at 9:00 am and returns to the same point, so you do not need to arrange a second pickup location.

The start time is useful for a morning plan. You have the rest of the day open for lunch, the beach, or a slower afternoon. It also gives the crew a reasonable window to look for wildlife before the day gets too far along.

The boat carries no more than 10 people. That number is important. A smaller group usually means less crowding around a sighting, easier communication with the guide, and better odds of getting individual help with snorkeling equipment. It also makes it easier for the crew to adjust the route when conditions change.

Bring patience with the schedule. One important practical lesson from the experience is that water activities in Cabo may not always run exactly as first confirmed. Confirm directly with Apex Ocean Divers and leave flexibility around the tour rather than booking a tight lunch reservation or airport transfer immediately afterward.

El Arco gives you the classic Cabo view

The first listed stop is El Arco, Cabo San Lucas’s famous rock formation where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. This is the place for the familiar Cabo photo, with steep rock, open water, and a strong sense of the area’s geography.

The Arch is not only a photo stop. It helps you understand why this trip can offer different conditions in a short distance. The meeting of two major bodies of water creates changing habitats, and the boat may move between them as the crew searches for animals.

You should not expect a long, leisurely sightseeing visit here if wildlife activity is strong elsewhere. The crew’s main task is to find marine life, so the time at the Arch may be shaped by the conditions and the day’s sightings. Still, having photos and video included gives this stop extra value. You can enjoy the view without handing your phone to another passenger or trying to frame every shot yourself.

The experience has included patient photo work at the Arch, including repeated pictures for people who wanted more than a quick snapshot. That is a nice touch, especially if this is your first time in Cabo and you want one clear image of the trip.

Pelican Rock and the chance to get in the water

Pelican Rock is the next listed stop. It is associated with clear water, fish, and snorkeling, though the exact conditions and time in the water can change.

The boat provides snorkeling equipment, bottled water, and snacks. You do not need to arrange basic gear separately, which keeps the morning simple. You should still pay attention to what is included and what is not. One person paid an additional $15 for a wetsuit because it was not included in the advertised package.

The snorkeling can be a highlight. One outing ended at coral reefs filled with colorful fish, while another made only a brief attempt to find rays. That difference is not necessarily a sign of poor planning. Mobula rays move, visibility changes, and the crew cannot force an animal to remain in one place.

Still, this is the key point to understand before booking: time in the water is not fixed. If whales are active, the crew may spend more time watching them. If rays are not found quickly, the boat may move on. You may spend much of the morning looking across the surface rather than swimming.

Anyone with moderate physical fitness should be prepared for the active parts of the outing. The activity includes snorkeling and movement on a boat, but the supplied information does not promise a particular swimming distance or water temperature.

Searching the Sea of Cortez for the big sightings

The Sea of Cortez section is where the safari idea becomes most meaningful. You are not simply visiting one reef and waiting. You are moving through a broad marine area in search of signs of life.

Possible sightings include humpback and grey whales, dolphins, sea lions, mobula rays, sharks, and marlin. The animal list is impressive, but you should treat it as a range of possibilities, not a checklist.

Whales may be the most reliable reason to book. Humpbacks have been seen in large numbers, and breaches are possible. Grey whales may also appear. Even when no other animals cooperate, watching a whale surface in open water can make the morning worthwhile.

Dolphins and sea lions can add a very different kind of energy. Dolphins may travel near the boat or interact with sea lions. Rays offer the chance for an underwater encounter, but they are less predictable and may not be found during your time on the water.

The guides’ role is more than pointing at animals. Nick has been praised for explaining local marine life, while Alex has been described as positive, patient, and persistent in the search. That personal effort matters on a safari-style trip. You want a crew that keeps looking without pressuring animals or chasing them aggressively.

A respectful approach to wildlife

The tour’s stated priority is the safety and wellbeing of the animals and the people in the water. That should shape your expectations.

Close encounters are exciting, but a responsible operator should give wildlife space and avoid turning the animals into a staged performance. The crew’s approach is described as calm and respectful, with the aim of creating meaningful encounters without disturbing marine life.

This is especially important when several species appear at once. Dolphins, sea lions, rays, and whales do not follow a script. The best moments may be brief, and you may need to watch carefully instead of expecting an animal to pose beside the boat.

I like that the small group works with this approach. Ten people or fewer is easier to manage than a crowded boat. It also gives the guide more room to explain what you are seeing and to help you stay comfortable.

