We Know Because We Go! | Book with a 5-Star Team,| Trusted by 10,000+ Divers
Join Bluewater Travel for one of the most thrilling big-animal experiences in the Pacific, encountering striped marlin hunting bait balls during the sardine run in Magdalena Bay.
Pelagic Encounters
Group Trip
Great for Non-divers
Magdalena Bay, on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, transforms each fall into one of the world’s most exciting marine arenas. During the sardine run, massive bait balls attract striped marlin, sea lions, dolphins, and mobula rays, all hunting in a synchronized frenzy. The bay’s remote location, shallow depth, and typically clear water create ideal conditions for surface encounters and stunning wildlife photography.Â
Snorkeling here is fast-paced and thrilling. Guests launch from small pangas and enter the water quickly to observe marlin streaking through the bait balls, their fins glowing with vibrant colors. With no tanks or deep dives required, the action unfolds just below the surface—offering rare, intimate access to one of nature’s great migrations.
Water temperature will be around 25-27C (77-79F).
Located right in the charming fishing village of Puerto San Carlos on Magdalena Bay, Hotel Alcatraz offers a relaxed, beachfront setting ideal for nature and marine-focused travelers. Guests appreciate its laid-back atmosphere, proximity to local restaurants and the boat ramp, and easy access to the bay—perfect for morning departures and evening returns after snorkeling or fishing .Â
The hotel features simple but clean, comfortable rooms—complete with air conditioning, cable TV, and free Wi‑Fi—with a reputation for friendly, attentive staff and an included American-style breakfast. It is also praised for its value and excellent location right by the sea .
Double-occupancy
$3,750
per person
Single-occupancy
$4,400
Tim grew up in tiny Singapore, where driving for more than an hour meant you would need a passport. Traveling was always his passion, but Tim became addicted to dive travel soon after he got scuba certified in Malaysia. As his diving addiction grew, Tim eventually became a Staff Instructor with PADI and an Instructor Trainer with SDI. After getting his instructor certification, Tim spent time teaching scuba in Malaysia and Vietnam.
Tim serves as General Manager and COO at Bluewater Travel and is the company's most seasoned trip leader. With a portfolio of leading over 30 group trips, his extensive expertise encompasses a variety of popular dive destinations such as the Galapagos, Raja Ampat, French Polynesia, Fiji, the Red Sea, Palau, Maldives, among others. His travels have taken him across all seven continents and allowed him to dive in all five oceans—the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Antarctic.
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