Blue Shark Diving in Cabo San Lucas: Complete Guide and Photographer’s First-Hand Account

Quick facts about blue shark diving in Cabo San Lucas

By William Drumm, underwater photographer and ocean ambassador

Imagine a predator perfectly designed by millions of years of evolution to thrive in the open ocean, painted in mesmerizing shades of violet-blue. That’s the blue shark: a creature of grace, curiosity, and primal instincts. Diving with these sharks takes you on a journey back to a time when the ocean ruled, long before humanity left its mark. I had the incredible privilege of photographing blue sharks once again, this time in the waters off Cabo San Lucas with my friends from Latitude Encounters. It was an experience like no other, and I’m excited to share it with you.

Are there sharks in Cabo San Lucas? Are they dangerous?

 Yes, there are sharks in the waters off Cabo San Lucas – and that is exactly why this is one of the world’s great destinations for shark diving. The unique geography of the southern tip of Baja California (where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez and three different ocean currents converge) creates rich pelagic waters that attract several species:

• Blue sharks (Prionace glauca) are the most common shark species visible to divers and snorkelers in Cabo waters from December through May. They are open-ocean predators usually found 5 to 15 miles offshore.

• Mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus) are also common during the same December-May window. Makos are the fastest sharks in the ocean, capable of bursts over 40 mph.

• Silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) replace blue sharks during the warmer summer months (roughly May through November).

•  Smooth hammerheads (Sphyrna zygaena) are seen at deeper offshore sites like Gordo Banks during summer and fall.

• Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are NOT typically in Cabo San Lucas waters – they are mostly found in La Paz, Bahía de los Ángeles, and Holbox. More on this below.

• Great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) are NOT in Cabo waters. They are at Guadalupe Island, ~150 miles offshore, which has been closed to shark tourism since January 2023.

Are Cabo sharks dangerous? Have there been attacks?

No, the sharks in Cabo waters are not generally dangerous to swimmers. There has not been a documented unprovoked shark attack on a beach swimmer in Cabo San Lucas in many years. The species that visit these waters are pelagic (open-ocean) species that rarely come into shallow nearshore beach areas where most tourists swim.

Beach swimming areas in Cabo are safe. Beaches like Médano Beach (the main tourist beach), Lover’s Beach, and Santa Maria Bay see thousands of swimmers per day with no shark incidents. The actual risks at these beaches are strong rip currents (especially at Pacific-side beaches like Solmar Beach) and large wave conditions on certain days.

The blue sharks, makos, silky sharks, and hammerheads that draw shark diving enthusiasts to Cabo are encountered offshore, in deep water, where divers and snorkelers go specifically to see them. These encounters happen in controlled, professional contexts with experienced operators. Even in those contexts, attacks on humans are extraordinarily rare. Blue sharks are particularly known for being curious but cautious around divers.

Where the danger is more real: large fishing tournaments and poorly-managed shark feeding operations elsewhere in Mexico can attract sharks closer to shore in unusual ways. None of these conditions exist in standard Cabo tourism.

Are blue sharks specifically dangerous?

Blue sharks are technically capable of injuring a human – they have sharp teeth and reach 6-12 feet in length. But documented blue shark attacks on humans are extremely rare. The International Shark Attack File records only a handful of confirmed blue shark incidents globally across decades, mostly involving fishermen handling caught sharks. Free-swimming blue sharks are inquisitive but typically cautious around people. Standard practice during a blue shark encounter is to maintain calm, not splash, and let the shark approach and retreat on its own terms.

That said: blue sharks are not aquarium fish. They are wild predators and should be treated with respect. Operators teach all visitors specific safety protocols (no splashing, no thrashing, no touching, predetermined hand signals) before water entry. Following operator guidance is essential for both human safety and shark welfare.

Can you swim with whale sharks in Cabo San Lucas?

Whale sharks are not typically in Cabo San Lucas waters. While the search interest exists (“whale shark cabo san lucas,” “cabo san lucas whale shark season,” etc.), the actual whale shark hotspots in Mexico are different locations:

• La Paz, Mexico (~110 miles north of Cabo): Whale sharks visit Bahía de La Paz from October through April, with peak season December-March. This is the easiest whale shark trip from the Cabo region – many operators do day trips from Cabo to La Paz. Roughly 2-3 hours of driving each way plus boat time.
• Bahía de los Ángeles (Sea of Cortez, ~10 hours north): Major whale shark aggregation site, but logistically difficult from Cabo without flying.
• Isla Holbox / Cancún (Yucatán Peninsula): The most famous whale shark site in Mexico. Peak season June-September. Not accessible from Cabo without flying.

If you are in Cabo San Lucas and specifically want to see whale sharks, the most realistic option is booking a La Paz day trip with an operator who runs the route during the October-April season. Several Cabo-based operators do this.

My Shark Diving Experience in Cabo San Lucas

For those who have been following me for a while, you know how obsessed I am with blue sharks. I find them incredibly cute and inquisitive, yet they still command my utmost respect. I’ve had the chance to dive with them several times in California, but this was my first time encountering them in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I joined my friends from Latitude Encounters on their beautiful, comfortable boat, excited to see what the trip had in store.

