Sea of Cortez San Carlos, Mexico Great diving

[DanielVance]

I've been going down to San Carlos, MX for several years. 2-3 times per year. Great diving and a wide variety of marine life.

San Carlos is about seven miles from Guaymas, Mexico on the Sea of Cortez.

Hotels - Check out Hotel Fiesta, the Creston and San Carlos Plaza Hotel Resort

http://www.mexonline.com/fiesta.htm

Dive Shops check out Ocean Sports, their shop is on the marina.

http://www.divecortez.com/

My web site has more information about San Carlos, Mexico
http://vancesystems.com/scuba/sancarlos.htm

 

[stevsgarage]

I've often considered San Carlos, Does anyone run week-end bus trips down from Phoenix. The air fare from Kansas City to Guaymas seams very high and the weather is about the same as San Diego so I always end up there.

 

[stevsgarage]

I've often considered San Carlos, Does anyone run week-end bus trips down from Phoenix. The air fare from Kansas City to Guaymas seams very high and the weather is about the same as San Diego so I always end up there.

 

[DanielVance]

Steve,

San Diego, CA and San Carlos, Mexico are entirely different from each other.

San Diego is cold water diving. In August, the water temps in San Carlos were 88-90. Good warm water diving until late October.

San Carlos has dolphins, sea lions, turtles, octopi, sea horses, whales in the spring, etc. No kelp.

Several dive shops from Phoenix and Tucson go regularly down to San Carlos. San Carlos is a six hour drive from Tucson. This year the Tucson Raytheon R-TEAM SCUBA club charted a Greyline bus twice. It was great. The bus ride was great cushy seats and a clean restroom. BTW, R-TEAM goes down to San Carlos once a month from May to October. $195 for the weekend for hotel and diving. Food and transporation is extra. Tucson Dive shops charge about $299 for diving and hotel.

You can find more about San Carlos, MX at R-TEAM's web site
http://www.vancesystems.com/scuba/

 

[hdtran]

Daniel,

Very nice site at vancesystems. How long a drive to get to San Carlos from Tucson? Have you dived San Carlos in Feb/March/April timeframe? What's the weather like then (barring unforeseen tropical depressions, etc.) How about August, does the sea moderate the heat, or does it bump up past the 90's?

Is Puerto Penasco a closer alternative than San Carlos, or are they basically the same distance?

Thanks!

 

[DanielVance]

San Carlos is a six hour drive from Tucson.

Diving is year around with water temps in the 60s. Last March, it was 65, my 7mm semi-dry was perfect.

Starting in May the water warms about 2 degrees per week. In August the water temp was 90.

The summers are hot and humid but that's another reason to dive. Hotels are air conditioned.

Puerto Penasco(Rocky Point) is four hours from Tucson. However, it is not known for it's diving. Beaches are shallow, one can walk from the shore out about a mile and only be in waist high water. I believe their are two dive shops in the town of 30,000 (winter) and 60,000 (summer Americans).

San Carlos has a population of app. 6,000 with 6-8 dive shops.

San Carlos feels like Mexico and the people are friendly.

Daniel
http://www.vancesystems.com/scuba/

Daniel,

Very nice site at vancesystems. How long a drive to get to San Carlos from Tucson? Have you dived San Carlos in Feb/March/April timeframe? What's the weather like then (barring unforeseen tropical depressions, etc.) How about August, does the sea moderate the heat, or does it bump up past the 90's?

Is Puerto Penasco a closer alternative than San Carlos, or are they basically the same distance?

Thanks!

 

[DanielVance]

Just found this link with maps and info for San Carlos.

http://www.go2sancarlos.org/

Daniel

 

[shaxs]

I've been going down to San Carlos, MX for several years. 2-3 times per year. Great diving and a wide variety of marine life.

San Carlos is about seven miles from Guaymas, Mexico on the Sea of Cortez.

Hotels - Check out Hotel Fiesta, the Creston and San Carlos Plaza Hotel Resort

http://www.mexonline.com/fiesta.htm

Dive Shops check out Ocean Sports, their shop is on the marina.

http://www.divecortez.com/

My web site has more information about San Carlos, Mexico
http://vancesystems.com/scuba/sancarlos.htm

So would you suggest San Carlos or Cozumel? Im looking to go somewhere for a scuba trip in March for sprong break. Also, price is a consideration as I am a starving student, more or less

 

[stevsgarage]

So would you suggest San Carlos or Cozumel? Im looking to go somewhere for a scuba trip in March for sprong break. Also, price is a consideration as I am a starving student, more or less

I'm no expert but I think if you check the weather and water temps for that time of year the decision is simple. I might also note unless you are driving there you can often get good deals to Cozumel, but for spring break now is the time to book.

 

[shaxs]

maybe my school have some good deals. From what I can tell, a trip to Cozumel well be around 700 round trip. I can drive to Arizona and take a bus to San Carlos for 100 dollars.