A striped marlin drives straight into the bait ball as it scatters on impact.
The bait ball: Magdalena Bay's buffet
Every year at the end of the season, massive schools of sardines move offshore of Magdalena Bay. Hunted by everything the ocean has to offer, they pack into a tight ball to survive — a tactic that, most of the time, isn't enough. That's the raw spectacle we go looking for by boat.
Marlin, sea lion and bait ball, all in the same frame — the Sardine Run in one shot.
The striped marlin, surgeon of chaos
The sprinter of the group. Bill first, it charges the ball at full speed, its electric blue stripes lighting up under the effort. One strike is enough to stun several sardines at once. Watching it come at you from a few meters away, you understand immediately who's in charge here.
Seen from above, fins fully spread — the striped marlin in all its glory.
The silky sharks, the close guard
They arrive in groups, silent, circling the ball in tight formation. Curious rather than aggressive — but swimming in the middle of hundreds of silky sharks is still one of the most intense feelings you can have in the ocean.
A school of silky sharks patrols just beneath the surface.
The sea lions, the surprise guests
They're not here for the sardines — well, not only. The local sea lions love crashing the party, diving into the chaos for the fun of it, then zipping off like nothing happened. Sometimes whales show up at the table too.
A sea lion dives down over a small school of fish.
You, right in the middle of it
No tanks here: mask, snorkel, fins — and we jump in the second the action starts. Everything moves fast, and that's exactly what makes it so exhilarating. We stay together, follow the guide's lead, and let ourselves get swept up in this perfectly organized chaos.
Dive With Us tip: Never chase the action — let it come to you. It sets the pace, not you.
A swimmer duck-dives down as a striped marlin passes just below.
When do we go?
Late October through early January — the season shifts slightly each year depending on the schools. Departure at 5am (yes, early — but the ocean doesn't wait for us). Breakfast, lunch and snacks included. 5,100 MXN per person.
Magdalena Bay at first light, before we head out.
Ready to be there?
The Sardine Run isn't your average day on the water — it's a front-row seat to the biggest show in the Pacific. Shall we take you?
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Carolina & Gael
PADI MSDT · Dive With Us BCS
6,000+ dives each, across five oceans. Since 2021, La Paz has been home — and Magdalena Bay their playground.