Mexico Sardine Run in Magdalena Bay
One of the ocean's most dramatic sardine runs — up close
Every year between mid-October and January, something remarkable unfolds in the nutrient-rich waters off the Pacific coast of Baja California. The Magdalena Bay sardine run. The second largest in the world, it draws an A-list cast of predators: striped marlin cutting through at speed, Bryde’s and humpback whales lunging and gulping, sea lions, sharks, mahi mahi, and seabirds all converging to feast.
It’s hard not to feel a little sorry for the sardines. But this is nature doing what it does best — and witnessing it from the water, not the deck, is something else entirely. A thrilling wildlife spectacle.
This expedition is built around snorkeling and freediving with the marine life. Days are spent out on the water aboard fast boats and pangas. When you need a change of pace, there’s the option to scuba dive or head ashore to explore the sweeping dunes of Margarita Island. Back on board, hot showers, fresh food, and cold drinks are waiting.
Beyond the sardine run, Magdalena Bay has plenty more in store — turtles, mola mola, mobula rays, and a special area where mother and newborn humpbacks appear to gather.
Mexico Sardine Run in Magdalena Bay
A multi-species feeding frenzy
So, why do sardines form bait balls? Sardines are small, vulnerable fish. Alone, easy prey. But together — thousands moving in perfect unison — they form a swirling, shimmering mass that confuses predators and makes it nearly impossible to single out one target.
It’s a survival strategy, evolved over millennia — and it works, right up until it doesn’t. Because the bait ball, for all its defensive brilliance, also attracts everything that wants to eat it.
Striped marlin are the undisputed stars — among the fastest fish in the ocean, capable of speeds of up to 50 mph — slicing through the schools with their bills extended and dorsal fins blazing with color. Bryde’s and humpback whales lunge and gulp enormous mouthfuls at a time. Silky sharks work the edges with quiet patience before moving in with swift, coordinated strikes. Sea lions bring chaos and theatrics in equal measure. Dolphins herd the sardines into tighter and tighter formations. Seabirds dive-bomb the surface.
The whole thing is simultaneous, relentless, extraordinary. And you are right in the middle of it.
Beyond the bait balls, Magdalena Bay has plenty more in store. Turtles, mahi mahi, and mola mola — the bizarre and wonderful giant ocean sunfish — are all regularly spotted in the area. From mid-November onward, mobula rays begin to arrive as part of their winter passage, most active at the surface in the early morning when they leap and cartwheel out of the water. And nearby, a sheltered area appears to draw mother and newborn humpbacks — quieter, more intimate encounters that offer a very different kind of magic.
We never know exactly what each day will bring — and that’s exactly the point.
Respectful marine life encounters:
Expert naturalist guides lead all wildlife experiences and operate in full compliance with Mexican marine wildlife regulations — ensuring every encounter is safe, respectful, and deeply memorable.
Possible wildlife sightings
- Huge schools of sardine fish
- Silky sharks
- Striped marlin
- Mahi Mahi
- Bryde’s & humpback whales
- Mobula rays (from mid-November onward)
- Sea lions
- Seabirds & more
- Dolphins
Into the bait ball: snorkeling & freediving in Magdalena Bay
This expedition is built around snorkeling and freediving with bait balls, putting you right in the middle of the action. Every morning, our research and observation plane takes to the air and our local captains — who know these waters better than anyone — position you where the sardine hotspots are.
When the pace calls for it, there’s the option to scuba dive or head ashore to explore the sweeping dunes of Margarita Island, Mexico.
Highlights include:
- Snorkeling & freediving with bait balls
- Dune exploration, Margarita Island
- Whale watching
- Birding
- Beach & nature walks
- Scuba diving (on request, subject to availability)
Your home at sea
Life on board
These expeditions are based on large ocean-going liveaboard vessels operated by Nautilus Adventures — your home at sea for the week. The daily action happens from smaller, fast support boats designed to get you quickly to the wildlife hotspots, while the mothership handles everything else: comfort, food, and a good night’s rest.
While you sleep, your ship repositions — so every morning you wake up somewhere new, ready for whatever lies ahead. Life on board quickly finds its own rhythm: activities, fresh meals, time to relax, more activities, and then the kind of sleep that only comes after a full day on the water.
Nautilus Adventures is the only liveaboard operator in the world with a certified ISM safety management system — audited annually to the same standards as the world’s largest cruise ships. In short, safety is taken seriously. A full briefing and practice drill on day two means you’ll always know exactly what to do — and can spend the rest of the trip focused on the water.
