escape the crowd

Shark diving in Cabo

Dive Gordo Banks : If you’re a certified diver seeking a different kind of adventure then this is for you!

2 & 3 Tank dive

100ft / 30m plus scuba dive tour on Gordo Banks + Local or Corridor area. Options available for air and Nitrox

Dive Training and Shark conservation

Advanced Open Water Courses or Deep Diver/ Nitrox specialty courses combined with Gordo Banks scuba dives.​

Scuba diving and Whale watching

A FANTASTIC opportunity to Escape The Crowd and enjoy whale watching in the secluded waters of the East Cape.

Gordo Banks | An exhilarating deep dive in the Sea of Cortez

Inner and Outer Gordo Banks dive site

The underwater topography of Los Cabos is filled with seamounts that funnel currents through the area bringing nutrients to the canyons between them. These areas become feeding grounds for an abundance of fish that, in turn, attract larger predatory pelagics thanks to the high concentration of potential prey.

Seven miles offshore from San José del Cabo marina, we find one such seamount called 'Gordo Banks'. Its highest peak lays at 31m/102ft below the surface and its rocky surface is covered with black and wire corals. The top of the seamount is usually visited by schools of jacks, snappers and creole fish which, in turn, invite predators such as tuna, wahoo, marlin, silky sharks, tope sharks and of course.... schooling hammerheads!

Shark diving in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

This unparalleled dive site is rich with incredible and abundant wildlife. What an unique experience to dive at Gordo Banks with schooling hammerheads, hound sharks, school of jack, rays and other pelagic life! There are no guarantees in nature and shark sightings are dependent on water clarity, the depth where they choose to swim, currents, moon cycle and other things we can’t control. In any case, we can explore the bank or just have a blue water dive among shadows and shapes that shift in the blue - often to come closer and make an appearance but sometimes to just disappear from view. Squadrons of mobula ray, lone whale sharks and even humpback whales have frequented this dive site on numerous occasions.

Wildlife and diving conditions

Hammerhead Sharks

This is the place where scientists were able to witness and describe the elusive social behavior of the Scalloped Hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) . To discover and track their amazing navigation skills moving in and out of the seamounts during the day to their feeding grounds at night. The best season to see hammerhead sharks is from late August to January.

Humpback Whales

Every year from early winter to late spring, Los Cabos witnesses the incredible migration of humpback whales from Alaska. These beautiful animals arrive in warmer climes to engage in mating behaviour and to birth their young. Occasionally grey whales, orcas and blue whales are spotted.

Mobula Rays

The seasonal change of temperature in the water traps the plankton and attracts the Mobula Rays to the Sea of Cortez. The months of June-Aug and Nov-Dec are when we can observe super squadrons of rays gathering at the surface during the day and even feeding at night!

Best diving seasons

Our favorite time of the year to visit Gordo Banks is September to December. This is when the water temperature rises and amazing visibility allows us to spot big schools of pelagics out in the blue!

Reduced Visibility / Cold Water Season

The north winds on the Sea of Cortez and the storm season can make the weather become unstable and the diving challenging. Check conditions before booking the months of February - May. Check out these tours for shark dives during Gordo Banks low season:

La Paz Whale Shark

2.5 hours north of Los Cabos is the city of La Paz. From october to may the beautiful tranquil bay of La Paz is home to a population of Whalesharks.

Shark Snorkeling Safari

Other sharks such as Mako, Silky and Blue can be found yearlong in Los Cabos with the right shark expert and only a pair of mask and fins! Inquire for more info about Shark Snorkeling in Los Cabos.

Cabo Pulmo National Park

Cabo Pulmo was once a fishing village. Now they have turned their beautiful home into one of the most ground breaking marine parks in the world. A fishing ban in 1990’s led to a 425% increase in fish stocks and the return of its impressive apex predator: the bull shark. Click here for more info

Deep diving in Gordo Banks requires :

  • good physical fitness
  • a mastery understanding of deep diving techniques
  • dive planning ability 
  • experience in blue water drifts

We need a MINIMUM of 4 divers to run shared tours to Gordo Banks

Ready to explore? Let us guide you in this adventure

Dive Explore

Total 4 Dives

You can choose whether you prefer to dive standard air or Enriched Air Nitrox. Air is recommended on this bottomless dive site due to depth limits of Nitrox but we do offer this option to those who hold the certification. Maximum fills are 28%.

