Whale sharks in your face. Mantas circling above your head close enough to touch. Sea lions dive bombing and nipping at your fins. Hammerhead sharks. Morays, morays, morays. Jacks and barracudas schooling. Dolphins. Giant jawfish found nowhere else. 100+ vis. Bathtub warm water. Bright blue skies and calm blue seas. Exotic. Exciting. Jacques Cousteau called it "The World's Greatest Aquarium." And it's less than a 3 hour flight from Los Angeles!

It's the Sea of Cortez, La Paz!

Diving the Sea of Cortez may be the best-kept secret in the dive travel business. It is the largest natural sanctuary and ecological preserve in all of Mexico. We have been there many times and always enjoyed it but the last two years we went in the fall and dove with James Curtiss' Cortez Club and were blown away by the service, the staff, and the diving!

For 2006 we have scheduled a series of long weekend trips and full-week trips so you, too, can experience the greatness that is La Paz diving.

La Paz is the state's capital and the largest city south of Tijuana on the Baja Peninsula. Surrounded by barren desert, the city is set amid ancient laurel trees and coconut and date palms. Its waterfront promenade is one of Mexico's prettiest. A few blocks inland is the city's main square, the Jardín Velasco with its pink quartz gazebo, tile walkways and 19th century cathedral. La Paz is unspoiled, unhurried, charming. You can indulge in delicious local cuisine and dance until the wee hours, shop for authentic Mexican arts and crafts, kayak alongside friendly whales, and, of course, scuba dive.

Our host in La Paz is James Curtis, owner of The Cortez Club. The Cortez Club is everything a dive operation should be. The unsurpassed service is geared toward a hassle-free and relaxing dive experience. You will find all your equipment waiting for you on the boat in the morning, which will be moored at the private jetty. During the day, all your equipment will be set up for you, unless you wish to do it yourself. At the end of the day, just stroll up to our Sunset Bar to order your favorite drink, while your equipment is unloaded, rinsed in fresh water and stored, ready for the next day of spectacular diving.

The Cortez Club fleet includes 36-foot motor yacht, custom-built rigid inflatables, and motor boats designed specifically for divers. The divemasters are courteous, considerate, and quite knowledgeable about the area and the marine life. They ensure that every dive is a great experience.

We will be staying at the brand-new Fiesta Inn at the Marina Costa Baja, La Paz's newest and most impressive resort community on the northeast shore of La Paz Bay. It is only eight minutes from downtown La Paz and only 20 minutes from the international airport. The Fiesta Inn is a luxurious four-story hotel overlooking the sea and mountains, and features contemporary décor, private balconies, cable television, high-speed Internet access, a lap pool and exercise room, and a host of other welcome amenities. On demand golf cart service ferries you to and fro the Marina, a sparkling little village unto itself with restaurants, shops, galleries, even a medical center and supermarket.

You can opt to stay at the Marina in one of the luxurious new one-bedroom or two-bedroom condos. For more on these accommodations, click Accommodations

• Click Here for a Video of the Facilities at Marina Costa Baja