Location: Cancun, Mexico
Sailfish Baitball Diving Expedition
Free dive on baitballs surrounded by the most elegant hunters in the sea!
World Class Sailfish Encounters
In the winter months, baitfish mass in their hundreds of thousands on the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula. Relying on the concept of ‘safety in numbers’ the baitfish form huge bait balls that are slowly wittled down by huge aggregations of sailfish and other large pelagics.
We will be staying in an oceanfront hotel in northern Cancun because it is close to the ‘feeding grounds’ and surrounded by warm water that make chasing sailfish that much more enjoyable and your images that much more spectacular!
Staying on the mainland (as opposed to Isla Mujeres) also gives us access to bull shark diving, cenotes and other options if we have any ‘weather days’ which are not uncommon at this time of year.
Other Pelagics
Because Isla Mujeres is a pit stop for many other large pelagic species it is sometimes possible to jump in with manta rays, sharks and schooling golden rays. This is a destination that really delivers.
Leave Your Dive Gear at Home
The ocean may be deep but the sailfish corral the baitfish to the surface which acts like a wall that the helpless fish cannot breakthrough. Once the baitfish form a defensive baitball, swarms of gulls swoop down and dive like missiles into water to snatch fish. That is the visual signal that we look for to find the action. Slipping quickly but quietly below the waves is the best way to approach the sailfish and to keep up with them as the baitfish frantically dash from one spot to the next. Using scuba creates so much drag that it is tough to keep up with the sailfish and the noise of the bubbles makes it difficult to approach them. This is why we dive with nothing more than a wetsuit, mask, snorkel and fins.
THE ENCOUNTER
Freediving with sailfish feeding on baitballs
NO TRIPS SCHEDULED
DETAILS
ACCOMMODATION
Lagoon front hotel (for easy boat access) in Cancun.
EXPERIENCE LEVEL
Snorkeling experience only
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- 4 days of chasing baitballs and free diving with sailfish and other pelagics and 5 nights hotel accommodation
- Light breakfast
- Lunch onboard
- Transfers to/from Cancun International Airport
Photo © Andy Murch
Photo © Andy Murch
Photo © Andy Murch
Photo © Andy Murch
WHY COME WITH BIG FISH EXPEDITIONS?
Sailfish are ellusive animals that are easily spooked by large groups of divers. You need a fast boat and an experienced crew to find the baitballs and drop you into the middle of the action. The boat usually holds 12 divers but we are limiting the expedition size to seven guests only so that there are only four divers in the water at any given time. If you want to spend long days out in the blue chasing sailfish and then zip directly back to your beachfront hotel, then join me for the sailfish encounter of a lifetime!
Ready to sign up or have a question about this trip?
Contact Big Fish about this Expedition
Big Fish Expeditions
Big Fish Expeditions Founder Andy Murch has spent the last two decades chasing big animals all over the world. Few people have Andy’s knowledge and organizational skills necessary to put together a professional expedition. Have a look through some of the comments from our guests: testimonials.
Guest Feedback
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TIME WITH BIG FISH EXPEDITIONS
Andy is one of the best in the business. I would highly, highly recommend anyone interested in an animal focused trip to go with big fish expeditions.
The quality of experience and knowledge of the trip leader really sets them apart. Expect to get your fill of animals no matter what the trip is. Andy is also great at finding other animals to incorporate within the trips.
If you’re looking for a shark trip or big animal experience, this is your place. Period.
Enjoy!
Jesse B.
Ontario, Canada
BIG FISH EXPEDITIONS
I have been on a couple of Big Fish Photography Expeditions trips now. They are always well organized, and exceed my expectations! Andy puts together unique and action-packed trips. I’m looking forward to my next dive experience with him.
Trisha S.
Vancouver, BC
ANOTHER GREAT ADVENTURE WITH BIG FISH EXPEDITIONS
Just returned from my second trip with BFE and it went off perfectly. The true adventure of these trips always present challenging logistics but they pulled it off flawlessly. I would highly recommend BFE to anyone looking to get “off the grid” and experience a wildlife trip of a lifetime. I am looking forward to my next adventure with them. Thanks again!!
Scott O.
Detroit, Michigan
ABOUT BIG FISH EXPEDITIONS
5 stars!
I’ve been on three trips with Big Fish Expeditions. Each one was well organized and jam packed with unique wildlife encounters. I am booked for another trip next year and for many more to come. Highly recommended!!
AMAZING TRIPS
Amazing trips, just finish my 7th with Big Fish Expeditions, many more to come! 
Sene M.
Canada
GO. YOU WILL NEVER REGRET IT!
I have been on 3 Big Fish Expeditions trips by now and have more trips to look forward to in the near future. First of all I share a big passion for sharks, whale and other big marine life and Big Fish Expedition is all about that. As an amateur photographer is great to be among equals and even better to get new tips and ideas from professionals.
Andy is very helpful showing new tricks and talk about UW photography in between dives. Sure the destinations offers world class diving but it’s also about the people and the relation to people and Andy surely gives everyone the feeling of being very welcome and try to give everyone a lifetime experience.
Another good thing is that Andy is maybe the only pro shooters who offers trips to very reasonable prices. I won’t go into details about all the good dives I’ve done with Big Fish but instead say GO, you will never regret it!
Br, Rasmus Raahauge
Denmark