The ethical focus does not remove the element of luck. It simply means the crew’s effort is directed toward finding wildlife responsibly rather than guaranteeing an artificial encounter.

Photos and videos add real value

Photos and video are included, which is a useful feature at this price. Marine wildlife is hard to photograph well from a moving boat, especially when a whale surfaces for only a few seconds.

The crew has provided drone and underwater footage, as well as photos of people near El Arco and in the water. You may even end up with footage that includes you alongside the animals. This gives you something more lasting than a few blurry phone pictures.

Check the exact photo package before you set out. One outing included 10 free photos, with additional images available for an extra payment. The supplied details say photos and videos are included, but do not specify the exact number or delivery method, so it is sensible to ask the crew what you will receive.

This is one place where the value depends on your priorities. If you care about good memories and social media images, the included media adds a lot. If you already have professional equipment and only want time in the water, you may place more weight on the wildlife search itself.

Is $215 a fair price?

At $215 per person, this is not a budget boat ride. The price covers roughly four hours, a maximum group of 10, a guide, snorkeling equipment, snacks, bottled water, and photos and video.

The small group is the strongest value point. You are paying for more than transportation to El Arco. You are paying for a crew that searches a large area, adapts to wildlife activity, and tries to create responsible encounters without filling the boat with people.

The value is best if you want variety and are comfortable with uncertainty. A morning with whales, dolphins, rays, sea lions, and reef fish can justify the cost for someone who considers wildlife the main purpose of a Cabo visit.

The value is weaker if your main goal is guaranteed snorkeling time. One outing involved very little time in the water, an extra wetsuit charge, and an earlier return after the search did not produce more sightings. That is not unusual for nature-based trips, but it is a real financial consideration.

Before paying, ask about wetsuit costs, the photo allowance, and how the media is delivered. Those details can affect the final value.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would choose this for someone who wants a serious wildlife morning rather than a simple coastal cruise. It suits people who enjoy watching, waiting, and adapting to the sea’s mood.

It is also a good fit for confident snorkelers with moderate physical fitness, couples who want memorable photos, and small groups who value personal attention. The English-language guide makes the outing accessible to English-speaking people.

Families may appreciate the small group, but the activity does require a reasonable level of fitness and comfort around open water. The available information does not provide a minimum age, so ask Apex Ocean Divers directly if you are booking for children.

This is not the best choice for someone who needs a rigid timetable or a guaranteed list of animals. It may also disappoint you if you regard snorkeling as the main event and whale watching as a bonus.

The experience is offered with a mobile ticket, and service animals are allowed. It is near public transportation, which helps if you are arranging your own way to the marina.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the 9:00 am start time for a full refund. Changes made within 24 hours are not accepted, and the amount paid is not refunded for a late cancellation.

The trip depends on good weather. If poor weather cancels it, you can receive a different date or a full refund. The activity also requires a minimum number of people, and if that number is not reached, you will be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

The tour is commonly booked about 22 days ahead. That is useful planning guidance, especially if your Cabo dates are fixed. I would still confirm the departure directly with the operator, since the ocean and local operations can change with little notice.

Should you book the open ocean safari?

Book it if your idea of a great morning is searching for wild animals with a small, attentive crew. The strongest reasons are the group size, the ethical approach, the chance of excellent whale sightings, and the included photo and video coverage.

Go in with flexible expectations. You might see humpbacks breach, dolphins play with sea lions, rays gather beneath the boat, and colorful fish on a reef. You might instead spend most of the outing searching, see whales but little else, and have limited time to snorkel.

For me, that uncertainty is acceptable because the tour is built around real marine life rather than a guaranteed show. Just confirm the departure, ask about wetsuit and photo details, and keep the rest of your day open. If you can do that, Apex Ocean Divers offers one of Cabo’s more personal ways to meet the Pacific and Sea of Cortez.

FAQ

Where does the open ocean safari start?

The tour starts at Dock C, Marina del Rey, on Blvd. Paseo de la Marina in Centro, Cabo San Lucas.

What time does the activity begin?

The start time is 9:00 am.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately four hours.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the original meeting point.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 10 people.

What marine animals might I see?

Possible sightings include mobula rays, sea lions, dolphins, sharks, humpback whales, grey whales, marlin, and other ocean wildlife. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, snacks, bottled water, a guide, and photos and video are included. A wetsuit may cost extra.

What happens if weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can also receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.