Baja in November/December

[raphaeldpm]

Hi! I'm planning a week of diving in Baja California in late November or early December.

Is that a good time to see whale sharks, hammerheads and/or mantas? I'd love to see at least one of these three. Also, am I guaranteed to dive with sea lions at Los Islotes?

I still haven't decided between Los Cabos and La Paz but from what I read La Paz seems a little better. Any opinions?

Thanks!

 

[Nautilus1]

Baja offers a wide range of dive sites. You will find excellent dives in Los Cabos, La Paz, or Cabo Pulmo. If you dive La Paz or Los Cabos (Gordo Banks), you are likely to see hammerheads. Los Islotes is always fun with the sea lions. In Los Cabos, you can also sea the cliffs of the Submarine Canyon, Sand Falls, and Land's End.

You might consider splitting your time between Los Cabos and La Paz. It is about a 2 hour drive between the two areas. Nautilus Dive Tech offers excursions in both areas. With the exception of Gordo Banks, the dive sites in Cabo San Lucas are all pretty close to the marina (5-30 minutes by boat). In La Paz, the boat rides will be longer.

As far as non-diving activities go, Cabo San Lucas offers a lot to do above water.


Happy Diving

Nautilus Dive Tech Staff


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[loquat149]

I prefer La Paz over Los Cabos, the latter is too developed and touristy. I've made several trips to La Paz, even got married in El Triunfo and honeymooned in Todos los Santos. We've booked dive and fishing trips with Club Cantamar and have dove with whale sharks and scalloped hammer heads, the latter off the sea mount. You might contact Cantamar and check on the season, I've only been there in spring and early summer. If you go to La Paz, be sure to check out the beach at Balandra (see photo).

Club Cantamar - Home

Good luck,
Dave

 

[raphaeldpm]

Thanks! That beach looks amazing Dave!

What about Cabo Pulmo, is it worth it to dive there too? I've seen a video of a guy diving with a Tiger Shark in the area and I read really good things about el Bajo de los Meros.

Can anyone pinpoint the seasons for whale sharks, mantas and hammerheads?

 

[loquat149]

Cabo Pulmonary can be really neat, but the vis wasn't too great when we dove it. El Bajo off La Paz is definitely the ticket, and there's some nice wreck dives around Espiritu Santo, too. You're definitely guarantee to see sea lions.

Dave

 

[raphaeldpm]

Dave, is La Paz/Los Cabos easy to get around by foot and public transport or do I need to rent a car?

thanks again

 

[morecowbells]

I would definitely recommend Cabo Pulmo. I was there in July this year. Water was a little chilly and vis was poor, but the abundant number and size of marine life was amazing. Our dive master informed us that there had been sightings of tiger sharks, but I never saw one. Lots of grouper, snapper and massive schools of fish. I would love to return during the fall season. I hear that is when the whale sharks start visiting and water visibility is supposedly improved.

 

[loquat149]

Dave, is La Paz/Los Cabos easy to get around by foot and public transport or do I need to rent a car?

thanks again

You could get by if you had to with taxis and the dive operators can pick you up from your hotel, etc. However, rental cars aren't too expensive there and provide you the additional freedom of getting out of town to see the sights, like the beaches at Balandra, Coyote, etc. Plus you can take a road trip to Todos Santos, etc. I'd recommend flying into the airport at La Paz, renting a car, staying at a hotel in La Paz, and diving the Gulf with Club Cantamar. Then, drive to Cabo Pulmo for more diving if you have time. I don't like Cabo as there are too many Americans like me there!

Dave

 

[Baja Dive]

Hello from Cabo. The most Important thing about Diving during the winter in South Baja is the weather conditions, The East Cape ,La Paz and Cabo Pulmo tend to be very windy and so conditions are not good most of the Winter.
Cabo San Lucas has the protection of the Bay and its cliffs to protect the local Dive sites from wind and unless its super windy you can always Dive here.
As the water gets cooler in winter the chances of seeing Whale Sharks and Hammer Heads sharks improve.
The Sea lions Colony is a great local Dive at the point here.

 

[thymex01]

Hola Raphael !

My name is Thierry and I organize dive trips in Cabo Pulmo and La Paz. I have more than 10 years scuba diving and guiding in the area.

For whale sharks, La Paz is a great place to see them, they usually gather in the proximity of the bay and we organize snorkel tours to swim with them ( no scuba alllowed with the whale sharks)

November and December offer great dive conditions in Cabo Pulmo, the vis improves a lot from September to december, and the sea life is abundant...I have a couple of videos on my website shot last year in November so you can have an idea of what to find in Cabo Pulmo.

Hammerheads are harder to find, but not impossible : November is a better time, you need to dive in La Paz.

There is a sea lion colony in La Paz, and in Cabo Pulmo as well.

Check my web page and send me an email on Scubaboard or my webpage and I can give you more infs about diving in the area.

Looking forward hearing from you !

Cabo Pulmo diving - Dive trips in Baja California Sur

Thierry