AZTinman
Contributor
The recent opportunity to respond with information to questions about diving in the Bahia de los Angeles area prompted me to review data from my dive computer. Given what we hope is increasing interest in diving at locations in the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), it is worth noting that there are seasonal water temperature changes. There are also areas regularly impacted by proximity to and currents from deep-water canyons.
With the exception of some temperature data from a trip to La Paz, the following represents seasonal shifts from the San Carlos area (just south of the Midriff Islands) into the northern Sea of Cortez. If you look at the temperature data for June, you'll see a dramatic temperature drop due to an upwelling from the deep-water canyon that separates mainland Mexico from Isla San Pedro Nolasco. It's hard to plan for something like that when the seasonal temperature norms have everyone diving in 3 mil suits.
The data here is listed by general date, minimum temperature, maximum depth and location.
12/15.....58 degrees.....35'.....Puerto Penasco
12/30.....61 degrees.....64'.....San Carlos
03/09.....59 degrees.....16'.....San Carlos
05/17.....73 degrees.....25'.....Isla San Jorge
06/27.....84 degrees.....44'.....San Carlos
06/28.....56 degrees.....39'.....San Carlos (upwelling)
06/29.....87 degrees.....30'.....San Carlos
07/05.....80 degrees.....77'.....San Carlos
08/15.....70 degrees.....43'.....Bahia de los Angeles
09/06....84 degrees.....43'.....Puerto Lobos
09/07.....88 degrees.....33'.....Isla San Jorge
09/20.....85 degrees.....53'.....San Carlos
10/02.....82 degrees.....68'.....La Paz
In addition to live aboard trips into the Midriff Islands, Rocio Del Mar offers a couple trips down and up the entire length of the Sea of Cortez. These 'repositioning' trips are the result of moving the boat to Cabo San Lucas for the diving season in the Revillagigedo Islands and back to Puerto Penasco when that season ends. It's undoubtedly a good idea to pay attention to information from your operator when you're making decisions about what gear to take on a trip. Of course, this simply makes sense anywhere.
-AZTinman
With the exception of some temperature data from a trip to La Paz, the following represents seasonal shifts from the San Carlos area (just south of the Midriff Islands) into the northern Sea of Cortez. If you look at the temperature data for June, you'll see a dramatic temperature drop due to an upwelling from the deep-water canyon that separates mainland Mexico from Isla San Pedro Nolasco. It's hard to plan for something like that when the seasonal temperature norms have everyone diving in 3 mil suits.
The data here is listed by general date, minimum temperature, maximum depth and location.
12/15.....58 degrees.....35'.....Puerto Penasco
12/30.....61 degrees.....64'.....San Carlos
03/09.....59 degrees.....16'.....San Carlos
05/17.....73 degrees.....25'.....Isla San Jorge
06/27.....84 degrees.....44'.....San Carlos
06/28.....56 degrees.....39'.....San Carlos (upwelling)
06/29.....87 degrees.....30'.....San Carlos
07/05.....80 degrees.....77'.....San Carlos
08/15.....70 degrees.....43'.....Bahia de los Angeles
09/06....84 degrees.....43'.....Puerto Lobos
09/07.....88 degrees.....33'.....Isla San Jorge
09/20.....85 degrees.....53'.....San Carlos
10/02.....82 degrees.....68'.....La Paz
In addition to live aboard trips into the Midriff Islands, Rocio Del Mar offers a couple trips down and up the entire length of the Sea of Cortez. These 'repositioning' trips are the result of moving the boat to Cabo San Lucas for the diving season in the Revillagigedo Islands and back to Puerto Penasco when that season ends. It's undoubtedly a good idea to pay attention to information from your operator when you're making decisions about what gear to take on a trip. Of course, this simply makes sense anywhere.
-AZTinman
