Marlin Madness in Magbay 2026

22. - 29. November 2026


“This is the wildest trip I have ever done.
After this, regular diving feels boring!”


🫍 Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico
🦭 Small group of 6 people
🐬 No certifications required

Baja California is a jewel in the world of wildlife encounters. The wildest adventure I have ever been to takes place here every year between early November and mid December. For six weeks it seems like the entire ocean adventurer community of the world meets here to head out and search one thing: baitballs!

Join me for a 7-day wild ocean adventure into the sardine run with a small group of adventurers. Trust me, once you have done one sardine run, you want to do it every year!

Overview

The warm waters of Baja California attract huge amounts of sardines and along with them the predators hunting them like striped marlin, California sea lions, dolphins, whales and sometimes sharks. The ocean here is abundant with life and the hunt for sardines provides for an ocean adventure unlike what you have seen before.

When marlin hunt they work together to bring sardines to the surface into tight baitballs. They take turns darting in, using their long bills to stun or spear fish before feeding. During this process, they flash bright stripes to communicate, creating a spectacular display of animal behavior.

The trip

Our primary focus will be finding baitballs with the help of our experienced local captain and crew who know this area better than anyone else. Once we locate a baitball we will try to get the group in the water, just meters away from the action where we will watch marlins dart through the water, sea lions keep the baitball in shape and mahi-mahi shoot in and out of the sardine swarms like rockets.

This trip can be fast-paced. We will be jumping in and out of the water throughout the day, freediving and snorkeling amongst the animals. While baitballs can move quickly, our goal is to find static baitballs for the best viewing experience. This trip will require team work from the entire group as we all need to keep our position in the water in mind while avoiding other groups.

The reward will be the most incredible wildlife experiences you have ever had with dozens of animals hunting right in front of your eyes. This trip will make you feel like having a front-seat in a David Attenborough documentary.

Want to see what this actually looks like? Here are a few highlights from our last Mexico sardine run with some raw moments straight from the water.

The Schedule

We intentionally designed this trip with five active ocean days to maximize our chances. The first time I did this trip myself, we had only three ocean days and after the trip we felt like we could have continued for a few more days even though we had already had epic encounters. 

Day 1: Arrival day

  • Meeting at 10am in Cabo San Lucas we will embark together on the scenic drive to Magdalena Bay, stopping for lunch along the way
  • The journey takes +/- 6 hours from Cabo San Lucas including stops

Day 2 – 6: Ocean Days

  • 5 full days of sardine run madness
  • Light breakfast at 6:30 am
  • Every day we will embark in the early morning around 7:00 am to search for baitballs and along with them all the predators that hunt for the sardines
  • After a wild and adrenaline-packed day we will return to San Carlos between 4:30 – 5:00 pm
  • Group dinner at 6:00 pm including game plan for the next days

Day 7: Departure day

  • Saying goodbye to San Carlos in the morning we head back to Cabo San Lucas
  • To make sure you are able to catch your flight, please avoid booking any flight before 3pm on this day
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What wildlife to expect

After all, you are coming to this trip for the wildlife. Let me tell you that Baja California is one of the best places in the world to encounter marine animals in the wild. However the ocean is unpredictable and no encounters are ever guaranteed. Anyone who guarantees wildlife encounters in the open ocean is lying 🙂

We do expect to see striped marlins, sea lions, mahi mahi and different dolphin species. Sightings of whales are common including humpback whales and other species. In 2023, we saw Bryde’s whales swimming through the baitball – this is a rare moment but it happens every now and then. Yes, you can also see orcas and it happens usually every year for a few lucky groups.

Your best bet is not to expect anything and then see what the ocean has to offer for us. Every year in Magbay is different and anything is possible.

Trip Details at a Glance

  • Location: Puerto San Carlos will be our base which is the gateway to embark to the sea to witness the sardine run
  • Group size: 6 people + local guide
  • Experience level: confident swimmer with snorkeling experience, freediving is not strictly necessary as the action is primarily witness from the surface
  • Surface Conditions: Warm during the day, cool at night
  • Water Temperature: Average 24-26 °C (75-78 °F)
  • Visibility: 15 – 30 meters (50 – 100 ft)

Price & Payment Schedule

Price Per Person: 3,600 USD

  • Deposit to secure your spot: 25% / 900 USD (due immediately)
  • Interim Payment: 50% / 1800 USD (due 6 months before the trip)
  • Final Balance: 25% / 900 USD (due 60 days before the trip)

Early Bird — Free DIVEVOLK Underwater Phone Case

The first two guests on this trip (out of four total spots) will get a free DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 Max Case.

The first two guests to join this trip (out of only four total spots) will receive a free DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 Max case.
This is the exact phone case I use to film most of my underwater content — and it’s the perfect tool for capturing the wild, fast-moving moments we’ll experience during the Magbay sardine run. The case normally sells for $258 USD on DIVEVOLK’s website, and the early bird guests get it included.

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Inclusions & Exclusions

Included

  • Transportation
  • Accommodation (double occupancy)
  • Breakfast and lunch
  • Snacks, water and soft drinks on the boat
  • Final group dinner
  • Equipment if needed
  • Gifts & Freebies 😉

Not Included

  • Airfare
  • Single occupancy supplement: +500 USD
  • Dinners (except final group dinner)
  • Personal expenses
  • Diving insurance
  • Gratuities

Meet your Tripleaders

Tianyang

Adi

I’m a freediver and underwater content creator and I’ve been diving around the world since 2021. What started as curiosity quickly became something much deeper — the ocean is where I feel most calm, present and alive.

This trip feels especially meaningful to me because it’s not just about the diving. It’s a chance to finally meet you in person and experience the ocean together. I can’t wait to share this journey with you, both above and below the surface.

I dive and film animals in the ocean. You will mostly find me behind the camera as my specialty is getting up close to the wildlife in the right moment.

Only late in my diving career that started with scuba, I realized that I can hold my breath for quite some time and this breathold-journey has taken me to a depth of 70m so far.

Ocean safaris are my absolute passion and I am always happy to meet other wildlife enthusiasts on the dive trips we organize.

Let’s go

This trip is limited to a very small group only and it fills fast.

If this kind of wild, unpredictable ocean adventure speaks to you, fill out the form below and I’ll send you the full details for the Magbay trip. Let me know where you’re traveling from as well — I’m happy to help you figure out the best way to get to Baja California.

I’m so excited to take you with me into this wild ocean dream.

Hi, I’m Tianyang 🌊 a freediver and ocean nomad creating underwater stories with my iPhone. Here I share practical guides for shooting beautiful underwater photos and videos, honest diving gear reviews, and simple techniques to help you create underwater images you’re actually proud of.