Islas Coronados from San diego by private boat

[saintsfan]

Has anyone made the trip? On the frankos map it looks like about 14 miles from point Loma so easily done distance wise,what I am worried about is customs and problems that might be run into with different laws and regs,any advice? I checked the mexico forum and surprisingly found very little info. I dont imagine the diving is that much different from catalina (or am I wrong) but it is just something new to explore not to mention a mini vacation

 

[divinman]

You can't get off the boat....and onto the islands.

You must have a Mexican fishing license if you have ANY fishing equipment on board.

YOU CANNOT TAKE LOBSTER OR OTHER SHELLFISH/MOLLUSKS

Other than that, the normal coast guard regs apply. I don't think you have a customs call unless you go south of Ensenada but I may be wrong. Call customs and ask them.

Terry

 

[dpbishop]

Diving Los Coronados is definitely worth the trip. My favorite dives there have been done at Middle Grounds, the small islets between North & South Coronado; I've had sea lions and harbor seals tag along for most of the dive. As mentioned before, don't have any fishing gear on board if you don't have a mexican fishing license, they will impound your boat. http://www.saintbrendan.com/cdnnov00/sandiego11.html will link you to a short article about the islands. If you're trailering the boat it can go in at Shelter Island or Mission Bay.

 

[saintsfan]

I was aware of the fishing license and plan on trying to get one if I can,I actually like my boat and dont particularly want to give it away, whats the deal with shell fish,can you take them with a license?? thanks divinman, Dpbishop thats a nice article, thanks

 

[Mantasscareme]

Personally, I prefer Catalina in terms of diving. There's no kelp in the Coronados, so there isn't as much variety with the small fish. The diving in the Coronados isn't that exiting unless you find a sea lion or harbor seal, which I didn't the one time I dove there. The dive boat I went on got stopped by a Homeland Security patrol boat coming across back across border. They wouldn't let us pass until they were sure that everyone on the boat were divers. If you decide to make the trip, I'd recommend notifying the Coast Guard before you go and bringing some kind of ID on the boat with you.

 

[eyasha]

ok you need a boat permit and if you have ANY fishing gear on you need fishing lic for everyone on the boat period! sounds crazy but its mexico ... Any time you go into mexican waters you should check in with customs on the way back. umm do i stop each time i go fishing south.. nope! half the time they are not even around to check in with. up to you if you do or do not. make sure you have some sort of tow insurance! before you go offshore!!!!!!! Its cheep and keeps the rest of us from having to tow your *** back if you break. pm if you want more info

bill

 

[saintsfan]

ok you need a boat permit and if you have ANY fishing gear on you need fishing lic for everyone on the boat period! sounds crazy but its mexico ... Any time you go into mexican waters you should check in with customs on the way back. umm do i stop each time i go fishing south.. nope! half the time they are not even around to check in with. up to you if you do or do not. make sure you have some sort of tow insurance! before you go offshore!!!!!!! Its cheep and keeps the rest of us from having to tow your *** back if you break. pm if you want more info

bill

Boat permit?? never heard of it,I've had vessel assist for about 8 or so years now,they cover down as far as 50 miles south of the border.
Mantasscareme,you're the first I have heard from that says its not very good diving,no kelp huh thats my favorite diving,bummer

 

[Mantasscareme]

It's still good diving, it's just that I find Catalina to be more exiting.

 

[Aeon]

Yes anytime you go into mexican waters in a pvt boat you have to have mexican registration. Its by size its kinda expensive if you dont go down much. for a small boat "under 23 feet its like 30 or 40 bucks and about 70 or so for 24 to 30. Do not go down with out it. could cost you your boat and they will make you go into ensenada if they catch ya turners sells it as well as a few other local places but call around as they run out sometimes. No guns either they check for that when you get stopped. Side note the mexican mil. checks a lot of people offshore and at the islands.


Bill