Scuba diving on Florida's Gulf Coast is a different experience than the rest of Florida's diving destinations. Part of the reason is many people do not recognize where Baja California Sur is and how great scuba diving is there. The name makes many people think of the State of California, not a state in Mexico. Also, when we mention scuba diving in Mexico, most people think of the great diving in Mexico's portion of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, such as Cozumel and Cancun.
Baja California Sur is the southern portion of the Baja California Peninsula, the second-largest peninsula in the world. The west coast of Baja California is the Pacific Ocean, while to the east the peninsula creates the Sea of Cortez with mainland Mexico. To add confusion to many, the Sea of Cortez is also known as the Gulf of California.
Scuba diving Baja California Sur is available year-round, with one of the highest diversity of marine life in the world. Divers will find over 900 species of fish, 2,000 species of marine invertebrates, and 32 marine mammals. One of the reasons for such variety is the mixing of cold water and warm water currents near the southern point of the peninsula.
Where to Dive in Baja California Sur
Most of the diving destinations of the California peninsula are along the coast of the Sea of Cortez and at the southern point where the Pacific Ocean proper, and its sea meet. There are a few dive destinations along the Pacific coast that provide outstanding diving, however, they are not as popular as the Sea of Cortez destinations. There are also two offshore island groups that are very popular and are visited by liveaboard dive boats. Here are the most popular dive destinations.
Los Cabos
While the town of Cabo San Lucas is the most well-known, the area of Los Cabos has three destinations. San Jose del Cabo and the East Cape are also tourist destinations known for scuba diving and snorkeling. Los Cabos is the southern tip of Baja where the Sea of Cortez diverts from the Pacific Ocean. The area provides diving and snorkeling that will meet the needs of any diver or snorkeler. There are sites suitable for beginners to advanced technical divers. There is also a great mix of shore dive sites to balance those that are best visited by a boat. This holds true for both divers and snorkelers. Dive sites are generally separated into four groups, the Cabo San Lucas Marine Park, San Jose del Cabo, The Corridor, and Gordo Banks.
Dave Park at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cabo San Lucas Marine Park is also called the Reserve. This is the most popular scuba diving destination within the Baja Peninsula. Designated a National Marine Park in 1973, the closest dive site is just a few minutes from the marina, with all 6 sites being reached in less than 10 minutes. Each of the sites has their followers, here are a few of the sites:
Lands End: This dive site is the must-do dive if you visit the area. It is located next to the famous “arch” which is recognized as the point between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. You can start your dive in the sea and swim to the ocean. The site is known for large schools of tuna and barracuda, as well as reef fish. A large flat rock above the surface is home to a colony of sea lions, so do not be surprised if a few sea lions swim by to check you out. The dive site ranges from 15 feet (ca 4.5 m) to 70 feet (ca. 21 m) making it available for Open Water Divers depending on currents.
Pelican Rock: This reef site has something for everyone. The reef starts at just 10 feet (ca. 3 m) on a sandy bottom and has a gentle slope down to 70 feet (ca. 21 m). The dive site then turns into a wall, dropping well past the diver's limits. However, deep divers might be interested in a “sandfall” located on a ledge in 90 feet (ca. 27 m) of water. Sand flowing over the edge of the ledge gives the appearance of a waterfall. Marine life is plentiful on the site, and it is protective providing calm conditions.
Neptune's Finger: This dive site has two reefs about 15 feet (ca 4.5 m) deep that drop over a wall hundreds of feet deep. The reefs are rich in marine life with many large species being found.
The Corridor: This is a group of 5 dive/ snorkeling sites that are located between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas with dive centers from both locations visiting here. They start in about 10 feet (ca. 3 m) of water and are generally no deeper than 50 feet (ca. 15 m). Each is in calm protected waters and is teeming with reef fish and some larger fish. Rays and groupers are commonly found. Many of the sites can be reached from shore. These dive sites are not visited as often as those in the marine park.
Gordo Banks: This is a dive destination for advanced divers with deep experience. Located more than an hour's boat ride from San Jose, the Gordo Banks is the top of a seamount reaching up from over 500 feet (ca. 152 m) deep to 120 feet (ca. 37 m) from the surface. The surface of the seamount is the home of many species of marine life and pelagic fish like tuna, manta rays, and sharks visit from the deep.
San Jose del Cabo: There are a number of small dive and snorkeling sites available as shore entries, as well as dive boats to the Corridor and the Gordo Banks.
Cabo Pulmo
Los Cabos is a world-renowned tourist destination that attracts jet-setters, cruise passengers, ex-pats, and backpackers as well as water enthusiasts. The residents of Cabo Pulmo have taken a different approach. Eco-tourism and the protection of their natural resources are of prime importance to them. Located 60 miles (ca. 97 km) north of Los Cabos has no mega hotels, limited nightlife, and limited tourist activities. What they do have since 1995 is the Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park.
If snorkeling or scuba diving is what is most important to you, this may be your destination. The park has 8 dive sites and 3 snorkeling sites that offer pristine conditions for divers and snorkelers.
La Paz
La Paz is the second most popular scuba diving destination in Baja California Sur. The area is often called the World's Aquarium, with 850 species of marine life. The El Bajo seamounts is the go-to spot for pelagic, with humpback whales, sperm whales, hammerhead sharks, dolphins, mobulas, and marlin commonly found. There are 9 primary dive sites, of which 4 are reef sites, 2 are wrecks, 2 are drift dives, and a whale shark refuge for snorkeling only. Whales sharks are numerous November to April. Los Islotes Island has a large sea lion colony, who will join divers. Sea turtles, mobulas and eagle rays are also found year-round in the entire area.
Liveaboards
Those who are looking for a liveaboard experience are in luck. There are about a dozen liveaboards that sail from Baja Califorina Sur year-round. The liveaboards spend most of their time in the Pacific, visiting Socorro Islands. Guadalupe Island is also often part of the itinerary. Guadalupe is known for diving with great white sharks. Each year, over 270 Great Whites migrate to the islands.
When the water gets colder, many of the liveaboards change their itineraries to sail the Sea of Cortez. In addition to offshore sites that can be sailed on day trips, the liveaboards visit seamounts and remote islands in the sea.
When To Dive in Baja California Sur
Baja is a year-round destination, however, when you go will impact what marine life you will encounter, the water temperature, and visibility. July to November offers the warmest waters, generally between 73 to 85f degrees with visibility up to 100 feet (ca. 30 m). While a few whale sharks are found here year-round, this period sees migratory whale sharks in the area. October and November are the peak months for these massive fish.
If you do not mind slightly cooler water, then the humpback whale season might be for you. The water temperature from December to March is in the range of 64 to 68 degrees, which most divers find comfortable in 5 or 7 mm wetsuits. Humpback whales gather in the Sea of Cortez and around the southern tip of the peninsula starting in November. While here, they will calf their young. The mothers stay with their young, and they migrate together in pods from the area when the water starts getting warmer. This season also attracts rays and hammerhead sharks. It is not uncommon to see over a hundred hammerheads in one location. Large colonies of sea lions can be seen year-round. Diving is restricted from June to August at the sea lion colony near Los Islotes for their protection during the mating season.
The marine life is exciting, and you really need to bring an underwater camera or an underwater case for your iPhone.
