Open Ocean Safari and Whale Watching

This open-ocean safari in Cabo San Lucas is interesting because it mixes fast-paced wildlife searching with real time in the water, in the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez. I like that the operation is built around small-group control, with a maximum of 10 travelers. I also like the animal-first message, they emphasize safety for both you and the marine life.

A quick heads up, the ocean does not run on a human schedule. You’re looking at nature, so what you see can vary day to day, and one guest reported an extra wetsuit fee (about $15 USD) when conditions required it.

Key points to know before you go

• Maximum 10 travelers means less chaos, more attention, and more flexibility if wildlife shows up.
• Animal-first encounters are central, with guides focused on respectful, calm interactions.
• Three hit locations: El Arco, Pelican Rock, and the Sea of Cortez.
• You get snorkeling gear, snacks, and bottled water, so you start the day fueled and ready.
• Photos and videos are included, plus you may get extra-quality underwater/drone style footage depending on conditions and who’s guiding.

Why This Cabo Ocean Safari Feels Less Like a Bus Trip and More Like a Marine Hunt

This isn’t a sit-and-watch cruise. You’re out for about 4 hours, starting at 9:00 am, with a strong chance to get in the water and move with the group. The point is to find wildlife and then give you time to experience it up close, without turning it into a circus.

The best part of the format is how it balances searching with calm. You visit recognizable spots along the way, then shift into the open-water and snorkeling portion where sightings can happen. That’s why people walk away talking about variety, not just one lucky whale moment.

If you care about ethics and safety, this tour’s messaging is aligned with what you want in Cabo. They explicitly prioritize the integrity and safety of both the animals and the divers. In practice, that usually means slower, respectful movement around marine life, and more “watch first” behavior before anyone jumps into the fun part.

Price and Value: Does $215 Go Far in Cabo?

At $215 per person, this sits in the mid-range for Cabo wildlife trips, but it’s not just for the ride. You’re also getting snorkeling equipment, snacks, bottled water, and a guide. On top of that, photos and videos of the experience are included, which can save you money and time if you were going to hire a separate photographer.

The small group size is part of the value equation too. With a max of 10 travelers, you generally get more hands-on guidance and better odds of being set up for water time when conditions and wildlife line up.

The one value watch item is the wetsuit possibility. One account mentioned a $15 USD wetsuit fee. The tour may provide snorkeling gear, but if you run cold or the day is breezy, having a little extra budget can keep the day smooth.

Meeting Point at Dock C, What the Schedule Looks Like in Real Life

You meet at Dock C, Marina del Rey Blvd, Centro, 23450 Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico. The activity starts at 9:00 am and ends back at the meeting point, so you’re not stranded across town.

Because the ocean experience depends on weather and marine activity, build in some flexibility. Even when something is confirmed, what you can actually do on the water depends on conditions. That’s not a sales trick, it’s how wildlife tours work, especially around whales.

Also, plan for a practical day rhythm. You’re out for half a day, which means you’ll want to eat something before you arrive even if snacks are provided. Once you’re on the water and then snorkeling, it’s easy to underestimate how fast you burn energy.

Stop 1, El Arco de Cabo San Lucas: Cabo’s Signature Photo Moment Plus Wildlife Context

El Arco de Cabo San Lucas is famous for a reason. It’s the visual anchor of the coastline, so it’s an easy place to set expectations and get those Cabo “I am here” shots. But it’s not only about photos.

This stop can also be a wildlife scouting point. In a whale-focused day, you can sometimes catch cues early, like how calm the surface is, what direction marine life is moving, and whether you should expect more action later.

One detail I love from the guide style here is how photos are handled. In at least one account, a guide named Kyla was patient and took as many pictures as the group wanted at El Arco. That matters because Cabo arches are best when you’re not rushing, and you do not want to settle for one rushed frame.

Stop 2, Pelican Rock: The “Hold Your Attention” Stop for Sea Lions, Birds, and More

Pelican Rock is the kind of stop that makes you pay attention. It’s visually distinctive, and it tends to fit the tour’s rhythm of scanning, repositioning, and then going again.

What I like about Pelican Rock as a stop is the role it plays in keeping the day active. Even if you do not see your biggest whale at that exact moment, the stop helps you understand where the boat is focusing and what the guides consider promising habitat.

You can also expect the broader “Cabo ocean mix” here. The tour’s wildlife list includes sea lions, dolphins, sharks, and more, and the Pelican Rock area is often where you may see signs of that mix before the open-water segment.

Stop 3, Sea of Cortez: Where the Wildlife Odds Tilt Higher and Snorkeling Comes In

Sea of Cortez is where the tour’s energy shifts into the main event. This is where you’re most likely to spend real time looking for whales and then snorkeling for fish and reefs.

The tour describes a range of possible sightings, including underwater Mobula rays. It also calls out dolphins, sea lions, sharks, and other marine life. In real terms, that means you should treat the day like a menu, not a single-item purchase.

A few of the most praised moments were tied to this segment. People highlighted time in the water with whales and dolphins, and then snorkeling afterward with colorful fish and reef life. One account called out everything happening in a single 4-hour window, including cownose rays, dolphins interacting with sea lions, a humpback whale, and even a marlin.