Day 1: 8am – 12pm : 1 x 2 tank local deep checkout dive (air) in Cabo San Lucas 

Day 2: 7am – 1pm : 2 Tank Air dive or 2 Tank 28% Nitrox dive

  • Cost
    Air Package: $385pp
    Nitrox Package: $405pp
    Equipment $35 per day. 
  • What’s included:
    Tanks/ Weights / Drinks / Snacks / Go Pro footage / extra safety diver for large groups
  • Who is it for?

    Advanced Open Water divers that want to Escape The Crowd with a love of exploring the deep blue ocean! 

Dive Expedition

Total 5 Dives

We often describe Gordo Banks as a ‘hit and miss’ dive site because nothing is guaranteed in nature and so we offer a third dive at one of the local dive sites on the way back in this package. Please check out our blog for these dive site descriptions.

Day 1: 8am – 12pm : 1 x 2 tank local deep checkout dive (air) in Cabo San Lucas 

Day 2: 7am – 2.30pm : 2 tank dive at Gordo Banks | 3rd tank in Los Cabos

  • Cost
    Air Package: $485pp
    Nitrox Package: $515pp
    Equipment $35 per day. 
  • What’s included:

    Tanks/ Weights / Drinks / Snacks / packed lunch / Go Pro footage / extra safety diver for large groups 

  • Who is it for?

    Advanced Divers who want to maximize their boat time and log a few more dives! Also for divers who enjoy exploring the pelagic life in the deep blue and the different critters on the reefs of Los Cabos.  

Dive and Whale Watching

Total 4 Dives - Dec 15 to Apr 15

A FANTASTIC opportunity to Escape The Crowd and enjoy whale watching in the secluded waters of the East Cape. The humpback whale is the most acrobatic of whales! During their annual migration from Canada to the abundant waters of Los Cabos we often see many of them breaching, slapping and fluking at the surface of the water. If we are very lucky we might even see them at the Bank! 

Day 1: 8am – 12pm : 1 x 2 tank local deep checkout dive (air) in Cabo San Lucas 

Day 2: 7am – 2pm : 2 Tank dive Air or 2 tank dive Nitrox followed by 1 hour of extra whale watching. 

  • Cost
    Air Package: $450pp
    Nitrox Package: $470pp
    Equipment $35 per day. 
  • What’s included:

    Tanks/ Weights / Drinks / Snacks / packed lunch / Go Pro footage / extra safety diver for large groups

  • Who is it for?
    Advanced Open Water divers that want to Escape The Crowd and enjoy the magnificent display of humpback whales after an exhilarating dive at the bank.

Nitrox Package

Total 3 Dives

Take an online course before your arrival about the benefits of using air with a higher oxygen content. Using ‘enriched air’ increases your maximum bottom time. This is ideal at Gordo Banks although enriched air does limit your depth. On arrival your instructor will walk you through tank analysis and go over a review of the theory.

Day 1: 8am – 11am 1 hour Nitrox workshop/tanks analysis and 1 tank check out dive.

Day 2: 7am – 1pm   2 tank Nitrox dive at Gordo Banks

  • Cost
    $575PP
  • What’s included:
    Online theory / equipment / processing fee / tanks / weights / drinks / snacks / Go Pro footage / extra safety diver for large groups
  • Who is it for?

    Advanced Level certified divers in good physical health looking for an adventure – done the right way! For students who want to choose dive electives specific to deep drift diving.

PADI Advanced Open Water package

Total 7 Dives

Gordo Banks is an advanced dive site. If you’re at the Open Water level then you can elect to do the PADI Advanced Open Water course in 2 days before your Gordo Banks trip.

Day 1: 8am – 1.30pm     Peak Performance Buoyancy Dive, Drift Dive, Navigation.

Day 2: Deep Dive, Nitrox Dive Introduction

Day 3: 2 Tank dive Gordo Banks

  • Cost
    Air Package: $825pp
    Nitrox Package: $785pp
  • What’s included:

    Online theory / equipment / processing fee / tanks / weights / drinks / snacks / packed lunch on day one / Go Pro footage / extra safety diver for large groups

  • Who is it for?