Over the course of two days, I spent roughly eight hours in the water with blue sharks, observing their behaviors, photographing and filming them, and simply enjoying their company. On the morning of the first day, I admittedly woke up a bit later than planned after a fun night out in Cabo. I hurriedly packed my camera gear, ensured my batteries were charged, and strolled down the boardwalk from my Airbnb to meet the Latitude Encounters boat.

An Unexpected Dolphin Encounter

Just past the famous arches of Cabo San Lucas, a pod of dolphins surfaced near our boat. Dolphins in this area are typically elusive, so we don’t usually get in the water with them. However, Matias, the captain and a long-time friend, suggested we give it a shot.

I didn’t have my wetsuit on yet, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. I quickly stripped down to my boxers and slipped into the chilly Pacific waters. Without my camera, it was just me and the dolphins a magical, peaceful moment I’ll never forget. Floating there with a huge smile on my face, surrounded by dolphins, I couldn’t believe how beautiful the morning was.

I spent roughly eight hours in the water with blue sharks, observing their behaviors, photographing and filming them, and simply enjoying their company. On the morning of the first day, I admittedly woke up a bit later than planned after a fun night out in Cabo. I hurriedly packed my camera gear, ensured my batteries were charged, and strolled down the boardwalk from my Airbnb to meet the Latitude Encounters boat.

A Perfect Ocean Nap

After the dolphins moved on, I climbed back on the boat, put on my wetsuit, and took a nap one of the best naps of my life, in fact. There’s something uniquely soothing about napping on a boat, with the gentle rocking of the waves and the sounds of seagulls and the water lapping against the hull. When I woke up, the action was on.

Diving with Blue Sharks

When I woke up, there were three or four blue sharks circling the boat, as inquisitive as ever. I downed a quick cup of water, grabbed my camera, and plunged into the water. Photographing blue sharks is both peaceful and exhilarating. They move silently, their sleek bodies gliding effortlessly through the water. You always have to stay aware of your surroundings, keeping an eye on your friends to ensure no sharks sneak up from behind.

What is a blue shark? Biology and facts

Blue sharks (Prionace glauca) are a true marvel of nature. Their streamlined bodies, sleek and agile, are built for the pelagic zone, allowing them to cover great distances in the ocean. They have survived and adapted over tens of millions of years, thriving through mass extinctions, ocean temperature shifts, and changes in sea levels.

Their adaptability is evident in their wide distribution across the globe. You’ll find them in cooler, deep waters, swimming with effortless grace. Their ecological role as top predators helps maintain the balance of marine life, making them crucial to the health of our oceans. The more time I spend observing these sharks, the more I appreciate their beauty, and their importance in the ocean’s ecosystem.

Ecology and Habitat

Blue sharks are found in oceans around the world, favoring cooler, deep pelagic waters. They are highly migratory and capable of traveling thousands of miles across the open ocean, often following oceanic currents. Their ability to thrive in such an expansive environment speaks to their adaptability and ecological importance.

Blue sharks are vital to ocean ecosystems as top predators, helping to maintain the balance of marine life by keeping prey populations in check. Though they prefer deeper waters, they often come closer to the surface in pursuit of food, which makes encounters with divers possible.

Diet and Feeding Behaviour

Blue sharks primarily feed on small fish, squid, and pelagic crustaceans. They are opportunistic hunters and may scavenge if the opportunity arises. Their keen sense of smell and excellent vision help them locate prey in the vast, open ocean. Despite their predatory nature, blue sharks are inquisitive and often approach divers out of curiosity rather than aggression.

Reproduction

Blue sharks reproduce via aplacental viviparity, meaning they give birth to live young that develop inside the mother without a placenta. Litters can be quite large, sometimes exceeding 100 pups. Blue sharks typically give birth in warmer waters, and the pups are independent from birth, already equipped with the instincts and physical capabilities to survive on their own.

Conservation Status​

Although blue sharks are not currently listed as endangered, they are considered Near Threatened due to overfishing and bycatch. Their fins are highly valued in the shark fin trade, which has led to significant population declines. Conservation efforts are crucial to ensure the survival of these incredible creatures. Protection through marine reserves, regulation of shark finning, and increased awareness about their ecological importance are all necessary steps to preserve blue shark populations.

Evolutionary Adaptations

One of the most striking features of the blue shark is its color. The iridescent blue on its back provides camouflage in the deep ocean, blending seamlessly with the water when viewed from above. Its lighter underbelly helps it blend in with the sky when viewed from below, a trait known as countershading. This evolutionary adaptation helps protect blue sharks from larger predators and enables them to sneak up on their prey with stealth and precision.

Can you swim with whale sharks in Cabo San Lucas?

