Would anyone be so kind to let me know about the busy season for diving in Baja. What the viz is like in winter vs. summer. What is the diving like?
baja california diving
- Thread starter diverkim
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King_Neptune
Founder
diverkim,
Did you have any specific locations in mind?
=-)
Did you have any specific locations in mind?
=-)
OP
I was thinking that Cabo san Lucas would be nice.
King_Neptune
Founder
diverkim,
I know that Diving in that approx. area, Cabo Pulmo, is very well known to be some of the best in the world for the abundant sea life in its protected park, Cabo Pulmo National Marine Preserve. Starting in June through November, the visibility can be exceedingly clear - 100 feet plus!
One of this locations most famous attractions, especially for diving and snorkeling, is it's home to the only living coral reef in Western North America.
In Cabo San Lucas, Medrano beach is the main swimming beach. You can find a lot of watersports there like skin diving, para sailing, jet skies, scuba diving, banana boating, glass bottom boats, rental boats etc.
Santa Maria Bay is also beautiful but to my knowledge there are no facilities for rentals.
At the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula you'll find the famous "lands end" granite archway which plunges into the sea separating the waters of the Sea of Cortez from the Pacific Ocean.
Here is a quick breakdown for the HIGH and LOW Avg. temp in cabo:
Jan. 74H - 57L
Feb. 74H - 57L
Mar. 74H - 57L
Apr. 83H - 60L
May. 83H - 60L
Jun. 83H - 60L
Jul. 94H - 74L
Aug. 94H - 74L
Sept. 94H - 74L
Oct. 87H - 71L
Nov. 87H - 71L
Dec. 87H - 71L
Hope this helps, And Send us pictures!
=-)
I know that Diving in that approx. area, Cabo Pulmo, is very well known to be some of the best in the world for the abundant sea life in its protected park, Cabo Pulmo National Marine Preserve. Starting in June through November, the visibility can be exceedingly clear - 100 feet plus!
One of this locations most famous attractions, especially for diving and snorkeling, is it's home to the only living coral reef in Western North America.
In Cabo San Lucas, Medrano beach is the main swimming beach. You can find a lot of watersports there like skin diving, para sailing, jet skies, scuba diving, banana boating, glass bottom boats, rental boats etc.
Santa Maria Bay is also beautiful but to my knowledge there are no facilities for rentals.
At the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula you'll find the famous "lands end" granite archway which plunges into the sea separating the waters of the Sea of Cortez from the Pacific Ocean.
Here is a quick breakdown for the HIGH and LOW Avg. temp in cabo:
Jan. 74H - 57L
Feb. 74H - 57L
Mar. 74H - 57L
Apr. 83H - 60L
May. 83H - 60L
Jun. 83H - 60L
Jul. 94H - 74L
Aug. 94H - 74L
Sept. 94H - 74L
Oct. 87H - 71L
Nov. 87H - 71L
Dec. 87H - 71L
Hope this helps, And Send us pictures!
=-)
King_Neptune
Founder
diverkim,
Have you planned on or made a trip down there yet?
=-)
Have you planned on or made a trip down there yet?
=-)
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Hi diverkim,
Here's a piece from my "Dive Workshop" column in the September 2000 issue of "Rodale's Scuba Diving" magazine:
"Los Cabos is at the far southern tip of Baja California Sur, Mexico, and consists of Cabo San Lucas, the more developed, touristy city commonly referred to as just Cabo, and nearby, the much quieter, colonial San Jose del Cabo. Los Cabos is not dedicated to diving in the way that destinations such as Cozumel and Grand Cayman are. Rather, it attracts visitors who are looking for nice beaches (La Playita to La Ribera), excellent fishing (good chance to hook a marlin), golf (a Jack Nicklaus-designed 27-hole golf course), or heavy partying (dont miss Squid Roe and Latitude 22).
The Diving
This is not Caribbean diving, so dont expect bathtub-warm water, great vis and dense sponges or coral. Do expect diverse fish life, including a broader variety of butterflyfish and surgeonfish than in the Caribbean.
For a shallow and easy warm up dive, try Chileno Beach. Sites include Chileno Reef, a protected finger reef that starts at the beach and extends out about a half mile, and Santa Maria Cove. Somewhat deeper but easy and still close by are Sand Falls and The Abyss, where you can expect to see sea lions. At times, these sites can be crowded, and are popular with novice divers.
The big draws are Cabo Pulmo Marine Park and Gordo Banks, which are for at least moderately experienced divers due to depth and current. Boat rides to these sites are long, and dive operators charge a premium and require advance booking. You can drive to Cabo Pulmo in about two hours, or fly in on Aero California if youve got the bucks. Theres a dive operator thatll pick you at the landing strip and whisk you off for a day of diving. Cabo Pulmo is a national marine park, and is the only true living coral reef in the area. Sites include El Cantil, The Rock, El Bajo and the more advanced abyssal Los Frailes Trench to the south. Theres a chance youll encounter whale sharks and mantas in this region in season. Plan on diving in the 90- to 100-foot range. At Gordo Banks, well off San Jose del Cabo, hammerheads hang out in season, and bull sharks and dolphin can occasionally be sighted. You can easily go to recreational limits and below.
