Sea of Cortez Photo Workshop 2023

Join us for sea lions, sperm whales, whale sharks, and some awesome macro life!

August 26 - September 2, 2023

Trip Leader: Nirupam Nigam

7 Nights for only $2,995

Why Join This Trip?

✓ 25% off rental photo gear from Bluewater Photo

✓ The Rocio Del Mar is one of the most experienced liveaboards sailing in the Sea of Cortez

✓ Daily photo workshops

✓ Dive in an area Jacques Cousteat called the Aquarium of the World

✓ Big animal sightings like whale sharks, sea lions, dolphins, sperm whales and much more

✓ Easiest liveaboard in the US - fly or drive to Phoenix, AZ

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Trip Overview

This trip offers a great combination of awesome big animals and fascinating macro life. There's always something for everyone. PLUS, it's really easy to get to - only a 4-hour drive from Phoenix, AZ!

The Sea of Cortez is home to sea lions, whale sharks, mantas and mobula rays, dolphins and huge schools of fish. Sperm whales, pilot whales, and dolphins are also commonly spotted!

It doesn't just stop there as the Sea of Cortez is also a perfect place to practice your macro photography skills. You will get to see nice varieties of nudibranchs, Panamic arrow crabs, Pacific seahorses, jawfish, small and big octopuses, frogfish and blennies.

Some macro photos from our 2019 trip to the Sea of Cortez

The boat will depart from Puerto Peñasco at 6 pm on Saturday and then travel for 12 hours to arrive the next morning for a 7 am dive. You will be diving 3-4 times per day on this trip. Here's a sample day-by-day itinerary of this trip:

Day 1 - Embark at 5 pm in Puerto Peñasco. Depart at 6 pm

Day 2 - Wake up at Refugio Bay on Angel Island

Potential Dive sites: Angel Rock, La Vela, Lolo’s Cove, Sunset Zodiak Cruise with Sea Lions

Day 3 - Angel Island

Potential Dive sites: Andrea’s Eagle, El Aquario, Las Vivoras, Las Vivoras including a night dive

Day 4 - San Pedro Martir Potential Dive sites: El Arroyo, Punta Martir (Sea Lions), Chayo’s Cove

Day 5 - San Pedro Martir

Potential Dive sites: Ravijunco, Xareni’s Pinnacle, Coromel, Morrito, in the afternoon we go looking for whales!

Day 6 - Salsipuedes & Animas

Potential Dive sites: Los Cuervos, El Caballo, In Animas, El Lavadero, El Lavadero including a night dive

Day 7 - Baja and Snorkeling with Whale Sharks in Bahia De Los Angeles

Potential Dive sites: El Pescador, Baja Ca., start heading back to Puerto Penasco in afternoon

Day 8 - Disembark at 7 am

To learn more about what you can expect from this Sea of Cortez trip, check out this trip report or see how our 2019 trip to the Sea of Cortez went. You may also read the reviews on diving the Sea of Cortez here.

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Inclusions

✓ Three meals per day & snacks,

✓ Beverages including soft drinks, juice, domestic beer & wine

✓ One full day of whale shark snorkeling, & several dives with a friendly sea lion colony

✓ Tanks, weights & weight belts

Exclusions

✗ Transfers from Phoenix airport ($150 roundtrip)

✗ Park fees ($28)

✗ Fuel Surcharge, if applicable (none currently)

✗ Nitrox ($120)

✗ Gratuity

✗ Mexican Tourist Card: purchased at the border ($36 CASH ONLY)

✗ Travel Insurance: click here to learn more about our preferred plan

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About the Rocio del Mar

Rocio Del Mar is one of the best liveaboards sailing in the area, offering 10 comfortable cabins for up to max. 20 divers. All have private bathrooms with hot shower stalls, Western-style toilets, lavatories, and above height window. Each cabin is carpeted and air-conditioned. There are room length windows with privacy curtains and convenient gear and clothes storage drawers beneath the beds.

Check out this page to see more details and customer reviews on the Rocio Del Mar.

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Daily Photo Workshops

Workshops will be given daily on topics such as wide-angle underwater photography, ambient light shots, snorkeling with large animals, strobe exposure and positions, avoiding backscatter and composition. Help underwater is also given.

Check out this page for more information on what to expect from our photography workshops as well as some testimonials!

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Flight Information

Trip attendees will fly in and out of Phoenix, Arizona, which is the closest international airport. You should fly in on Saturday morning and arrive before 11 am. For return flights, book anytime after 2 pm.

Head Out To Rocky Point offers a shuttle service to and from the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and takes you directly to the boat. It takes approximately 3.5-4 hours. The cost is $150 per person, round trip. All passengers will be picked up at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport at 1pm, Terminal 4, Door 5 outside on the far side of the street. The shuttles are clearly marked Head Out To Rocky Point. The shuttle will stop at the border so passengers can purchase Mexico Tourist Cards. If you choose to stay at a hotel the evening prior, be sure to be back at the airport by 12:30 so you can comfortably get to the shuttle departure area by 1pm. On disembarkation day the shuttle departs the boat at 7am.

Book the round-trip Head Out to Rocky Point Shuttle - Click Here

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About The Trip Leader

Nirupam Nigam is a dedicated underwater photographer and fisheries scientist. While growing up in Los Angeles he fell in love with the ocean and pursued underwater photography in Southern California's Channel Islands. He received degrees in Aquatic and Fisheries Science and General Biology, as well as a minor in Arctic Studies, at the University of Washington. He spent some time as a fisheries observer on fishing vessels in the Bering Sea and North Pacific, collecting data for NOAA. When he is not at sea, he is traveling with his wife and taking photos.

As the Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and the Chief Marketing Officer at Bluewater Photo & Video, Nirupam is one of the world's few full-time underwater photography editors. You can get in touch with him at nirupam@uwphotographyguide.com(link sends e-mail) or through his website www.photosfromthesea.com. Read more about Nirupam here.

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