Cabo san Lucas in February - what should I expect?

[TJcop]

I'll be heading to Cabo san Lucas in late February 2008 and plan to do some diving. I've read that I'll need my cold water wetsuit to dive there during that time of year. I've also read that, while there might not be any corals, there are lost of large animals migrating through the area.

My questions are: What should I expect for conditions? What should I expect to see/do? and, Any operators you would suggest?

Thanks!!! :D

[TJcop]

Anyone???

I've now read that the Sea of Cortez actually has some nice corals, and LOTS of fish. How far are these dive sites from the Cabo resort area (staying at Riu Palace)?

[rollerboi]

You might get more of a response in the Mexico locale forum, perhaps?

[dannobee]

You'll need a 7mm wetsuit and a hooded vest, or a drysuit. The water temp when I was there in February was 58 degrees. Fortunately, I brought all of my cold water gear.

I used Amigos Del Mar and wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

[TJcop]

You'll need a 7mm wetsuit and a hooded vest, or a drysuit. The water temp when I was there in February was 58 degrees. Fortunately, I brought all of my cold water gear.

I used Amigos Del Mar and wouldn't hesitate to use them again.
I assume that's for diving more towards the Pacific side? If I go to the Cortez side, is that more tropical?

Thanks everyone!

[vel525]

I went to Cabo in June a few years ago and the water was still only high 60s -low 70s and personally I thought the diving was just okay. Most of the dive sites are very close and I don't recall if they were on the Pacific side or Sea of Cortez side. I think most of it was on the Sea of Cortez side though. I dove with Underwater Diversions (www.divecabo.com) and they were great. However, that was several years ago and there was a recent trip report that suggests otherwise.

From Cabo San Lucas it's a full day trip to get up some of the more northly sites such as Cabo Pulmos. I did a day trip and it was definitely worth it.

Overall, for me Cabo was a great vacation place in terms of topside activities (great restaurants, bars, etc.) but not the best diving. Good luck with planning your trip.

Victor

[NovaDiver23]

See my recent trip report....

But, February is their bad diving season. The water will be cold, but the site are not that deep. There are 4 main diving site which are all right next to each other and not more than a 5 minute ride from the dock: Pelican's Rock, Neptune's Finger, North Wall, and Lands End.

The ONLY coral reef around is in Cabo Pulma, a 2 hour ride away. The cabo diving is best described as diving on underwater rock formations where the marine life centers around. Don't expect Carribean diving.

[NovaDiver23]

Also, although February is not their best diving season, it is in their busy month, so you may expect more crowds and higher lodging prices

[aedavidson]

I stayed at the Riu in cabo in late June, do not dive with their on site op. It was cold then, I brought a 5 mil and tropical hood. I was ok but do not chill easily. The diving was pretty good but not great.

[caboticket]

you will be surprised by cabo, feb is a cooler month but not the coldest. a full length 5mm will do the job. there are some species of hard corals in local waters, but the big surprise is the amount of fish, and variety. there are over 150 species and lots of them. the diving is right out in front of the main bay, the 2 tanks certified are in the morning and back by noon., then if you plan cabo pulmo, give some notice ahead as groups usually of min 4 are required, not hard to find, as this is the best diving..

[Chocoholic]

Cabo water in feb will most likely be in the high 60s. I remember wearing a 5mm and a hood and was fine, and I am a warm water wuss. You could even wear a vest under it. I just got back from Cabo and only did one day due to the hurricane and all. Lots of eels, puffers, bull's eye wrays, and parrot fish. Lots of tropicals, some coral and if you're lucky you'll get buzzed by a sea lion. The visibility was 20 to 25 feet due to the hurricane approaching but the vis in feb is usually better (50 to 60), plus feb the whales will be in town!
have fun

[pterantula]

I'll be heading to Cabo san Lucas in late February 2008 and plan to do some diving. I've read that I'll need my cold water wetsuit to dive there during that time of year. I've also read that, while there might not be any corals, there are lost of large animals migrating through the area.

My questions are: What should I expect for conditions? What should I expect to see/do? and, Any operators you would suggest?

