Ideas for Diving Cabo san Lucas?

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JustinW

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I will be going to Cabo in september. I want to do some diving and possibly some spearfishing if that is any good. Are there any shore dives? are there any good boat dives? I"ve heard about the banks and stuff, I just want to check it out. Any ideas or suggestions?
 
Can't help you with spearfishing. Lots and lots of line fishing for anything ranging from large marlins to large tunas or other large fish... Cabo San Lucas itself is a protected reserve. Gordo Banks (a good couple of hours away by boat) is an offshore seamount (read: upwelling with lots of nutrients) with lots of game fish.

There are several dive operators, ranging from small (Baja Dive) to large (Cabo Acuadeportes; Ocean Scuba) and in between. They all appear to be good, friendly places.

Most close-in diving is boat diving from Cabo itself; leave the Marina towards Lovers' Beach (about 5-10 minute boat ride) and dive. The visibility was not great (less than 10' to about 15') when we were there in May, but I'm told that June-October, the water gets warmer and the visibility gets dramatically better. You could do most of the boat dives as shore dives from Lovers' Beach, but you need to take a water taxi to get to Lover's Beach, so might as well go from the boat...

About 13 km from Cabo, there's Chileno beach where you can do shore diving; Cabo Acuadeportes has a satellite location there with gear rental.

Most dive shops will also boat you to either Chileno or Santa Maria beaches for boat dives, or Gordo Banks with prior arrangements.

About 2 hrs drive from Cabo is Cabo Pulmo marine park, where the water is generally warmer, clearer, and full of life. We snorkeled on our own, but in retrospect, should have hired a boat, as Cabo Pulmo is very large, and the reef system goes out for quite a distance with some potentially dangerously shallow surf. There are 2 or 3 dive outfitters at Cabo Pulmo, or you can arrange a trip from Cabo (where you'll get arranged van transportation + lunch/snacks)

I used Baja Dive; Paco was the main guy, assisted by Victor. They have one boat that can hold 6 divers (with 6, they generally use both Paco and Victor; with fewer, just Paco himself). Not fancy, but extremely nice folks.

I highly recommend the Lonely Planet Guide to Scuba Diving Baja California.
 
Dove Cabo in November. Vis around 50to 60 feet. Water temp 78-79 at surface and around 75-76 at 90 feet. Lots to see including some big white tips. Only 5 to 10 minutes to most dive sites. Can't wait to go back.
Marty
 
hdtran:
Can't help you with spearfishing. Lots and lots of line fishing for anything ranging from large marlins to large tunas or other large fish... Cabo San Lucas itself is a protected reserve. Gordo Banks (a good couple of hours away by boat) is an offshore seamount (read: upwelling with lots of nutrients) with lots of game fish.

There are several dive operators, ranging from small (Baja Dive) to large (Cabo Acuadeportes; Ocean Scuba) and in between. They all appear to be good, friendly places.

Most close-in diving is boat diving from Cabo itself; leave the Marina towards Lovers' Beach (about 5-10 minute boat ride) and dive. The visibility was not great (less than 10' to about 15') when we were there in May, but I'm told that June-October, the water gets warmer and the visibility gets dramatically better. You could do most of the boat dives as shore dives from Lovers' Beach, but you need to take a water taxi to get to Lover's Beach, so might as well go from the boat...

About 13 km from Cabo, there's Chileno beach where you can do shore diving; Cabo Acuadeportes has a satellite location there with gear rental.

Most dive shops will also boat you to either Chileno or Santa Maria beaches for boat dives, or Gordo Banks with prior arrangements.

About 2 hrs drive from Cabo is Cabo Pulmo marine park, where the water is generally warmer, clearer, and full of life. We snorkeled on our own, but in retrospect, should have hired a boat, as Cabo Pulmo is very large, and the reef system goes out for quite a distance with some potentially dangerously shallow surf. There are 2 or 3 dive outfitters at Cabo Pulmo, or you can arrange a trip from Cabo (where you'll get arranged van transportation + lunch/snacks)

I used Baja Dive; Paco was the main guy, assisted by Victor. They have one boat that can hold 6 divers (with 6, they generally use both Paco and Victor; with fewer, just Paco himself). Not fancy, but extremely nice folks.

I highly recommend the Lonely Planet Guide to Scuba Diving Baja California.

Great reply, thanks for all the info even if I didn't start the thread. I will be in Cabo the first week of October. I will be staying at the Westin for my first trip to the area. Do you think a 3 mil full wetsuit is sufficient? Or maybe a 3 mil shorty underneath?
 
Cabo has a bad reputation with the freediving spearfishermen.

The Cortez Club in La Paz has a very good reputation.

Ralph
 
dlndavid:
Great reply, thanks for all the info even if I didn't start the thread. I will be in Cabo the first week of October. I will be staying at the Westin for my first trip to the area. Do you think a 3 mil full wetsuit is sufficient? Or maybe a 3 mil shorty underneath?

Depends on how susceptible you are to cold water ;)

The Westin Regina is supposedly a great hotel. You'll almost certainly want a rental car, as it's about 15-20 miles from Cabo, and maybe 5 miles from San Jose.

When I was there in May, the water temp. was in the 60's, and I rented a 7mm 2-pc (I felt like the Michelin Man...), and a 5mm. The 5mm was plenty warm. My guess is a 3mm full is probably plenty. The locals say that June-October are the best season for diving, warmer water temps & better visibility.

Enjoy!
 
I'll be in Cabo the first week of September. Looking to put that newly earned OWC to use!

I'll also be staying at the Westin. Does anyone know if they (Westin) have any "package" type deals with any of the local PADI shops (dive + transportation)?
 
There's always an "activities" desk at the major resort hotels that can book you a relatively "discounted" trip. The Westin runs a shuttle to both San Jose and Cabo, but I don't know if they charge a fee for the shuttle or if it's free. One of the watersports shops may have set up a satellite location at the Westin, but I doubt it. Either JT or Tio (I don't remember anymore) has a satellite location at the Hilton/Melia complex a few miles logical S of the Westin Regina. We stayed at the Hilton; they ran a free shuttle (but at a rather inconvenient schedule).

We stayed at the Hilton, where Baja Wild had a brochure at the activities desk. The Baja Wild trips include van transportation from the hotel (easy for them, as they're based in San Jose).

Unless you have infinite patience, refuse offers to have discounted-to-free diving in return for listening to a timeshare pitch!
 
Thanks for the feedback Hd.
I heard the water is warmer and clearer that time of the year, just checking though. And I have heard the Westin is very nice. (and as you reccomended to Mtndiver, I won't listen to any timeshare presentation, already a Westin owner)
 
Look forward to how your diving goes in Cabo, since I'll be there the 1st week of Oct. and staying at the Westin.
Have fun!
 

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