Dive Conditions
January to May is the winter season. Look for air temps ranging between 70F and 80F, water temps between 65F and 75F, and vis between 30 and 60 feet. June to December is summer season, with air temps between 80F and 95F degrees, water temps between 80F and 85F, and vis between 50 and 100 feet.
Dive Operators
Dive ops in Cabo San Lucas include Amigos del Mar, Cabo Diving Services, Cabo Acuadeportes and Lands End. You may stay at or dive Cabo Pulmo from the Cabo Pulmo Beach Resort, or go with an independent shop such as Pepe's Dive Center.
Where to Stay
There are plenty of accommodations in a variety of price ranges. Plaza Las Glorias is a nice resort right in town on the marina in Cabo San Lucas. The resort has a ferry to Playa Medano, where it has a hotel beach club. Those preferring to avoid the noise, bustle and incessant time-share sales pitches of downtown Cabo San Lucas will want to stay outside of town at places like the mega-resort Westin, all-suites Solmar, or a personal favorite, the small, intimate and not inexpensive Twin Dolphins."
Hope this gets you stared.
DocVikingo
Here's a piece from my "Dive Workshop" column in the September 2000 issue of "Rodale's Scuba Diving" magazine:
"Los Cabos is at the far southern tip of Baja California Sur, Mexico, and consists of Cabo San Lucas, the more developed, touristy city commonly referred to as just Cabo, and nearby, the much quieter, colonial San Jose del Cabo. Los Cabos is not dedicated to diving in the way that destinations such as Cozumel and Grand Cayman are. Rather, it attracts visitors who are looking for nice beaches (La Playita to La Ribera), excellent fishing (good chance to hook a marlin), golf (a Jack Nicklaus-designed 27-hole golf course), or heavy partying (dont miss Squid Roe and Latitude 22).
The Diving
This is not Caribbean diving, so dont expect bathtub-warm water, great vis and dense sponges or coral. Do expect diverse fish life, including a broader variety of butterflyfish and surgeonfish than in the Caribbean.
For a shallow and easy warm up dive, try Chileno Beach. Sites include Chileno Reef, a protected finger reef that starts at the beach and extends out about a half mile, and Santa Maria Cove. Somewhat deeper but easy and still close by are Sand Falls and The Abyss, where you can expect to see sea lions. At times, these sites can be crowded, and are popular with novice divers.
The big draws are Cabo Pulmo Marine Park and Gordo Banks, which are for at least moderately experienced divers due to depth and current. Boat rides to these sites are long, and dive operators charge a premium and require advance booking. You can drive to Cabo Pulmo in about two hours, or fly in on Aero California if youve got the bucks. Theres a dive operator thatll pick you at the landing strip and whisk you off for a day of diving. Cabo Pulmo is a national marine park, and is the only true living coral reef in the area. Sites include El Cantil, The Rock, El Bajo and the more advanced abyssal Los Frailes Trench to the south. Theres a chance youll encounter whale sharks and mantas in this region in season. Plan on diving in the 90- to 100-foot range. At Gordo Banks, well off San Jose del Cabo, hammerheads hang out in season, and bull sharks and dolphin can occasionally be sighted. You can easily go to recreational limits and below.
Dive Conditions
January to May is the winter season. Look for air temps ranging between 70F and 80F, water temps between 65F and 75F, and vis between 30 and 60 feet. June to December is summer season, with air temps between 80F and 95F degrees, water temps between 80F and 85F, and vis between 50 and 100 feet.
Dive Operators
Dive ops in Cabo San Lucas include Amigos del Mar, Cabo Diving Services, Cabo Acuadeportes and Lands End. You may stay at or dive Cabo Pulmo from the Cabo Pulmo Beach Resort, or go with an independent shop such as Pepe's Dive Center.
Where to Stay
There are plenty of accommodations in a variety of price ranges. Plaza Las Glorias is a nice resort right in town on the marina in Cabo San Lucas. The resort has a ferry to Playa Medano, where it has a hotel beach club. Those preferring to avoid the noise, bustle and incessant time-share sales pitches of downtown Cabo San Lucas will want to stay outside of town at places like the mega-resort Westin, all-suites Solmar, or a personal favorite, the small, intimate and not inexpensive Twin Dolphins."
Hope this gets you stared.
DocVikingo
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We're thinking about Baja for a short trip this July. What is in season to see? What are the prices for dive boats and hotels? Any recommendations for dive shops?
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