Whale sharks are not typically in Cabo San Lucas waters. While the search interest exists (“whale shark cabo san lucas,” “cabo san lucas whale shark season,” etc.), the actual whale shark hotspots in Mexico are different locations:

• La Paz, Mexico (~110 miles north of Cabo): Whale sharks visit Bahía de La Paz from October through April, with peak season December-March. This is the easiest whale shark trip from the Cabo region – many operators do day trips from Cabo to La Paz. Roughly 2-3 hours of driving each way plus boat time.
• Bahía de los Ángeles (Sea of Cortez, ~10 hours north): Major whale shark aggregation site, but logistically difficult from Cabo without flying.
• Isla Holbox / Cancún (Yucatán Peninsula): The most famous whale shark site in Mexico. Peak season June-September. Not accessible from Cabo without flying.

If you are in Cabo San Lucas and specifically want to see whale sharks, the most realistic option is booking a La Paz day trip with an operator who runs the route during the October-April season. Several Cabo-based operators do this.

Where else to dive and snorkel in Cabo San Lucas

Shark diving is one specialty of Cabo, but the area has world-class diving and snorkeling more generally. If you are visiting for a longer trip, consider:

Snorkeling spots

• Santa Maria Bay: The most popular snorkeling destination in Cabo. Calm protected cove with reef fish, sea turtles, and occasional rays. About 15 minutes east of Cabo San Lucas marina.
• Chileno Bay: Crystal-clear water, excellent visibility, abundant fish life. Beach access plus snorkel tours.
• Pelican Reef and Land’s End: Snorkeling at the iconic arch and Lover’s Beach, accessible by water taxi from Médano Beach.
• Cabo Pulmo National Park: About 1.5 hours north of Cabo San Lucas – one of the best preserved reef ecosystems in the Sea of Cortez. Worth a dedicated day trip.

Scuba diving sites

• Land’s End and the Sand Falls: Famous Cabo dive site at the rocky tip of Baja, including the underwater “sandfall” Cousteau made famous.
• Gordo Banks: Offshore seamount about 10 miles out. Pelagic species – hammerheads, jacks, larger fish. Advanced dive.
• Pelican Rock and Neptune’s Finger: Standard Cabo San Lucas dive sites at the Land’s End area.

Cabo Pulmo: For divers, Cabo Pulmo offers some of the most biologically rich reefs in the world (the “Aquarium of the World” as Jacques Cousteau called the Sea of Cortez).

Frequently asked questions about blue sharks

Q: Are there sharks in Cabo San Lucas? 

Yes. Blue sharks and mako sharks visit Cabo waters December through May. Silky sharks and smooth hammerheads visit in summer. All are pelagic (open-ocean) species that stay offshore and rarely come near beach swimming areas. Beach swimming areas in Cabo (Médano, Santa Maria, Chileno) are safe with no recent record of shark incidents on beach swimmers.

Q: Have there been shark attacks in Cabo San Lucas? 

No documented unprovoked shark attacks on beach swimmers in Cabo San Lucas in recent years. The shark species that visit Cabo waters (blue sharks, mako sharks, silky sharks, hammerheads) are open-ocean species that don’t typically come into nearshore swimming areas. Cabo beaches are generally safe for swimming; the more meaningful risks are rip currents on certain Pacific-side beaches.

Q: Can you see whale sharks in Cabo San Lucas? 

Whale sharks are not typically in Cabo San Lucas waters. The closest whale shark site is La Paz, Mexico (about 110 miles north), where whale sharks visit Bahía de La Paz from October through April. Many Cabo-based operators run day trips to La Paz during the season. The other major whale shark sites in Mexico (Holbox, Cancún) are on the Yucatán Peninsula, not the Baja Peninsula.

Q: Are blue sharks dangerous to humans? 

Blue sharks are technically capable of injury but documented attacks on humans are extremely rare – only a handful of confirmed incidents globally across decades, mostly involving handling of caught sharks. Free-swimming blue sharks are inquisitive but cautious around divers. They are not on a list of sharks considered particularly dangerous to humans.

Q: Are great white sharks in Cabo San Lucas? 

No. Great white sharks are at Guadalupe Island, an island about 150 miles off the Pacific coast of Baja California, not in Cabo San Lucas waters. Guadalupe Island has been closed to shark cage diving tourism since January 2023, so commercial great white encounters are not currently available in Mexico.

Conclusion

Shark diving, especially with blue sharks, is an unforgettable experience that combines the thrill of being in the presence of a top ocean predator with the serenity of the open sea. These sharks, with their long evolutionary history and perfect adaptations to the pelagic world, continue to captivate and inspire me. I hope my passion for these remarkable animals encourages others to appreciate their beauty and importance to our oceans’ health.

Sources referenced for this blog include:

• IUCN:  Third of Open Ocean Sharks Threatened with Extinction
• CMS – Prionace glauca
• Florida Museum of Natural History — Blue Shark
• MarineBio — Blue Sharks, Prionace glauca
• Neotropical Ichthyology — Current Knowledge on Biology, Fishing and Conservation of the Blue Shark

Learn More About William

Thanks for reading. To learn more about my mission visit my about page. To see my favourite images visit my portfolio, and if you are interested in purchasing prints (a portion of each sale goes to marine conservation efforts) then take a look at my fine art prints and underwater prints t-shirts.. Plus, to see even more of my images and to connect with me, make sure to follow me on Instagram!