Wondering if anyone has any experience, insight, etc. into diving in Baja? I am a beginner diver, and would love to go on a "long weekend" diving trip ...
Advice, suggestions, etc. would be great. Especially if you know of good, reliable and not-packed outfits that take divers (as I am not in the comfort zone of going without).
Thanks!
Advice, suggestions, etc. would be great. Especially if you know of good, reliable and not-packed outfits that take divers (as I am not in the comfort zone of going without).
Thanks!
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Re: Diving in Baja
Sun, February 20, 2005 - 11:39 AMi dove in La Bufadoria once. it's just south of encinada. it was the most difficult dive i've ever done. I'm a bit of a whimp when it comes to cold water but add to that going out in a fishing punga with 4 foot swells and 6 feet of surge and you have an idyllic combination. So my advice stick to the bay of cortez. i haven't seen any dive shops in San Felipie, i've read about a sometimes operation in Bahia de Los Angles, for sure Cabo. i snorkeled there adn the water was warm clear and i chased a sea turtle till she out swam me. baja quest has some really interesting trips i haven't been out with them though. there's lots of good info on their site:
www.bajaquest.com.mx/
good luck
letmeno how it works out and if you need a buddy -
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Re: Diving in Baja
Sun, February 20, 2005 - 11:40 AMi forgot baja quest is out of La Paz B.C. -
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Re: Diving in Baja
Sun, February 20, 2005 - 11:57 AMSeptember and October are best. sho Vis uld be excellent
I stayed at the Hotel Mediterrane, small, reasonably priced and
private. I loved it and would stay with them again. Run by Saul and
Norbert, two awesome hosts. Don't miss their fabulous restaurant La Pazta. There is also a small dive operation affiliated with them called Blue Water (info is on their web page), run by a Canadian named Mike. I wasn't able to dive with him, but did spend a fair amount of time talking to him. He was highly reccomended. www.hotelmed.com
I dove with Baja Diving and Service the oldest dive operation in La
Paz. www.bajadivingservice.com
Baja Diving and Service has a resort, called Cantamar, but I wouldn't stay there. Although their boast are right there, it's located about 1/2 hour drive from downtown (right across from the ferry to Topolabampo). I think it's better to stay downtown, as their van will pick you up and bring you back each day.
Being downtown you can take advantage of all the nightlife on the
Malecon (the main drag) and walk a block or two to your hotel.
Baja Diving and Service was a good competent dive operation, not
overly anal about restrictions, but the boats could have been nicer.
However when I was there in Jan. only 2 of their boats were being
used, so you may be on a nicer boat. Oh and get ready for long boat rides, the dive spots are nearly 45 minutes hours away.
Enjoy......
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Re: Diving in Baja
Sun, February 20, 2005 - 11:59 AMcorrection...I was there in Jan a few years ago. -
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Re: Diving in Baja
Sun, February 20, 2005 - 7:12 PMAlthough it was a few years back, I had a great time in Mulege' www.mulege.com/ . It's a quiet little out-of-the-way town with dive trips to the various little nearby islands & offshore reefs. I went there with a group and stayed at the Hotel Serenidad www.serenidad.com/ ...just a short walk from the local airstrip. It was very affordable. -
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Re: Diving in Baja
Mon, February 21, 2005 - 8:45 AMWow. You are all great sources of information. I am working my way through the bar examination, and have a feeling I am going to be in dire need of some R&R when I am done. Mexico, diving and the beach sounds almost too good to be true! -
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Re: Diving in Baja
Mon, February 21, 2005 - 3:56 PMJust don't go to Cabo. I hear the diving there leaves a lot to be desired. La Paz has lots of diving to offer. I checked out the Hotel Med site and it looks like the Canadian's info is gone and replaced with Baja Expeditions. Either way Norbert and Saul have been there forever and are really knowledgeable about where to go, eat , etc. I had a great time in La Paz.
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Re: Diving in Baja
Tue, February 22, 2005 - 1:10 PMI stayed at Cantamar last July and enjoyed it.
The diving was quite pretty with somewhat variable visibility but was not always easy. We had several cases of rather strong currents arriving from nowhere and depths testing nodecomp limits.
The rocks were virtually covered with morays and stonefish, so grabbing on during a sudden current rush was a scary proposition. -
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Re: Diving in Baja
Tue, February 22, 2005 - 4:58 PMI wanted to comment on Cabo diving:
I went there last year to party, and didn't even think about diving until a friend wanted to do a "resort" dive. I decided to go along and ended up doing a two tank dive down near the point. I was very impressed. The point is where the sea of cortez (warm water) and the pacific cold water mix. Huge diversity of fish, tons of lobsters, boatload of rays, trumpet and file fish, cow fish, etc... and we even saw a baby reef shark. No decent reef to mention. Best diving is either at the point or by pelican (or pigeon) rock (the rock with all the bird crap on it. In addition it is cabo where you can dive the sand falls, which is a constant underwater sand waterfall which starts at about 80 ft , runs down to about 95 feet, and then dumps into a 3,000 ft abyss. It's pretty cool. Jaques Cousteau discovered it years ago.
In conclusion, I was impressed with Cabo. Doesn't come close to Cozumel, but I would say that if you happen to be in cabo partying, spend a few hours and do a dive. -
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Baja California Norte
Thu, December 27, 2007 - 11:31 AMWe're going in January. probably staying in Bahia de los Angeles on the sea of cortez side. We're driving, so odds are that we wont get into Baja Sur. Anyone been to San Felipe or Bahia de los Angeles? We're more intrested in snorkling than diving (blew my sinuses out a couple of years ago).
Thanks!
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