Los Islotes: Here we have a year round colony of over 200 sea
lions that make for enthralling diving and snorkeling as th epups fly around
the divers and tug on fins while you are not looking. On every trip, the
divers tire before they the seals and they buzz around the boat waiting
for the divers to come back and play. A stunning experience made all the
more so with visiting elephant seals and passing dolphins. Diving level:
all. This is a MUST for snorkellers, kids and seniors. Very safe and affordable.
An experience of a lifetime!
Los Isolotes Sea Lion Colony is a great place no matter what your experience.
The Old Sea Lion Colony: There are no longer any sea lions
here -- they left for larger accomodations at Los Islotes -- but this is
a good dive comprised of strange rock formations and marked by frigates
and pelicans nesting on th erock. Diving level: all. Ballandra Bay: This is one of many bays in the area and by
far the most beautiful and most photographed. A great place for long shallow
dives and snorkeling and the study of the millions of species of smaller
fish and crustaceans that inhabit the Sea of Cortez. Backed by mangrove
swamps and the Gigante Mountains, it is a favorite mooring place for small
boats. Diving level: all. Bentory Rock: This small rock on the west of Cerralvo Island
is a great place to find large hanging fish. In the gentlebut constant
current, hundreds of fish hang out collecting dinner as it passes. Large
groupers and legions of jacks mingle with morays and sea turtles to make
a gooddive. Diving level: all.
Roco Lobos: This rock is an excellent beginners dive and a good
second dive spot should the wind pick up and spoil your original plans.
Often home to resting seals on their travels, we find good fish life and
occassional large southern and bulls eye rays buried in the sand. Diving
level: all.
Whale Island: An excellent shallow dive with small caves and
crevices allowing the diver to pop up for air at 10 meters. Good fish life
with free swimming morays, small angel sharks and a chance ofpassing whale
sharks and dolphins. Diving level: all.
The Garden: An unusual dive featuring a garden of rare black
coral. Ranging from 20-40 meters, it is possible to see this rare and prized
coral. Strong currents at all times. Diving level: all.
Diving in the Sea of Cortez can be a spectacular experience with many opportunities
to see some
of the natural wonders of the undersea world. Whale sharks, hammerhead schools,
gentle manta rays,
coral reefs, huge pods of dolphin and pilot whalesawait you under the beautiful
Sea of Cortez.
Pulmo Reef: One of only two Eastern Pacific coral reefs on the
west coast of the Americas. Great for shallow diving and snorjeling. Imagine
an expanse of SOLID staghorn coral 50 feet wide and half a mile or so long,
in 20 feet of water. The edges of it are loaded with big green morays, rays,
etc.
Isla Espiritu Santo (near La Paz): One (Los Islotes) is near
a group of small rocky islands at the northern tip of Espiritu Santo. A
colony of sea lions live there, and they like to play with divers. Excellent
scenery both above and below the surface. On the way out you may encounter
a group of perhaps 200 dolphins, which may swim around the boat.
Gordo Bank / Embudo Bank (El Bajo): These are serious, deep,
blue water dives. The Embudo Bank comes to within 60' of the surface while
Gordo Banks are within 70 feet. Both drop off into the abyss that makes
up the Sea of Cortez. This is where the hammerhead schools are.
El Bajo (pronounced: ba-hoe), translates as The Shallows. El Bajo is about
60 ft deep at the shallowest, and typically about 120 feet. It's about 1/4
mile in diameter. It is the flat top of amountain that raises up 2000+ feet
from the floor of the Sea of Cortez. Large pelagics come there to feed.
The scalloped hammerhead shark is a loner of an animal in the open sea.
No one knows why they school at El Bajo. They aren't feeding, they do that
solo at night, returning to school again during the day. Nor are they breeding.
That too is a (almost) solo act. The warmer water months, Aug and Sept send
the sharks deep and sometimes off El Bajo. June is better and Oct and Nov
are best for shark viewing. It can be a little un-nerving to turn and see
a twelve foot animal slowly coming at you. El Bajo has seen heavy fishing
activities for generations. The locals will be out in the middle of the
Sea of Cortez in little boats, fishing with poles. They find El Bajo by
the choppy surface water. Other fish seen at El Bajo include manta, marlin,
rooster fish and whale sharks if they choose and even bull sharks (Jaws)
a couple times a year.
El Bajo is closer to La Paz, which has better diving than Cabo San Lucas.
The best way to see El Bajo is from a live
aboard. Day trips also go there.
A popular snorkeling destination, Bonanza Beach near La Paz on
Isla Espirito Santos awaits, beckoning visitors like a shining jewel
in the Sea of Cortez.
Many other wonders can be found in one of the world's best dive destinations:
the Sea of Cortez and La Paz.