Open Ocean Safari and Whale Watching

The big draw here is the chance to leave Cabo’s harbor and search a wide stretch of ocean for whales, dolphins, rays, sea lions, and other wildlife. This is not a fixed parade of animal sightings. It is a real search at sea, and that makes the rewarding moments feel earned.

I like the maximum group size of 10, which gives the crew room to adjust course and keep the outing calm around wildlife. I also like that the guides put animal welfare first, rather than treating every encounter as a race to get close. The main caution is simple: nature sets the schedule, and one outing produced many whales but almost no time in the water.

Key points to know before booking

• Four hours on the Pacific and Sea of Cortez: The trip covers several different settings, from Cabo’s famous Arch to open water and reef snorkeling.
• Wildlife is possible, not promised: Humpback and gray whales, dolphins, mobula rays, sea lions, sharks, marlin, and fish have all been seen, but no list is guaranteed.
• Small boat group: A maximum of 10 people makes it easier to hear the guide and move with less crowding.
• Snorkeling is part of the plan: Equipment, snacks, bottled water, and photos and videos are included, though water time depends on conditions and animal activity.
• Bring patience and schedule room: The boat may return early if conditions or sightings do not cooperate.
• Check the wetsuit cost: One passenger paid an extra $15 for a wetsuit, so confirm that charge before setting out.

A four-hour search for life at sea

Apex Ocean Divers runs this as an active ocean safari, not a simple harbor cruise. You leave Dock C at the Cabo San Lucas marina at 9:00 a.m. and spend the morning looking for movement on and below the water.

The trip works best if you think of it as a wildlife expedition with a snorkeling stop, rather than a guaranteed whale show followed by a long swim. The crew can search, watch the surface, read the water, and make decisions based on what appears that day. You may get a thrilling mix of animals, or you may spend much of the morning with one species.

That uncertainty is not a flaw in the natural setting, but it matters when you are comparing this with a standard whale-watching cruise. You are paying for a small-group attempt to find a range of marine life, plus the equipment, guide, food, and media that come with it.

The operation is offered in English. The maximum of 10 people is a useful limit because wildlife watching often involves quick changes. A smaller group means less time gathering a crowd and more room for the crew to explain what you are seeing.

El Arco gives the morning a classic Cabo start

The first listed stop is El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, the sandstone arch at the meeting point of the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez. Even if the wildlife search is still quiet, this gives you the signature Cabo view and a chance to take photographs from the water.

The Arch is also a practical orientation point. Cabo’s famous rock formations look different from a boat than they do from shore, and this stop helps frame the geography of the outing. The crew may also take photos here. One account describes Kyla patiently taking as many pictures as needed around the Arch, which is helpful if you want more than a quick phone snapshot.

Do not expect El Arco to be the main event. It is the scenic punctuation at the front of an excursion focused on animals. If you have already seen the Arch from another boat, this part may feel familiar, but it still fits naturally into the route.

Pelican Rock brings the snorkeling possibility

Pelican Rock is the second listed stop and a well-known Cabo snorkeling area. Here, you may get your first proper look below the surface, with fish and underwater rock habitat replacing the wide horizon.

The boat carries snorkeling equipment, and snacks and bottled water are included. The snorkeling conditions can shape the entire feel of the morning. One particularly strong outing included a large group of cownose rays, colorful fish, and time with other marine animals. Another had only about three minutes in the water while the crew tried to locate rays.

That contrast is the key thing to understand. Snorkeling is included, but the amount of time in the water is not fixed in the information provided. Ocean conditions, wildlife behavior, and the crew’s judgment all matter. If swimming is your main goal, ask before departure how the day’s conditions look and what happens if the animal search runs long.

You should also ask about wetsuits. One passenger reported paying $15 extra, although that fee was not shown in the tour details. That is a small cost beside the total price, but it is exactly the sort of surprise worth avoiding.

The Sea of Cortez is where the safari opens up

The third stop is the Sea of Cortez, where the outing shifts from scenic Cabo stops to a broader wildlife search. This is where the crew may look for whales, dolphins, rays, sea lions, sharks, marlin, and other animals.

Humpback and gray whales are among the most realistic hopes, especially in the right season, though the supplied details do not identify specific months. On one morning, the boat saw many humpback and gray whales, including two breaches. Another outing found humpback whales, dolphins playing near sea lions, a marlin, and a large flock of cownose rays in the same four-hour period.

Those sightings show the range of the trip, but they should not become a promise in your mind. The same sort of outing can produce mainly whales, or a more varied mix of animals, depending on the day. The honest way to book this is to value the search itself and treat a long list of species as a bonus.

This open-water section can also be the most tiring part. You need a moderate level of physical fitness, and the boat may be moving, stopping, and repositioning as the crew looks for signs of life. If you are prone to seasickness, plan carefully, though no specific motion-sickness service is listed.

Respect for wildlife is part of the experience

The company places animal welfare at the center of its approach. That matters here because close encounters can quickly become stressful for animals when boats, swimmers, and cameras crowd them.

The guides aim to let animals remain relaxed and undisturbed. You may still get remarkably close views, but the goal is not to force contact or chase every creature. This is especially important around rays, dolphins, sea lions, and whales, whose behavior can change quickly.

