Mexico’s Cabo San Lucas: Warm sunshine, friendly people, excellent cuisine, and incredible diving – we can’t ask for much more! Let’s take a quick trip to Cabo and take a peek at some of the beautiful dive sites Cabo San Lucas has to offer.
Diving Conditions and What to Expect
Mexico’s Sea of Cortez offers a wonderful climate year round, and you’ll find that between January and May the air temperatures will hover between seventy and eighty degrees Fahrenheit, and the water will be a pleasantly cool 65 to 75 degrees.
Between June and December, the outside air heats up to as high as ninety-five degrees, and the water warms up to between 80 and 90. Visibility in the summer is between fifty and one hundred fifty feet, while it drops to between thirty and sixty feet in winter.
The Sea of Cortez, which makes Cabo San Lucas such a magical place, is home to a massive reef of living coral, where big reef fish, four foot stingrays, sea turtles, massive groupers, and sea lions join divers on an exciting adventure. Here, hammerhead sharks school together and giant manta rays, as well as whale sharks, are often seen relaxing in the warm, clear water.
More than eight hundred species of fish, as well as a profuse variety of sea sponges, sea fans, and gorgonians, all bursting with color, reside in this magical sea. As an added bonus, you might see grey whales, humpbacks, massive blue whales, orcas, dolphins, and sailfish as you head out to Cabo San Lucas’ dive sites. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top dives in the area!
Cabo San Lucas Dive Sites
La Punta
La Punta, or “The Point” can be a tricky, albeit unique, dive. Here, you get the once in a lifetime opportunity to dive in the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean – all at the same time! Currents here can be swift and thermals can sometimes be breathtaking. Here, you will discover a large flat rock inhabited by a group of California Sea Lions, who eagerly await the opportunity to accompany divers as they explore the underwater habitat. Sardines and Greenjacks try their best to hide in the shallower water here, but it is not uncommon for marlin and sailfish, as well as other larger game fish to enter the area in pursuit of a meal.
You’ll often encounter tropical fish that have slipped out of the Sea of Cortez, and you’ll also encounter some fish that like cooler water. Don’t be surprised if you see a massive grouper or two lurking about the edges of the rocks here!
At twenty to eighty-five feet deep, and subject to a strong and unpredictable current, La Punta is a site for advanced divers only.
The Blowhole
If you have ever seen water blowing through a massive above water structure and wondered what it would be like to slip beneath the surface and find out what the underwater terrain looks like, here is your opportunity to do just that. The massive rock here is covered in brilliant gorgonians and invertebrates, and the site presents a wild ride at times. Dive it at slack tide under calm conditions, and you’ll be rewarded with the sight of grey nurse sharks hunting for a meal of fish, big groupers positioned to grab smaller and less fortunate species, and maybe even a bat ray or eagle ray.
If you want to experience The Blowhole, you need to get your skills in order, because this forty to one hundred foot deep site is reserved for experienced divers only!
Cabo Pulmo
Cabo Pulmo is the only living coral reef on the west coast of the North American continent, and it is also the most unique feature the entire Sea of Cortez has to offer. This Mexican National Marine Sanctuary is accessed by boat or a drive across remote, dangerous roads to a shore entry point that is two hours away from Cabo San Lucas. Unless your Spanish is excellent, spring for the boat ride.
Here, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a plethora of reef fish, as well as enjoy the rays and sea turtles that live around the reef. At forty to seventy feet deep, and with visibility between eighty and one hundred twenty feet year round, this site is perfect for everyone.
Gordo Banks
Gordo Banks is located seven miles off the San Jose Del Cabo coast. This lovely dive offers you the opportunity to encounter hammerheads, soaring manta rays and devil rays, big marlin, and schools of tuna as well as other pelagics. It is not uncommon to encounter dolphins and whale sharks here, nor is it odd to see some fairly large great white sharks.
Underwater geology includes a sea mound that lies beneath one hundred thirty feet of water, and the area is prone to swift currents. To enjoy this dive you must like sharks – advanced, experienced divers only!
Neptune’s Finger
Also known as La Larga, Neptune’s Finger protrudes into the Bay of San Lucas and descends from sixty to one hundred feet. This incredible underwater mass extends to three thousand feet from shore before finally disappearing into the seabed. Here, you will encounter the occasional shark, manta ray or turtle, and it is not uncommon to see schooling tuna in the area. The whole wall is covered in sponges and sea fans, as well as hard and soft coral and lovely gorgonians.
If you head to the north, you will come to a shallow seamount with a sandy channel that leads toward the west, and another, slightly deeper seamount. East of Neptune’s finger, you will discover a chimney cave. Watch for octopus and tropical fish as well as schooling barracuda!
Intermediate and advanced divers are comfortable here – this is a lovely dive without a lot of current.
Cabo San Lucas is one of North America’s best diving destinations and as such, is home to many wonderful dive operators. Do your homework and choose one that suits your needs, and you’ll be sure to enjoy this fabulous trip!