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Dive Review of Sunrider Tours/Las Gaviotas in
Mexico (Western)/La Paz

Sunrider Tours/Las Gaviotas: "Whale Shark Snorkeling", Nov, 2018,

by Kevan Urquhart, CA, US (Reviewer Reviewer 4 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 10778.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 3 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling 3 stars
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments SunRider - likely one of the best in La Paz. They have a nice, new, fast, small catamaran for the snorkeling tours [& a big one for all else] that is easier/faster to exit and enter than everyone else's Pangas. Rental gear [mask, snorkel, fins, shorty wet suit] in good shape, and included in price. Recommend you use the wet suit NOT the life vest. They provide small travel fins. Bring your own power fins/free-diving fins if you have them. Had six group dives on two whale sharks in ~ 20' visibility. This was the first day out after being blown off by high winds for 4+ days, so visibility was less than average. Good Divemaster with solid briefing. Boat could hold 12+ snorkelers, AND has an onboard bathroom and freshwater rinse hose that most others Pangas DON'T likley have. Free beer, sodas, water, fruit, included after the snorkeling is done. I'd go back to do it again with them when there was better visibility and the sharks might be swimming more leisurely.
Las Gaviotas Resort/Hotel - nice middle class place to stay. Clean. basic, slightly worn, large 2-bedroom apartments with kitchen. Secure indoor parking. Nice pool area. Great staff. Good basic breakfast included. Great views of the full bay from your enclosed porch. 1 block off the Malecon. Good restaurants and small markets nearby. 10+ minute walk to Snorkel/SCUBA diving and docks.
Websites Sunrider Tours   Las Gaviotas

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving CA, Puget Sound, Belize, Bonaire, Caymans, Florida, Thailand, Mexico
Closest Airport La Paz Getting There San Jose del Cabo and drive ~2+ hour north, or direct flight into La Paz. Vendor will van shuttle you round trip from Cabo San Lucas or San Jose Del Cabo for an additional fee.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy Seas choppy, no currents
Water Temp 82-84°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 15-20 Ft/ 5-6 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Involves fast swimming in groups of 6 following the Divemaster to get parallel to the path of the sharks, and then try to keep up with them for a short while.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available?

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks 1 or 2
Turtles None Whales None
Corals N/A Tropical Fish N/A
Small Critters N/A Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics 4 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 2 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 1 stars Shore Facilities 1 stars
UW Photo Comments The speed the sharks were moving was infeasible for photography with anything larger than a GoPro. Boat and Divemaster could have handled photo set ups, if you brought them, but no specific spot for it = no photo table. Nothing back at the dock or store front.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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