That’s the thing: you can plan on effort, but you cannot plan on specific animal behavior. Breaches, ray sightings, and whale surface time are all weather and movement dependent. If you want a tour that guarantees a specific animal, this probably isn’t the one.

Guides and Ethics: The Teamwork That People Actually Comment On

The most consistent praise centers on guide attitude and animal respect. The tour’s description is clear about integrity and safety for animals and divers, and the accounts put that into everyday terms: calm handling, smart positioning, and knowledge shared in a way that doesn’t feel like a lecture.

Guide names that came up strongly include Nick, Rafa, Alex, and Kyla. One report highlighted Nick and Rafa as an awesome team who made sure there was time to snorkel and still managed whale and dolphin sightings. Another praised Alex for being positive and thoughtful, with lots of effort to locate marine life. And as noted earlier, Kyla was singled out for patiently taking Cabo arch photos.

I take a lot from those names because they point to the same overall strength. You want someone who can read the water quickly, keep the group coordinated, and still respect the space marine mammals use. When that happens, the experience feels both fun and grounded, not hectic.

There’s also a practical side. One account mentioned a guide who had landed in town only recently and was still learning Cabo. They were still described as kind, but it’s a reminder that guide experience can vary from day to day. Your best move is to be flexible and let the team do what they do.

Photos and Video: What’s Included, and How to Get the Most Out of It

The tour includes photos and videos of the experience. That’s a real value add because you don’t need to worry about bringing extra gear or setting up shots while you’re busy watching whales and snorkeling.

In the accounts, people specifically mentioned strong footage, including underwater photography and drone-style capturing. That lines up with the idea of documenting both the wildlife moments and the classic Cabo viewpoints.

How to maximize your own chances:

• Keep your body ready to move quickly when the guide calls it out, especially around water entry.
• Listen for positioning tips so you’re not fighting currents or drifting out of the “where the action is” zone.
• If you care about arch photos, ask for a few more frames when the guide suggests it. One guest described Kyla as taking as many pictures as they wanted at El Arco.

Snorkeling Time and What “4 Hours” Really Means for Your Body

This is a moderate-physical-fitness outing. That usually means you should be comfortable getting into the water, staying calm, and doing short stretches of effort rather than treating it like a slow walk.

One caution from a less perfect day: snorkeling time and ray searching time can be short if wildlife is hard to locate. That same account mentioned only a few minutes in the water for ray-focused searching and returning slightly earlier after not finding much besides whales.

So I’d plan for this as an “opportunity” schedule, not a rigid formula. On an excellent day, you might swim with rays and see whales and fish in the same window. On another day, the whales can be the main story, and the rest of the menu is lighter.

If you’re cool with that tradeoff, you’ll be happier. If you need every box checked, you might feel the wobble when the ocean decides the plot.

Wildlife You Can Expect, and How to Think About Guarantees

The tour lists a wide range of possible animals: Mobula rays, sea lions, dolphins, sharks, and more. The whale component comes through strongly in the feedback, with people calling out humpback whales and grey whales, and even memorable breach moments.

But the most honest way to think about it is this: you can book a tour with expert effort, but the exact showtime is not guaranteed. That’s normal for open water wildlife, and it’s especially true when conditions impact visibility and where animals surface.

If you’re the type who gets stressed when nature won’t cooperate, you’ll want to bring patience. More than one person ended up advising that flexibility is your friend in Cabo.

Who This Tour Suits Best (and Who Might Want a Different Plan)

This safari-style option is a great fit if you:

• Want both wildlife spotting and snorkeling in one half-day block.
• Prefer a smaller group so the guides can manage water time carefully.
• Care about responsible, animal-first interactions.
• Like getting video and photos without doing the “hold your phone like a full-time job” thing.

It’s also a reasonable choice if you can handle moderate physical effort and want an English-speaking guide.

If you’re traveling with service animals, the tour says service animals are allowed, which is helpful for planning.

One group consideration is simple: maximum 10 travelers means you’ll likely get more attention, but it also means the tour might feel more like a coordinated team activity than a casual sightseeing loop.

Should You Book This Open Ocean Safari with Apex Ocean Divers?

I’d book this if your goal is a well-run Cabo wildlife day where the team clearly tries hard to find animals, keeps things respectful, and gives you actual time in the water. The included snorkeling gear, snacks, bottled water, and photo/video package make the $215 price feel more “all-in” than many bare-bones boat trips.

I’d hesitate if you’re the type who needs a guaranteed checklist of specific animals or a guaranteed amount of snorkeling time, because nature can shorten the menu. If you go in with patience and let the day unfold, that’s when this kind of tour tends to deliver the biggest smiles.

FAQ

Where does the tour start, and what time is it?

The tour starts at Dock C, Marina del Rey Blvd, Centro, 23450 Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico. The start time is 9:00 am.

How long is the Open Ocean Safari and Whale Watching experience?

It runs for about 4 hours.

What is the price per person?

The price is $215.00 per person.

What’s included with the tour?

The tour includes snorkeling equipment, snacks, bottled water, photos and videos of the experience, and a guide.

What wildlife might I see?

The experience is designed to offer chances to see underwater Mobula rays, sea lions, dolphins, sharks, and more. The tour also has strong whale-watching potential.

What is the group size limit?

The tour has a maximum of 10 travelers.

Is the tour offered in English, and what fitness level is needed?

It is offered in English, and travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level.