The Nautilus Belle Amie is a modern and super spacious custom-built 147-foot vessel. She accommodates up to 32 guests across 17 en-suite staterooms and suites, ranging from standard twin cabins to spacious premium suites with ocean-facing windows, sitting areas, and flat-screen TVs. All cabins are air-conditioned, and the heavy steel construction with built-in stabilization makes for a comfortable ride even in open ocean conditions — it genuinely feels like staying in a hotel at sea.
The main deck hosts a generous air-conditioned lounge, bar, and dining area — the natural gathering place at the end of a long day on the water. Up on the expansive sun deck, there’s room for everyone to stretch out, soak up the sun, or ease into the freshwater hot tub with a drink in hand.
Explore the Nautilus Belle Amie
- 6 nights’ accommodation on a liveaboard
- Scheduled group transfers
- All core activities & necessary equipment (excluding scuba gear rental)
- All meals and snacks
- Non-alcoholic drinks
- Naturalist guides and expert crew
- Scuba gear rental
- Alcoholic beverages and bar
- Gift shop items
- Internet access ($85 per device, per trip)
- Crew gratuities
- Port fee (US$ 35 pp payable in cash onboard)
Snorkeling the Mexico sardine run in Magdalena Bay
Meet at SeeCreatures Cabo for 4:30 pm. Board and set sail up the beautiful coast of Baja California. Our destination, the sheltered waters and outer Islands of Magdalena Bay sardine run.
Late morning arrival in Magdalena Bay. Today is our warmup and tuneup day at the south end of Margarita Island. This adventure is primarily about snorkelling and freediving with the schooling sardine and bait balls, you will have the opportunity to snorkel with sea lions.
Let’s find some bait balls! These next days are about snorkelling and freediving. We never know quite what Mother Ocean has in store for us, but on the vast majority of our trips, we are able to enjoy fairly calm seas with a low swell and loads of critters. Striped marlin and bryde whales are the stars of the sardine run but there is lots more to sea. This is a cooperative eco-tourism program working with local pangas and captains who pivoted from fishing to tourism. Nobody knows these waters and where to find the animals better than these guys. You should also see turtles, more sea lions, sharks, and seabirds. It can be very very exciting. Guests have the option of spending the afternoons scuba diving or go ashore and explore the magnificent sand dunes.
Breakfast and then disembark in Cabo by 8:30 am.
Mexico Sardine Run in Magdalena Bay
All prices are in US dollars
What am I going to see?
Every fall, the waters outside of Magdalena Bay are home to a deep ocean upwelling, which combine with warm waters to create perfectconditions for massive schools of sardine in the cobalt blue, shallow ocean water. The surrounding waters teem with life with bait ballsand predators from seabirds to blue and mako sharks, sea lions, whales, dolphins and the ocean’s fastest fish, the striped marlin. Marlincan swim as fast as 50 mph (80 kmh) and it’s the thrill of a lifetime to be in the water next to a bait ball with marlin whizzing past you,dorsal fins full erect. Extra bonus is the hundreds of turtles often seen on the surface.
What to Bring
Do I need to obtain a visa ahead of time?
Only for a very limited number of countries. Please check the requirements for your country.
Do I need insurance?
Guests are required to have medical and evacuation insurance from a recognized provider before participating in any of our activities. Click here to purchase coverage. The policies are very affordable. We also highly recommend the optional purchase of trip interruption insurance, which covers everything from cancelled flights, weather delays, and lost baggage, to reimbursement if another guest has a medical issue that affects your trip. If you decline coverage, please note that we do not issue credits or refunds for anything that is beyond our immediate control.
Do I need dive medical insurance?
YES. Dive and evacuation insurance is mandatory. We can assist you with purchasing this at check-in if you like.
What airport do I fly into?
SJD Los Cabos International for both commercial airlines and private aircraft.
Can I bring my own alcohol onboard?
Sorry, but NO. We carry a great selection of signature drinks, single malts, microbrew beer and a varied wine list, all at very reasonable prices.
How do I get from SJD into town?
Sealine Cabo transfers is our recommended provider of airport transfers to and from SJD. For booking please email Martin at: mmoreno@sealinecabotransfers.com We also recommend Miguel from Fara Nuevo as an alternative option. Email: mfc949@gmail.com Phone: +52 (624) 141 6254
Can you recommend a local hotel?
Yes. We have our favourite hotels that we highly recommend and have arranged discounted rates for Nautilus and Baja Expeditions guests. For hotel recommendation or any other pretrip questions, concerns or comments, please contact our Nautilus concierges directly. Phone: +1 (604) 241-1918 – Please ask for Daniela or Maria WhatsApp: +1 (604) 360-9400 Email: concierge@nautilusdive.com
Before Departure
Where do we meet the boat?
