Cabo Pulmo Dive Sites

You can find a little information about the places available for diving.

The Cabo Pulmo Reef is the northernmost LIVING coral reef in the Eastern Pacific ocean and the ONLY living coral reef in the entire Sea of Cortez. It has become a popular attraction for divers visiting this remote area as well as divers shuttling in by various methods from both Cabo San Lucas and La Paz.

The reef itself owes its existence to the natural geography of the surrounding bay which shelters the reef and keeps the waters constant at approximately 70 degrees, an essential environment for coral growth. The bay is an ideal place for snorkelers and beginning divers with much of the reef accessible from shore. However, there are also spectacular sites awaiting the more advanced and experienced divers with most dives between 30-70 feet.

NOTE: Cabo Pulmo Bay, including Frailes Bay is part of an official Mexican Marine Park and sanctuary. The taking of shellfish, marine life and fish is strictly prohibited. Additionally, the coral environment is extremely fragile and delicate. Extreme care should be exercised when anchoring boats.

Mermaids Beach

Sometimes called “Dinosaur Egg” beach because of the unusually uniform oval boulders which surround the cove. Excellent for beginning divers and snorkelers with an abundance of underwater structure and coral. Accessible by boat or a short hike along the southern shore of Pulmo Bay, it’s a popular place to picnic, but secluded enough to keep out the big crowds that sometimes settle on other beaches along Pulmo Bay. Numerous fish are inside the cove forming Mermaids Beach, but just outside and around the point the waters drop to approximately 30-40 feet along an irregular rock wall with overhangs and small caves. Surge can be a problem outside the cove so only divers should venture outside the cove.

Islote

(Also known as White Rock Pinnacle and Pulmo Rock) A large rock promontory that pokes out from a largely sandy bottom at the south end of Pulmo Bay. The base of the rock spreads out in about 70 feet of water. The rock itself creates some great wall diving with fan coral, cabrilla, grouper and numerous varieties of reef fish inhabiting the site. At certain times of the year large schools of sizeable jacks by the hundreds congregate around the rock and rare golden grouper can often be found at the northern deeper facade of the rock wall. Conger eels, Morays and several species of Rays are also resident to the rock.

Frailes Rock Sea Lion Colony

Accessible only by boat or kayak, several rocks and platforms at the southern tip of Punta Frailes, serve to harbor several dozen sea lions who can usually been visited between January and October. The rocks are in approximately 10 feet of water dropping to approximately 40 feet of water making it ideal for snorkellers and divers alike. The sea lions can be playful and curious, but restraint should be exercised. Pelagic bluewater species such as small Tuna, Dorado and Wahoo as well as larger Grouper and Cabrilla can sometimes be seen in the blue depths off the rocks cruising along the shoreline.

El Bajo

One of the long fingers or rock and coral which proliferate the sea floor of Pulmo Bay, El Bajo runs generally north/south in approximately 55 feet of water. When the current is right, this is truly an excellent drift dive when divers can literally fly along the ridges and stop to examine the varied sea life which inhabits the numerous natural ampitheaters created by the reef. Grouper, Cabrilla, Seargeant Majors, Anglefish, Pufferfish and Grunts congregate in large numbers along the reef as well as Lobster, Eels and Rays.

Los Frailes Bay

Also part of the Pulmo Marine Park, Frailes Bay has several dive spots for both the beginning and advanced diver. Along the northern edge of Frailes Bay the rocky slopes follow down to the waters and descend to depths of 30-40 feet. The fallen boulders form a natural habitat for abundant marine life. An excellent spot for night diving as the rocks come alive with eels, pufferfish, lobster, scallops, grunts, parrotfish and other marine inhabitants. For more advanced divers the walls of the bay drop off into Frailes Canyon with reported depths of over 700â, much too deep for recreational divers, but worth exploring the shallower parts of the canyon with an experienced local divemaster. Keep in mind that Frailes is part of the Pulmo Marine Park and taking of all fish and shellfish is prohibited.

Eileen's Reef

(Sometimes called the inner “Broccoli Forest Reef”) a series of flat shelf rocks beginning approximately 100 yards directly east of Antares beach at the south end of Frailes Bay. Some extremely large head coral (hence the name “Broccoli”) cover the rock formations providing abundant protections for many colorful reef fish. Excellent snorkelling and beginning diving in 10-20 feet of water.

Roca de Jonathan

(The middle Broccoli Forest Reef) separated form the inner reef by large fingers of sand. The rocks and coral heads are larger. Noted for several natural ampitheaters where grouper, bass and other species gather for excellent viewing. Whale sharks have been seen here during plankton blooms. The area is also populated by large groups of conch and scallops.

Piedras Wohlford Reef

(The outer Broccoli Forest Reef) in much deeper water to 50 feet with rock overhangs but smaller coral groupings. Located approximately 1/4 to 1/2 mile directly east of of Antares point. Large groups of schooling reef fish can be found at all times of the year.

Cabo Pulmo Wrecks

There are two wrecks to explore in Cabo Pulmo. One is the wreck of the freighter, Colima which ran aground and sank in 30-40 feet of water during a fierce 1939 storm strewing all manner of debris on the ocean floor. The other wreck is a large tuna boat which wnet down in 1978. The 90 foot wreck is in about 50 feet of water. Although the hull is long gone, much of the superstructure, cargo holds, rigging and netting have been left on the sand floor. During the latter parts of the year, the wreck can be host to literally thousands of fish of numerous species making for excellent photography.

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