I like this approach for two reasons. First, it gives you a better chance of seeing natural behavior instead of a staged performance. Second, it is the right standard for a business that depends on wild animals remaining safe in their own habitat.

The crew has been praised for being kind, patient, and committed to finding as much marine life as conditions allow. Names associated with the guiding and photo work include Nick, Rafa, Alex, and Kyla. Nick has been noted for explaining local marine life, while Alex has been singled out for patient effort and a positive manner. Since staffing can vary, you should not assume a particular guide will be aboard on your date.

Photos and videos add real value

Photos and videos are included, which makes this more than a bring-your-own-camera outing. Wildlife moves fast, and it is hard to manage a phone, mask, snorkel, and boat position while also watching a whale or ray.

The crew has produced drone and underwater footage, including images of animals and, when conditions allow, passengers in the frame. That can be a major plus at $215 per person. A separate account notes that 10 photos were included, with additional images available for an extra charge. Since the main details simply say photos and videos are included, ask exactly what quantity and format you will receive.

The media is also useful because the best encounters may last only seconds. You may remember the moment clearly, but a good underwater image or a whale breach captured from the boat gives you something concrete to take home. Just keep your priorities in order: the footage is a bonus, not a reason to expect a particular animal to pose.

Is $215 a fair price?

At $215 per person, this is not a budget boat ride. The value comes from the small group, the roughly four-hour outing, the wildlife search, snorkeling equipment, guide service, snacks, bottled water, and photos and videos.

I would compare it with the kind of day you want, not only with the cheapest whale cruise. A large boat may cost less and offer a straightforward whale-watching route. This trip is aimed at people who want the crew to look for several types of marine life and who value a more personal setting.

The price feels easier to justify when you see whales, dolphins, rays, sea lions, and fish in one morning. It feels less satisfying if your main goal is a long swim and the ocean allows only a few minutes in the water. The operation cannot control that tradeoff, but you should understand it before paying.

Ask about wetsuit charges and the included photo allowance before departure. Those details affect the final value, especially for anyone building a tightly planned vacation budget.

Timing, meeting point, and physical demands

You meet at Dock C on Boulevard Paseo de la Marina in Cabo San Lucas at 9:00 a.m. The activity ends back at the same meeting point, which makes it easier to plan lunch or another afternoon activity.

The advertised duration is about four hours, but keep some flexibility after the scheduled return. One account describes an earlier return after the crew could not find more wildlife. Another practical warning is to confirm the booking directly with the operator, since changes or cancellations may not always come with much notice.

The tour requires moderate physical fitness. You should be comfortable boarding a boat, moving around on deck, and getting into the water for snorkeling if conditions permit. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation.

The tour is offered in English, and confirmation is sent when you book. Since the experience requires good weather and a minimum number of participants, the operator may offer another date or a full refund if it cannot run.

Who will enjoy this ocean safari most?

I would choose this outing if you care more about quality wildlife time than a guaranteed checklist. It suits people who enjoy small groups, want explanations from an active guide, and are happy to let the crew adapt to the ocean.

It is also a good fit for photographers and anyone who wants professionally captured photos and videos. The underwater and drone footage can save you from trying to document every moment yourself.

Families and first-time snorkelers may enjoy it, but the moderate fitness requirement and open-water setting deserve attention. You should be comfortable with the possibility that the day involves more boat time than swimming.

I would think twice if you need a strict return time, dislike uncertainty, or would feel disappointed by seeing only whales. I would also ask careful questions if you are booking mainly for rays, since that sighting depends heavily on the day.

Cancellation and booking advice

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the 9:00 a.m. start for a full refund. Changes made within 24 hours are not accepted, and cancellations inside that window are not refunded.

Bad weather or failure to meet the minimum group size can cancel the trip. In those cases, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Because the outing depends on weather and wildlife, I would avoid placing a must-not-miss appointment immediately afterward. Confirm the departure directly with Apex Ocean Divers, and ask about the wetsuit price, photo allowance, expected water time, and current sea conditions.

Should you book the Cabo Open Ocean Safari?

Book it if you want a serious attempt at finding wild marine life in a small group, and if you can accept that the ocean may deliver whales instead of rays, or a short snorkel instead of a long one. The strongest reasons to choose it are the limited group size, the crew’s care around animals, the range of possible sightings, and the included media.

Skip it if you need guaranteed species, fixed swimming time, or a low-cost sightseeing cruise. At $215, the experience asks you to pay for effort, access, and the chance of an exceptional morning, not a guaranteed performance.

For the right person, that is a fair exchange. Go with patience, leave your afternoon open, confirm the extra costs, and treat every animal sighting as a gift from a very changeable sea.

FAQ

Where does the Open Ocean Safari begin?

The tour begins at Dock C, Marina del Rey, Boulevard Paseo de la Marina, Centro, 23450 Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 9:00 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The outing lasts approximately four hours and ends back at the original meeting point.

What animals might I see?

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

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with snacks and bottled water.

Are photos and videos included?

Photos and videos of the experience are included. One account notes that 10 photos were included, with additional images requiring an extra payment, so confirm the exact allowance before departure.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded. If poor weather or an insufficient minimum number of participants cancels the trip, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.