Baja California Sur, Mexico · November–December 2027
Into the heart of the
Mexican Sardine Run.
Magdalena Bay Sardine Run
Six days at the edge of Baja. A front-row seat to one of the ocean’s extraordinary gatherings.
01 / The experience
There’s wild.
Then there’s
Mag Bay.
The water shifts. The bait ball tightens. A striped marlin appears out of the blue.
Each fall, sardines and Pacific mackerel gather off Baja’s Pacific coast, drawing an extraordinary cast of ocean life. We head out early, follow the wildlife, and let each day unfold on the ocean’s terms.
We’ve spent nearly a decade refining this trip, from the first pickup to the last dinner. Our captains, guides, photographers, and chef work closely together so you can settle in, feel looked after, and enjoy being here.
Our local captains grew up in Mag Bay and are exceptional guides in their own right. Reading the birds, currents, and wildlife takes a lifetime on these waters. Their knowledge and the way they work with our in-water team make all the difference.
Every day is a different story
Follow the
unexpected.
From marlin hunting bait balls to dolphin superpods, every day brings a new reason to keep your eyes on the water.
Around the sardine run
- Striped marlin Hunting bait balls
- Sea lions
- Seabirds
- Sailfish & mahi-mahi
- Bryde’s whales
- Pelagic sharks Including silky and mako sharks
- Dolphins Pacific white-sided, bottlenose, and superpods of common dolphins
Beyond the bait balls
We’re here during the humpback whale migration, and the possibilities extend well beyond the sardine run.
- Humpback whales With chances to see them breach
- Orcas & false killer whales (false orcas)
- Mobula ray migrations
- Sea turtles
And there’s always the possibility of something unexpected. Wildlife is free-ranging; species, sightings, and opportunities to enter the water are never guaranteed.
A little closer to the wild
Ocean days.
Island nights.
Five nights at our island house put you close to the action, with an early start on the water and a welcoming place to return to. Hot showers, Starlink Wi-Fi, and a sky full of stars make it easy to settle into island life.
A private chef. Food you’ll talk about.
Our incredible private chef is a huge part of the experience. From breakfast before we head out to fresh guacamole after a long ocean day and delicious dinners together, you’ll be very well fed. Bring your appetite; we’ll take care of the rest.
Two professional guides/photographers join every expedition, with a focus on each guest’s experience. From your time in the water to the moments shared on board, we work to capture you in the adventure. Your photos and videos are included and shared with you.
View full image
From past expeditions
A glimpse of
life in Mag Bay.
The wildlife, the people, and the moments in between. Open a photo to step inside the trip.
02 / Your journey
Six days.
A different rhythm.
From the road through Baja to long days on the Pacific. We handle the arrangements so you can settle into the adventure.
Arrive in Los Cabos
Fly into San José del Cabo (SJD) one day before your expedition. Stay at or near Hyatt Place Los Cabos so you’re ready for our morning departure. Your hotel and meals before the expedition are not included.
The road to Magdalena Bay
Our planned meeting is 7 AM at Hyatt Place Los Cabos, reconfirmed before travel. Allow 6–7 hours for the drive via La Paz to Puerto San Carlos, including lunch and rest stops, followed by the boat transfer to Magdalena Island. Settle in for dinner, introductions, and a trip briefing.
Wake up. Head out. Be amazed.
Four planned days searching for bait balls and wildlife with our captains and guides. We stay flexible, following conditions and the action.
Back to Los Cabos
Depart the island around 7 AM, with a planned return to Hyatt Place Los Cabos around 3 PM. We recommend one extra night before flying home. La Paz drop-offs and same-day flights need to be coordinated with us in advance.
Times are approximate. Weather, wildlife, and safety decisions may change the itinerary or prevent a day on the water. Your booking confirmation will include meeting and transfer details.
03 / Taken care of
Less planning.
More presence.
The transfers, boats, island stay, meals, and photography are arranged as one trip. With a team that knows the routine and each other, you can focus on the experience.
