La Paz -The Sea of Cortez Scuba Center

Sea of Cortez Scuba Center

La Paz

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You can travel halfway around the world searching for exotic dive destinations but dive, for dive, dollar for dollar, no other destination matches southern Baja when it comes to good times and great diving. The Sea of Cortez at a mere 4.5 million years, is the youngest sea in the world. It is more thatn 700 miles long and scattered within are more than 100 islands, islets and submerged pinnacles, which serve as homes for thriving marine communities and oasis for birds, whales and game fish. You may come across a giant Whale Shark, schools of Hammerhead Sharks, giant winged Manta Rays and huge shimmering schools of bait fish. To date more than 850 species of reef fish have beenidentified, including 60 species of sharks and serveral hunddred more deep sea and pelagic varieties. More than 20 species of cetaceans, including Pilot, Finback, Blue and Humpback Whales and Orcas frequent the sea. Dolphins are commonly seen frolicking and Califonia Sea Lions inhabitate serveral areas.

La Paz is a bustling port city, located in the southernmost nook of La Paz Bay. Nearby are serveral large, uninhabited offshore islands - Isla Espíritu Santo, Isla Partida, Los Islotes, Isla Cerralvo and the El Bajo seamount.


El Bajo -This famous seamount is a large rock dome topped by three pinnacles. Most divers head straight for the north pinnacle where you can find schooling hammerhead sharks. The pinnacles start 50 to 80 feet below the surface. The middle pinnacle is carpeted with corals, sponges and seafans which provides homes for enormous Green Moray Eels. The wall off the south end of the pinnacle is the most dramatic with huge gorgonians setting the stage for schools of Barberfish, Scissortail Damsels and King Angels. You will also find dense clouds of Skip Jacks, Pacific Manta and abundant reef fishes that put your sensory system into overload. Occasionally Whale Sharks may be seen.
	Swan Reef - A great way to off-gas after a full day of diving, this seemingly endless ridge of rocky reef meanders through the sand at the mouth of La Paz Bay. Loaded with tropical fish, including schools of Scissortail Snapper, it also has patches of healty finger corals. Look inside the fingers for small Crabs and colorful Hawkfish. The surrounding sand sprouts cornrows of Cortez Garden Eels.
	Salvatierra - This 300' ferry boat ran aground and then drifted into the narrow San Loreno Channel, sinking to the bottom. It's largely intact and home to a wind variety of sealife. Every inch of the strucure is covered with sponges, corals. Follow a dense hedgerow of yellow-polyp black coral down the port side to the twin props which are covered with cup corals and encrusting sponges. You'll see a bevy of invertebrates, Surgeonfish, Seargeant Majors, Cortez Angelfish, Balloonfish, 2' long Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Sea Turtles and Gold-Spotted Jewel Moray Eels. Dozens of other reef species inhabit the cracks and shadowy recesses.
Los Islotes - A small grouping of rocky islets with a large California Sea Lion colony. Hundreds of these amiable creatures lounge about on the rocky plateaus and frolic in the water with snorkelers and divers. Shimmering walls of Anchovies supply the Sea Lions with snacks and offer a stunning photograph. The south side offers calm conditions and an abundance of sheltered hidaways. At the end of the island you'll find schools of Barracuda and Skip Jacks.

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