    Open Water Level certified divers in good physical health looking for an adventure – done the right way! For student who want to choose dive electives specific to deep drift diving.

Deep Diving Specialty Package

Total 5 dives

4 deep dives make up the specialty qualification. Take the online portion of the course before your arrival with eLearning. On Day 1, plan and make 3 deep dives ranging from 90ft/27m to maximum 130ft/40m. Complete your 4th Deep Dive at Gordo Banks

Day 1: Day 1:  7am – 1.30pm     3 Tank Deep Dives (air) 

Day 2: 2 Tank Gordo Banks

  • Cost
    $645pp
  • What’s included:

    Online theory / equipment / processing fee / tanks / weights / drinks / snacks / Go Pro footage / extra safety diver for large groups

  • Who is it for?

    Advanced Open Water Diver Level certified divers in good physical health looking for an adventure – done the right way! For students who want to choose dive electives specific to deep drift diving.

Project Aware Shark Conservation Package 4 dives

Learn about the devastating impact of overfishing and the shark finning industry has on sharks. Have a presentation and knowledge review before visiting Gordo Banks to evaluate human impact on the sharks that live there and the environment they live in. Receive a Specialty certification on completion.  

Day 1: 8am – 12pm : 1 x Local checkout dive (air) in Cabo San Lucas

 1pm – 3pm Shark Conservation Presentation. 

Day 2: 7am – 1.30pm : 2 x Shark Conservation dives at Gordo Banks

  • Cost

    Air Package : $480pp

    Nitrox 28 Package : $500pp

  • What’s included:
    Equipment/Tanks/ Weights / Drinks / Snacks / Go Pro footage / extra safety diver for large groups
  • Who is it for?

    Advanced Level certified divers in good physical health looking for an adventure – done the right way! For students who want to choose dive electives specific to deep drift diving.

DIVELOG

From our Divemasters

Gordo Banks Trip Report – November 2024

4th November Dive 1 – Gordo 1 (Inside): The first dive at Gordo Banks featured strong currents but we were fortunate to encounter a hammerhead shark, as well as two wahoo swimming past and a school of five sardines added a dynamic touch to the dive,  Dive 2  The second dive at Gordo Banks also…

Gordo Banks Trip Report – October 2024

4th October Dive 1 – Gordo 2 (Outer Bank):Our first dive of the day was at the outer bank of Gordo 2. We hit a noticeable thermocline at around 80 feet, where the temperature dropped to 74°F. Above the thermocline, the conditions were fantastic—visibility was at least 90 feet, and the water was warm and…

Gordo Banks Trip Report – September 2024

10th September Both dives showcased the unique conditions of Gordo Banks, where the thermocline dramatically changes the underwater environment, influencing both temperature and visibility. Though visibility was not at its best, the presence of sharks and schooling fish made for a rewarding trip. Dive 1 Outer Gordo The highlight of the dive was a close…

Who we are

Laura is the team leader at Cabo Private Guide. After a period traveling the world as a dive center manager she finally settled down in Cabo San Lucas and created a new dive product dedicated to affordable private dive guides for a safer, better experience.

Laura has been a professional diver for 11 years and has over 5000 dives - many of them on deep blue drift dives or with sharks! Laura has a team of Specialty Instructors of equal expertise who are seasoned guides at Gordo Banks. 

Laura has a team of guides of equal expertise for larger groups.

Our Boats and Pangas to Gordo Banks

We use all kinds of vessels from APEX 28ft rigid inflatable boat (RIB) to Super Pangas options with more space. 

If you would like to charter a more luxurious vessel then please get in touch.

We are the number one choice for those with their own boat. Cabo Private Guide will bring equipment directly to you.

825b0f50-6922-431d-938a-54f86cdb3fb8

Get in touch

Location

Plaza Nautica (Local E1) 
Boulevard Marina
Cabo San Lucas – Baja California Sur / México

Contact Us
Phone / WhatsApp (8 am – 5pm) :
+52 (624) 160 9925
OFFICE / BOOKING Hours

MON-FRI 09:00 – 19:00

SAT-SUN 10:00 – 14:00

DIVE TRIP TO GORDO BANKS LEAVES AT 7AM