+ Included in your expedition
- Round-trip scheduled Cabo–Puerto San Carlos transportation
- Boat transfers between Puerto San Carlos and Magdalena Island
- Five nights at the island house
- Four planned days on the water, with captains and guides
- Meals throughout the expedition, with a private chef on the island: 5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 5 dinners
- Snacks on boat trips and van rides
- Water and non-alcoholic beverages with meals
- One complimentary beer per person with each dinner
- Professional photos and videos of your experience
− To arrange separately
- Flights to and from San José del Cabo
- Your hotel and meals before the expedition, plus any extra nights afterward
- Travel insurance and dive accident insurance
- Gratuities for captains and crew
- Rental gear, if needed
- Personal camera equipment and any customs charges
Have dietary needs or questions about participating? Tell us when you inquire so we can plan with you.
04 / Make it your next adventure
The ocean
is calling.
Reserve your 2027 spot with just $500 down.
Your $500 USD non-refundable holding deposit per person secures your reservation and counts toward the total trip price.
Available when booking more than six months before departure, once we’ve confirmed availability.
6 days · 5 nights · Up to 10 guests
Choose your dates and send us an inquiry. We’ll personally confirm availability and help you take it from there.
Ask us about your trip ↗2026 expeditions · Sold out
Availability is confirmed personally. An inquiry does not hold a space; your reservation is confirmed after payment and written confirmation.
Your 2027 payment schedule
For reservations made more than six months before departure. All amounts are per person in USD.
-
To reserve
$500
Non-refundable holding deposit, credited toward your trip.
-
Six months before departure
$1,250
An additional payment, bringing your total paid to $1,750 (50%).
-
Three months before departure
$1,750
Your remaining balance.
Booking closer to departure? Between three and six months out, 50% is due at booking. Within three months, full payment is due at booking. We’ll confirm your exact amounts and deadlines before you pay.
Good to know
A few details
before you go.
Get a feel for life on the island and find the practical details for planning your trip. Open any question below.
The experience & island life
Do I need diving experience?
This is a snorkeling and freediving expedition, with all experience levels welcome. Prior ocean and snorkeling experience is helpful, though not a formal prerequisite. You should be comfortable swimming in open water; tell us about your experience and any concerns before booking so we can discuss whether the trip is a good fit.
A Level 1 freediving course is recommended if you plan to dive below the surface. Training can help build confidence, but doesn’t guarantee closer wildlife encounters.
How active are the days, and what boats do we use?
Expect long, active ocean days with repeated entries and exits from the water. We may travel up to 50 miles and spend up to 10 hours on the boat searching for wildlife.
We use Mexican-made pangas, well suited to quick water entries. Rides can be bouncy, particularly in afternoon conditions. Tell us about medical conditions, mobility concerns, or back injuries before booking, and follow the crew’s briefings and directions throughout the trip.
What is the accommodation like?
We spend five nights at our island house on Magdalena Island. Staying here gives us an early start close to the action, with time to relax together when we return. The house has hot showers and Starlink satellite internet.
It’s a remote island setting, with ocean days, shared meals, and evenings to recharge. Ask us about room arrangements when you inquire.
What is the food like? Can you accommodate my diet?
Our private chef is one of the highlights of island life. Expect freshly prepared meals, snacks after the boat, and delicious group dinners. The expedition includes 5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 5 dinners, plus snacks on boat trips and van rides, water and non-alcoholic drinks with meals, and one complimentary beer per person with each dinner.
Let us know ahead of time about vegan, vegetarian, keto, gluten-free, or other dietary needs. For allergies, including severe nut allergies, contact us before booking so we can confirm what can be accommodated. Please don’t assume an allergen-free kitchen.
Are photos of me included? Should I bring a camera?
Yes. Two professional guides/photographers are with you on the boats and in the water, making a point to photograph each guest and capture the experience from your perspective. Photos and videos are included and shared with you. Wildlife and conditions shape what we can capture, so specific images aren’t guaranteed.
You’re welcome to bring your own camera, but it’s optional. Protect equipment from salt, spray, and movement, and bring only what you need. Mexican customs may inspect equipment and apply charges; check current official guidance for your camera kit, housings, and any drone before travel. Carry an equipment inventory and proof of value. Personal equipment and customs charges are your responsibility.
How do weather and wildlife affect the trip?
