About

La Paz Divers is a scuba diving center and dive tour operator based in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. It is owned and managed by marine biologist, Jay Gittens.

We provide La Paz diving adventures and snorkel tours with a focus on Isla Espiritu Santo and Isla Partida in the Espiritu Santo National Park and neighbouring islands such as Isla Cerralvo and its islets.

In addition, we offer PADI dive courses in La Paz as follows –

PADI Discover Scuba Diving
PADI Open Water Diver / Junior Open Water Diver
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
PADI Rescue Diver
Emergency First Response (EFR)
PADI Nitrox Diver (speciality certification)
PADI Divemaster (first professional level)

The instructors and divemasters at La Paz Divers are certified PADI professionals with a high level of education and professional training in various fields including marine biology and aquatic safety. Our boat captains are local, highly-experienced and licensed operators with the necessary permits and expertise for working in marine parks and around threatened species. Where possible, we contribute to the conservation of the species and habitats that we visit through awareness, education and collaborative research.

La Paz Divers adopts strict ecotourism and conservation principles to minimize the negative impact on our environment resulting from our activities.

Meet The Team

Jay (Jason) David Gittens is the founder of both La Paz Divers and La Paz Dive Club. He is a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor and Master of Marine Biology originating from London, UK.

After graduating in 2010, Jay moved permanently to Baja, Mexico, settling in La Paz full-time since the year 2013.

Aside from diving and teaching dive courses, he is passionate about using underwater photography and social media to help raise awareness about threatened species and the beauty and fragility of our ocean ecosystems.

Jay’s typical day may include leading a guided dive or snorkel tour, teaching scuba, manning the shop, business admin, and time with family.

Maru (María Laura) Marcías is a biologist and science communicator from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is a PADI Divemaster and staff member of La Paz Divers and Whale Shark Diaries.

Passionate about whales, Maru met the gray whales during a trip to Mexico, fell in love and moved to La Paz to take her master’s degree in marine sciences. Her research focuses on the relationship between ecotourism and conservation with charismatic species such as whales and whale sharks. Her main goal is to contribute to the conservation of the oceans through research, science communication, and environmental education.

Maru uses her knowledge to increase environmental awareness and enrich people’s experience in the water.

Guri Sejzer was born in Israel and moved with his family to Argentina at the age of 10 where he grew up. Among his many varied interests (drawing, electromechanics, martial arts, open water swimming, SCUBA diving, …) Guri decided to develop his passion for lifesaving and public safety, professionally.

Since 2004, Guri has been providing professional services as a lifeguard in the ocean, rivers and lakes and on occasions at pools as well, internationally. He is not only a career open water lifeguard, but also a public safety diver, a non-deco commercial diver, a dive master, a swiftwater rescue technician and a CPR/AED/O2/First-Aid instructor, among other credentials he holds. Guri moved to La Paz, Mexico in 2011 which has been his home base ever since.

Being the founder of GLC Aquatic Safety Dept. (ASD), Guri provides services at public beaches, private resorts, clubs, camps, yachts, marine expedition vessels, private events, sport events and special operations, ASD also provides film set water safety.

Guri teaches all of our EFR® courses (CPR & AED; Primary Care; Secondary Care; Care for Children, Airborne Pathogen Awareness) here at La Paz Divers.

Cris (Cristopher López) is our dive shop apprentice and lover of the ocean and marine life. He graduated high school at the age of 18 as a sport diving technician and acquired some basic underwater skills as a PADI Open Water Diver.

Cris is currently training with the La Paz Divers team to become a PADI Divemaster and later intends to enroll for a degree in marine biology at the local school of marine sciences

Visit our shop

Business hours:

Monday to Saturday 09:00 – 17:00)

Sunday diving only. No retail.