SeeCreatures, located directly across from the town square, two blocks from the marina and in the heart of the downtown restaurant and bar district. We want our place to be your home away from home! Please drop by when you get into town and we will get you kitted up with whatever you need. We offer a variety of pre-trip packages including two or three tank boat dives and side trips.
What time do we meet?
Please be at SeeCreatures no later than 10 am for our sailing trips. Transit or coach transfer to Magdalena Bay. The transfer will take 5 1/2 to 6 hours with an enroute stop. Meet at SeeCreatures Cabo at 4:30pm for our liveaboard trips.
Do I need dive medical insurance?
YES. Dive and evacuation insurance is mandatory. We can assist you with purchasing this at check-in if you like.
Can I get nitrox certified ahead of time?
Yes.
Will I need to show my dive certification card before boarding?
Only if you are planning on diving this trip. No certification is required for free diving or snorkelling.
Will I get seasick on this trip?
We will be anchored in a calm sheltered bay. However we will be in open ocean in pangas while looking out for bait balls. While the seas are generally calm this time of year, we highly recommend anti-seasick medications such as the scopolamine patch.
Can you recommend a local hotel?
Yes. We have our favourite hotels that we highly recommend and have arranged discounted rates for Nautilus and Baja Expeditions guests. For hotel recommendation or any other pretrip questions, concerns or comments, please contact our Nautilus concierges directly. Phone: +1 (604) 241-1918 – Please ask for our concierges. WhatsApp: +52 (624) 129-9243 Email:concierge@nautilusdive.com
About Diving
Where do we meet the boat?
seeCreatures, located directly across from the town square, two blocks from the marina and in the heart of the downtown restaurant and bar district. We want our place to be your home away from home! Please drop by when you get into town and we will get you kitted up with whatever you need. We offer a variety of pre-trip packages including two or three tank boat dives and side trips.
What time do we meet?
Please be at SeeCreatures no later than 10 am for our sailing trips. Transit or coach transfer to Magdalena Bay. The transfer will take 5 1/2 to 6 hours with an enroute stop. Meet at SeeCreatures Cabo at 4:30pm for our liveaboard trips.
Can you help me get dive certified before the trip?
YES. We offer a full array of dive courses at SeeCreatures.
Can I get nitrox certified ahead of time?
Yes.
Will I need to show my dive certification cardbefore boarding?
Only if you are planning on diving this trip. No certification is required for free diving or snorkelling.
Will I get seasick on this trip?
We will be anchored in a calm sheltered bay. However we will be in open ocean in pangas while looking out for bait balls. While the seas are generally calm this time of year, we highly recommend anti-seasick medications such as the scopolamine patch.
Where is the closest decompression chamber?
The closest chambers are located in La Paz and Cabo San Lucas.
What happens if I need a medevac flight?
Medevac can be arranged with a boat transfer to shore.
Do you have an AED and medical kit onboard?
OF COURSE! All of our crew are trained in first aid and a number of our crew are trained first responders.
Don't Forget!
What time do we arrive back in Cabo San Lucas?
Both sailing and liveaboard trips will return to SeeCreatures Cabo around 8:30am. Please keep in mind traffic and mother ocean can delay our estimated time.
Do you have a storm policy?
We highly recommend trip interruption insurance, which will cover you in this unlikely eventuality.
Can you accommodate special dietary requests?
Yes, with reasonable advance notice, we are pleased to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, lactose, intolerant, gluten, free, low sugar, quasi-kosher and quasi-halal. We are likely unable to accommodate other special dietary requests, or guests with severe allergic challenges.
What IS NOT included in the trip price?
Bar, gift shop, high-speed Internet connection, rentals, nitrox, crew gratuities. A $35 port fee must be paid on board in cash at the end of the trip.
About Diving
How much experience do I need?
These trips are perfect for all experience levels and non-divers and divers alike.
How much time will we spend on the water?
Basically as much as you like! Sometimes it can take several days to get onto the bait balls or sometimes it happens right away. The local panga captains know these waters like the back of their hands and are extremely skilled at finding the bait balls
Are the boats camera friendly?
YES, VERY!
Are these trips suitable for rebreather divers?
Magdalena Bay trips are not suitable for rebreather diving because of the limited number of dives and depth (shallow) of the diving.
Can I do deco dives?
Sorry. Only on whole boat charters on which your group has chartered the entire ship.
Can I do trimix diving?
We can arrange the supply of helium T bottles as long as you are comfortable doing your own blending.
What happens if I need a medevac flight?
Medevac can be arranged with a boat transfer to shore.
Do you have an AED and medical kit onboard?
OF COURSE! All of our crew are trained in first aid and a number of our crew are trained first responders.
Our pre trip information package covers everything from boarding instructions to what to pack and general trip details. Please review it carefully for the most up to date information about your upcoming adventure.
