La Paz is the most popular dive area in California Sur and with good reason. It also has a reputation for whale sharks. During the summer and autumn, there is an excellent chance of swimming with the largest fish in the world, who generally move south as the season advances.  La Paz was put on the map in the 1980s by the scalloped hammerhead,  when divers could meet massive schools off El Bajo and Las Animas, but nowadays these schools have been replaced with occasional hammerhead action. During the winter mobula rays are common and manta rays are also occasionally sighted. Another big draw is the friendly sea lion colonies,  presenting fantastic photo opportunities. Sea Lions are found in a number of places in the Sea of Cortez, but the best is at Los Islotes.
​
Other often-seen marine life includes huge schools of jacks and baitballs, tuna, wahoo and lots of other fish, dolphins, eels, jawfish, and rays. Macro life can also be good, including nudibranchs, shells and various crabs and shrimp.