La Paz Divers

Mariano Abasolo #2635 – entre Antonio Navarro y Manuel Encinas

Barrio Manglito

La Paz

23060

Send us a Message

Store Location

La Paz Divers

Mariano Abasolo #2635

(Between Antonio Navarro y Manuel Encinas)

Barrio Manglito

La Paz

23060

Tel: +52 612 197 5824

Email: [email protected]

Business Hours

Monday: 9AM – 5PM

Tuesday: 9AM – 5PM

Wednesday: 9AM – 5PM

Thursday: 9AM – 5PM

Friday: 9AM – 5PM

Saturday: 9AM – 5PM

Sunday: Diving only, no retail

Google Reviews

     Excellent  
     Based on 57 reviews 
    
 
 
   
 
 
        
   Russell Mccallum 
 25. February, 2023.
 
 
  Thank you for the great sea lion experience
My daughter was a little concerned at first being first time out at sea but April our tour guide took her and was terrific
I got a full face yo face with one seal and the beautiful close up of the reef and all of its habitats
My only regret was not bringing a better camera lol
5 stars to Whale Shark Diaries and their team
  
 
       
   Jessy Caron 
 23. February, 2023.
 
 
  La Paz divers was an INCREDIBLE from top to bottom. Jay and his whole crew were professional, super communicative with organizing the trip, easy going and incredibly welcoming. Our Dive Master Abril is responsible for one of the best days of my l life! She was kind, informative, made us feel safe while also giving the space to explore…. and on my part do a little underwater dance with sea lions. Absolute game changer. I will be back from more. I highly recommended them.
  
 
       
   David Emme 
 2. February, 2023.
 
 
  Attentive and thorough open water dive cert course with Jay. Professional instructor and good vibe. I felt safe throughout, and appreciated that there was no free pass.  Jay absolutely required that I demonstrate all the skills to achieve the certs. I think that's the way it should be. Thanks, Jay! I appreciate your expertise and professionalism.
  
 
       
   Sofia Blanchard 
 29. January, 2023.
 
 
  Best diving of my life! Would 100% recommend La Paz Divers to anyone wanting to swim with sea lions, sea turtles, and experience the underwater beauty of the Sea of Cortez.

We had a phenomenal experience with La Paz Divers in November. We started the day early and went directly to the sea lion sanctuary on a tiny island past Isla Espirito Santo and Isla Partida. We saw families of sea lions - mothers watching little babies play in the shallows, and big male sea lions fighting underwater. The highlight of our entire day was when we had the opportunity to meet and play with a group of baby sea lions - they are like curious little puppies! They were nipping at our fins and just wanted to mess around, wrestle, and have fun. A once in a lifetime experience.

After the morning dive we were taken to a beautiful secluded white sands beach to have lunch and relax in the sun. Our second afternoon dive was on a shipwreck known as a sea turtle habitat, and sure enough when we went down we spotted four sea turtles resting on the wreck and getting cleaned by shoals of fish. We were able to swim inside the wreck, and see the coral reef growing inside it along with the vibrant sealife. I felt very safe with our Dive Master Lea who is also a very experienced Dive Instructor.

Not only would I highly recommend La Paz Divers for an amazing diving experience, just know that with Jay and his team you will be in good hands. Our Dive Master was very reassuring and supportive, and she shared a lot of fascinating information about the local wildlife and geography. After the dive, I found I had cut my foot on a rock and Jay picked me up from a cafe later that day and took me to a health clinic to get looked at, and a pharmacy - totally free of charge. Thank you Jay and team, for your amazing support and for a day I will remember for the rest of my life!
  
 
       
   Juliane Müller 
 21. January, 2023.
 
 
  Diving with la Paz divers was ok, however we
We’re missing a lot of communication… like when is the boat leaving, how is the procedure on/after the boat, especially if you have your own equipment etc. Also the first guide we had for the first 2 days did just her job - nothing more. You could feel how she had no fun diving and just wanted it to be over and did not pass on information like food allergies. the second guide however was awesome.
  
 
       
   Valerie Wallace-Tarry 
 21. January, 2023.
 
 
  We were a private group of 8. Our guide, who is a marine biologist , shared excellent information with us about the whale sharks before we dove in to swim along side them. Followed by snorkelling with sea lions, they were so playful, one was very curious about my diving fin as I floated on my back. We felt safe at all times. The cherry on top was ceviche lunch on the beach in a bay of shallow crystal clear water to warm up in the sun. What a wonderful experience!!