SFScuba
Guest
Hello all,
We just returned from Cabo San Lucas and had a great time while we were down. I wanted to provide a trip report since so many others have helped us plan our dive trips.
Dates: 10/9/2005 - 10/11/2005
Location: Cabo San Lucas
Dives :3 2-Tank Dives/1 per day
Dive Center: Underwater Diversions De Cabo
The Diving
We stayed local on our dives and did not do a Cabo Pulmo day (which I hear is amazing). Most of our dives were around the Land's End area: Pelican Rock, North Wall, Neptune's Finger, Land's End/Sea Lion Colony. These dives are all literally 5 minutes from the dock. We also did one trip across the bay to the Blow Hole.
Visability was good on the first day, 40-60, diminishing over the next two days. We saw a lot of eels, a few lobsters, a spider crab? (I'll post a picture to get it identified properly), a frog fish, scorpion fish, and a lot of the other usual sea life. There is also a shipwreck at the point of Land's End (spread out, not the kind you swim into) which was the first wreckthat we have seen.
When we dove Blow Hole, overall, probably the least favorite dive of the trip there was a strong current and not much to see on the drift dive. However, my wife who was the first in the water spotted a manta on this dive which made all the difference.
The Dive Shop
Ivan was our divemaster who was real friendly and laid back. We brought mask/fins/snorkel and rented the rest of the gear. The BCs were Aqualung and looked brand new, as were the wetsuits. I can't remember what the regulators were, but nobody had any problems with them. Underwater Diversions opened the shop for us on a Sunday (we had a group of 5), a day they are normally closed. They are also the only shop besides Manta that responded to my emails.
Underwater Diversions saved us about $100 US per diver over the course of 3 days ($190 including all rentals vs almost $300). We saw the other operators out there (Manta Divers, Tio Sports, Amigos del Mar) mentioned on this board and all their boats looked comparable.
General Notes
One note for those that have not been to Cabo San Lucas. I was trying to decide on a shop "close" to the hotel (we stayed on Playa Medano) verses saving a little money for a recommended operator that was farther away (in the Marina). There really is no such thing as far away. Underwater Diversions was a 5 minute drive from Medano Beach and there was free parking next door. You could walk there if you wanted, but it's about 15 minutes walk (easy if you're not schlepping gear). Tio Sports is located right in front of Melia San Lucas, Manta Divers is about 5 doors down, near "The Office" which is a must stop on the food/bar front. The shops tend to head out later (meet at 9:30 leave at 10:00) because the local dives are so close.
There are plenty of places along the Marina to grab a cheap pre-dive breakfast. If you wander off the resorts, most of the beach bars have 2X1 drink specials all day long. NickSan is a must visit if you like sushi. Some of the best we've had. Be sure to ask about any fresh local fish that isn't on the menu.
A note on locations: we stayed at the Melia San Lucas which was great, but currently undergoing rennovations to its lobby slated to finish by Dec. Staying in any hotel along Playa Medano is great for location. It's one of the only swimmable beaches in Cabo.
We rented a car (economy car) for $80 ($130 after insurance) which was cheaper than taking a roundtrip cab and much faster than a bus/shuttle. It's about 40 minutes drive from the airport to downtown Cabo. It was also nice to have a car down there.
-George
side note: If Terry and Laurie (husband/wife) from Wisconsin are out there, I have some pictures and forgot to get your email address on our last dive.
We just returned from Cabo San Lucas and had a great time while we were down. I wanted to provide a trip report since so many others have helped us plan our dive trips.
Dates: 10/9/2005 - 10/11/2005
Location: Cabo San Lucas
Dives :3 2-Tank Dives/1 per day
Dive Center: Underwater Diversions De Cabo
The Diving
We stayed local on our dives and did not do a Cabo Pulmo day (which I hear is amazing). Most of our dives were around the Land's End area: Pelican Rock, North Wall, Neptune's Finger, Land's End/Sea Lion Colony. These dives are all literally 5 minutes from the dock. We also did one trip across the bay to the Blow Hole.
Visability was good on the first day, 40-60, diminishing over the next two days. We saw a lot of eels, a few lobsters, a spider crab? (I'll post a picture to get it identified properly), a frog fish, scorpion fish, and a lot of the other usual sea life. There is also a shipwreck at the point of Land's End (spread out, not the kind you swim into) which was the first wreckthat we have seen.
When we dove Blow Hole, overall, probably the least favorite dive of the trip there was a strong current and not much to see on the drift dive. However, my wife who was the first in the water spotted a manta on this dive which made all the difference.
The Dive Shop
Ivan was our divemaster who was real friendly and laid back. We brought mask/fins/snorkel and rented the rest of the gear. The BCs were Aqualung and looked brand new, as were the wetsuits. I can't remember what the regulators were, but nobody had any problems with them. Underwater Diversions opened the shop for us on a Sunday (we had a group of 5), a day they are normally closed. They are also the only shop besides Manta that responded to my emails.
Underwater Diversions saved us about $100 US per diver over the course of 3 days ($190 including all rentals vs almost $300). We saw the other operators out there (Manta Divers, Tio Sports, Amigos del Mar) mentioned on this board and all their boats looked comparable.
General Notes
One note for those that have not been to Cabo San Lucas. I was trying to decide on a shop "close" to the hotel (we stayed on Playa Medano) verses saving a little money for a recommended operator that was farther away (in the Marina). There really is no such thing as far away. Underwater Diversions was a 5 minute drive from Medano Beach and there was free parking next door. You could walk there if you wanted, but it's about 15 minutes walk (easy if you're not schlepping gear). Tio Sports is located right in front of Melia San Lucas, Manta Divers is about 5 doors down, near "The Office" which is a must stop on the food/bar front. The shops tend to head out later (meet at 9:30 leave at 10:00) because the local dives are so close.
There are plenty of places along the Marina to grab a cheap pre-dive breakfast. If you wander off the resorts, most of the beach bars have 2X1 drink specials all day long. NickSan is a must visit if you like sushi. Some of the best we've had. Be sure to ask about any fresh local fish that isn't on the menu.
A note on locations: we stayed at the Melia San Lucas which was great, but currently undergoing rennovations to its lobby slated to finish by Dec. Staying in any hotel along Playa Medano is great for location. It's one of the only swimmable beaches in Cabo.
We rented a car (economy car) for $80 ($130 after insurance) which was cheaper than taking a roundtrip cab and much faster than a bus/shuttle. It's about 40 minutes drive from the airport to downtown Cabo. It was also nice to have a car down there.
-George
side note: If Terry and Laurie (husband/wife) from Wisconsin are out there, I have some pictures and forgot to get your email address on our last dive.
