La Paz offers incredible dive sites full of marine life, available in various seasons.
| LOS ISLOTES in Espiritu Santo Island Ease: 10/10 Available: From September to May Main species: California Sea lion | Located at the northern tip of the Island, this colony of Sea Lions is adorned by tropical fish, invertebrates, and the stars of the show, the California Sea Lions (zalophus californianus), which, from very young, are accustomed to swim and dive with tourists. Of importance, a stone arch in the rock of “The Castle”, which you can go through scuba diving or snorkeling, surrounded by towering vertical walls filled with life, fish and sea lions that run through the area. Depth of 60 feet in the inner part. |
| EL BAJO (MARISLA) Ease: 5/10 – Advanced Open Water recommended, depth and current. Available: October to December Main species: Hammerhead Shark and Pelagic Fish | To the east-northeast of Los Islotes, this dive site is famous all over the world. El Bajo consists of three seamounts whose peaks are between 52 and 83 feet deep. Pelagic fish such as tuna, eels, sharks and cetaceans such as dolphins and killer whales have been observed. It is distant and subject to weather, but worth it. |
| LA REINA Ease: 7/10 – Current Available: All year round if the weather allows Main species: Giant Pacific Manta ray in July and August | To the north of Isla Jacques Cousteau (former Isla Cerralvo), the Islet of la Reina is surrounded by an incredible coral reef, with lots of tropical fish, eels, and between the months of July and August you can visit the Giant Mantas of the Pacific, which makes la Reina, one of the destinations for diving favorites in La Paz. The maximum depth is 75 feet. |
| LA REINITA Ease: 7/10 – Current Available: All year round if the weather allows Main species: reef Fish | To the west of the Island of Jacques Cousteau (former Isla Cerralvo) a pinnacle surrounded by corals and tropical fish, nice addition to the dive site of La Reina. Fans and brain type corals adorn the surroundings along with a garden of conger eels. With a bit of luck you may see Pacific Giant Mantas between July and September. |
| WRECK OF THE FERRY SALVATIERRA Ease: 10/10 Available: All year Main species: tropical Fish | The ferry Salvatierra sank in the Channel of San Lorenzo on June 19, 1975, after an impact against the neighboring Swanne Reef. Launched 19 December 1942, it was built originally for the united States Navy, and during the Second World War it was serving for the British Navy. Modified as a Ferry, it arrived in 1968 to Shipping company of the Pacific, of the famous Ruffo brothers. then baptized “Salvatierra”. Since its sinking, without loss of human life, to date, the remains of the ship have suffered from the onslaught of numerous hurricanes, turning the ship into a debris field, where fish of all colors, starfish, corals, and snails live among propellers, arrows, boilers and the remains of the vehicles that the ferry transported. Easy diving and very attractive. Between 45 to 60 feet. |
| SWANNE REEF Ease: 10/10 Available: All year Main species: Fish, Sea Lions, Marine Birds | Full of life, the Swanne Reef attracts an impressive amount of fish, constantly hunted by sea lions, and sea birds. You can scuba dive with octopus, stingrays, moray eels. |
| EL BAJITO Ease: 8/10 Available: All year Especie principal: Peces de arrecife | A few minutes from Los Islotes, this reef is between 30 and 40 feet, has a bit of current, but alleys of rock and coral serve as a lair for many reef fish, and you can swim through them. Encounters with turtles, rays and jacks are constant in this dive site. |
| WHALE ISLAND Ease: 9/10 Available: All year Main species: Conger | On the west coast of espiritu Santo Island you find the Whale Islet, on this site, shallow and easy to access, has a “garden” of conger eels, who peek their bodies from holes in the sand in the bottom, along with some interesting caverns filled with air. The area, is a place of passage for herds of dolphins, orcas, and mobula rays. |
| FANG MING WRECK Ease: 8/10 – Depth Available: All year Main species: Sea Turtles, Fish | The cargo ship Fang Ming was carrying 157 migrants of Chinese origin trying to reach the West coast of the united States. However, after a tortuous journey, were abandoned adrift, without food or water when on April 18, 1995, it was found by the Mexican Navy, and the passengers deported back to their country. It was sunk off the West coast of espiritu Santo Island on November 18, 1999, now filled with fish and scuba divers with experience in wrecks can explore its interior. |
| C-59 “FRANCISCO MARQUEZ” WRECK Ease: 8/10 Available: All Year Especie principal: Peces de arrecife | Especie principal: Peces de arrecife Sunk in 2004, the gunboat C-59 was donated by the Mexican Navy to be converted into an artificial reef. Structures such as the bridge and the propellers make it interesting because it houses fish and invertebrates in the surrounding area. It is located about 60-65 feet deep. |
| SAN RAFAELITO LIGHTHOUSE / LOBOS ROCK Ease: 10/10 Available: All year Main species: California Sea lion | Very close to Pichilingue, San Rafaelito is a rock with a navaid lighthouse, where about 80 California sea lions live, surrounded by an area of shallow corals that attract tropical fish, and curious white tipped reef sharks. This place is ideal for night diving as they are parrot fish, nudibranchs, rays and octopus. |
There are many more dive sites in La Paz. Come and discover them with us! Book your diving holiday.