Thanks!!! :D

Hayman - I'll be in Cabo then too, about 2/9-15 or so; feel free to PM or email me if you want to coordinate some spots. I'd love to do Pulma/Pulmo, so if they have a minimum for the boats let's check that out....
I'm going mainly for my gf - wants to see baby turtles and whales, but doesn't dive. I must dive everywhere I go.

cheers,
t

[TJcop]

Hayman - I'll be in Cabo then too, about 2/9-15 or so; feel free to PM or email me if you want to coordinate some spots. I'd love to do Pulma/Pulmo, so if they have a minimum for the boats let's check that out....
I'm going mainly for my gf - wants to see baby turtles and whales, but doesn't dive. I must dive everywhere I go.

cheers,
t

Thanks for the offer, but I'll be there the week after you. :(
You'll have to let me know how the conditions were when you get back! :D

[Dive Monster 07]

A five mm suit with hood will work fine.There are soft corals, sea fans, blooming corals,and hundreds of species of tropical fish just five mins from the Scuba docks.I have seen schools of small bait fish that block out the sun at Peligan rock.We have seen everything from Sea horses to Hammerhead sharks at Neptunes Finger.
I Dive with Baja Dive in The tesoro Hotel on the marina. Baja Dive (http://www.baja-dive.net)

[Pax50]

Thanks for the info. I am staying at the RIU in Jan and was planning on bringing a 3mm. I dive out in British Columbia waters in a dry suit so may be ok in 3mm or am I dreaming. aedavidson you say do not dive with the RIU shop- who do you recommend.

[divergirl50]

You might contact vista sea sports in East Cape...which is about 30 minutes north of Cabo and on the sea of Cortez. They seem to be really honest and have given me some good information. I will be down there in a couple of weeks and yes Feb is cold water. Fall is the warmest time for the water.

[TJcop]

Any updates from anybody who's been there recently? Any particular dives and dive shops you'd recommend?
Thanks!

[Pax50]

TJ I put some info in a recent trip in the Mexico forum. In a nutshell, Pulmo and Grand Banks are places to go but when I went in 2nd week of Jan it was too windy in the area and very few repuable dive companies are heading out. Expect to pay $150+ if you are in Cabo area. Local Cabo diving is so so, not very interesting and by all means stay away from the "sand falls" trip. I did go diving their because- well I was there so I dived. I went with two differnt companies. Manta was the first, good company and good exquipment and boat but felt like I was a business comodity. Second company was Eagle Divers. Very small company but great divemaster, even though dive not so interesting had a lot of fun with them. They work with beginner and advanced divemasters. Good luck on trip and email if you have more questions.

[Dive Monster 07]

WATER TEMP NOW IS 68 VIS WAS 45 FEET LOTS TO SEE WE SAW A SCHOOL OF MANTAS AT LANDS END AND THE SEA LIONS COLONY WAS VERY ACTIVE.
SECOND DIVE WE SAW A THRESHER SHARK AT NEPTUNES FINGER
WE DOVE WITH BAHA DIVE LOCATED ON THE MARINA BOAEDWALK IN THE TESORO RESORT BIG BOAT SMALL GROUPS GREAT CREW CONTACT THEM AT Baja Dive (http://www.baja-dive.net)

[TJcop]

Great news, Dive Monster! Thanks for the update.

[jahhaas]

I have been going to Cabo in February for the past few years. I generally take my dive gear and dive while I'm there. The water is cold. The 58 degree estimate in the other post is right on. You can decide what you need to wear for that temp. Personally, because I'm diving multiple days I like to be warm and wear a 7mm farmer john with a hood. That may be more than I need but my other suit is a 3mm and probably not enough. The local shops often rent a 3mm plus a 3mm shorty. The water isn't clear in February; certainly nothing like what you would find in Grand Cayman etc. but the visibility isn't bad. Don't expect to see any of the big animals this time of year. You can expect a fair number of fish and diving with the sea lions is fun. You should see eels, maybe a reef shark or two and if you are lucky some mantas. I dive with Amigos del mar which would be quite a trek from Riu but any dive shop is a distance from that resort. I don't know who they use directly from the hotel. Joe