Our local captains combine years on these waters with constant radio communication, working closely with our guides to find activity. We adjust plans to the weather, wildlife behavior, and how the group is feeling. No particular species, sighting, behavior, or opportunity to enter the water is guaranteed.
We plan four days on the water, but conditions may change the schedule, shorten a day, or prevent us from heading out. Captains and crew make the final safety decisions. Four planned days do not guarantee four completed days. See the expedition terms for weather and itinerary policies.
Planning your trip
Where do we meet, and how do we reach the island?
Fly into San José del Cabo (SJD) the day before the expedition. Stay at or near Hyatt Place Los Cabos; our planned meeting is 7 AM in the lobby on Day 1. We’ll reconfirm the meeting arrangements before you travel.
The drive via La Paz to Puerto San Carlos takes about 6–7 hours, including food and rest stops. Loading and the boat transfer to Magdalena Island are additional. Scheduled ground and island transfers are included. If you fly into La Paz, arrange a pickup with us in advance.
Can I fly home on the final day?
We strongly recommend staying one extra night. The usual plan is to leave the island around 7 AM and return to Hyatt Place Los Cabos around 3 PM. A La Paz drop-off can be arranged en route. Times are approximate.
If you need a same-day flight, speak with us before booking it. An early departure in the second/luggage van may be possible. Allow roughly 6–7 hours by road to SJD or 4–5 hours to La Paz, plus island-transfer and airport check-in time. Choose a late flight only after we confirm the connection is workable.
What should I pack, and can I rent gear?
Bring a full wetsuit, mask and snorkel, and fins. A 3/2 mm wetsuit is recommended; consider 5 mm if you get cold easily. A 2/2 mm spring suit is optional.
2027 rentals: wetsuit $80 USD per week; mask $30 USD; fins $30 USD. Send your gear needs and sizes well in advance so we can confirm availability.
- Refillable water bottle, reef-safe sunscreen, and a beach towel or towel poncho.
- Layers for warm days and cool mornings and evenings, plus a wind or rain jacket for boat rides.
- A Dryrobe or similar waterproof changing robe for warmth, and dry bags for electronics and dry clothes.
- An optional coffee/tea mug and your own camera with protective storage, if you’d like.
How do I reserve, and which payments do you accept?
Send your preferred dates and each attendee’s full name and phone number. We’ll confirm availability before you pay. For 2027 bookings more than six months ahead, the $500 USD non-refundable holding deposit per person counts toward the $3,500 trip price. Pay an additional $1,250 six months before departure, then the remaining $1,750 three months before departure.
Between three and six months out, 50% is due at booking; within three months, full payment is due. Your reservation is confirmed after payment and written confirmation, which states your exact amounts and deadlines.
- Venmo: @tanner-mansell (U.S. guests)
- Zelle: 707-245-6789 (U.S. guests)
- Wise: @tannerunderwaterLLC (international guests)
- PayPal and bank transfer: details on request
We prefer these options to help avoid additional processing fees. Tell us which method you used after paying so we can confirm receipt.
What are the cancellation and insurance arrangements?
Guest cancellations and unused services are non-refundable, subject to applicable law. Date changes and replacement guests require written approval. Different provisions apply if our team cancels the entire expedition; review the full booking terms before paying.
We strongly recommend travel insurance and suitable dive accident coverage, such as DAN. Confirm that your policy covers your planned boating, snorkeling, and freediving, emergency medical care and evacuation, and relevant cancellation, interruption, and delay risks. Insurance does not guarantee reimbursement.
Read expedition terms ↗How do we stay in touch before the trip?
We’ll add confirmed guests to their trip’s WhatsApp group six months before departure to share travel logistics, weather updates, wildlife sightings, and answers to your questions.
Before travel, send us any missing attendee details, arrival and departure plans, rental needs and sizes, dietary requirements, allergies, and relevant participation concerns. Flag La Paz transfers and same-day flights early so we can coordinate everything.
- Tanner · main guide / photographer: +1 707 245 6789
- Carlos · Explora Baja logistics: +52 612 203 0099
- Email: info@tannerunderwater.com
Tanner Underwater · Magdalena Bay
Come for the ocean.
Leave with a story.