Going to Cabo. Good Drive Places?

[zyxomma]

Well I am going to Cabo for 2 weeks at the end of Dec. beginning or Jan. Was wondering where some go places are to dive. Does anyone know what the temp. of the water is like? Do I need a wetsuit?

Nick

 

[Norboo]

Land’s End Divers takes a trip to Cabo Pulmo everyday. IMHO I think they are the best outfit for this particular trip. It is about 2 hours from the main city. A van will pick you up at the hotel; he will stop off for breakfast if you wish. Once you are done diving, driver will take you to a restaurant near by (lunch is included). After a nice lunch, plan on taking a nap on your way back. Driver will drop of off at your hotel.
This is a must dive!

Land’s End Divers: http://www.mexonline.com/landsend.htm

Here are some other places to dive:
Blowhole
Pelican Rock
Sea Lion Rookery
Pinnacle
El Bajo Seamount
Socorro Island
I would use Cabo Acuadeportes. http://www.cabowatersports.com/

Water is about 80 degrees in Dec. No wetsuit needed. If you are lucky, you will see grey whales.

While you are there, don’t forget the night life. Giggling Marlins is a fun place to start your evening. I wasn’t too impressed with Cabo Wabo. If you want to get wild, Squid Roe is your place.

As for fishing, DO NOT use Pieces Fishing Charter.

If you are out buying souvenirs, make sure you ask for about 50% off. Even Airport is cheaper than Cabo San Lucas by a large margin. Most silver sold on the streets are fake.

Have fun!

 

[DocVikingo]

Well I am going to Cabo for 2 weeks at the end of Dec. beginning or Jan. Was wondering where some go places are to dive. Does anyone know what the temp. of the water is like? Do I need a wetsuit?

Nick

Here's a piece I did for my "Dive Workshop" column of the Sep '00 issue of "Rodale's Scuba Diving":

“Los Cabos is at the far southern tip of Baja California Sur, Mexico, and consists of Cabo San Lucas, the more developed, touristy city commonly referred to as just “Cabo,” and nearby, the much quieter, colonial San Jose del Cabo. Los Cabos is not dedicated to diving in the way that destinations such as Cozumel and Grand Cayman are. Rather, it attracts visitors who are looking for nice beaches (La Playita to La Ribera), excellent fishing (good chance to hook a marlin), golf (a Jack Nicklaus-designed 27-hole golf course), or heavy partying (don’t miss Squid Roe and Latitude 22).

The Diving
This is not Caribbean diving, so don’t expect bathtub-warm water, great vis and dense sponges or coral. Do expect diverse fish life, including a broader variety of butterflyfish and surgeonfish than in the Caribbean.

For a shallow and easy warm up dive, try Chileno Beach. Sites include Chileno Reef, a protected finger reef that starts at the beach and extends out about a half mile, and Santa Maria Cove. Somewhat deeper but easy and still close by are Sand Falls and The Abyss, where you can expect to see sea lions. At times, these sites can be crowded, and are popular with novice divers.

The big draws are Cabo Pulmo Marine Park and Gordo Banks, which are for at least moderately experienced divers due to depth and current. Boat rides to these sites are long, and dive operators charge a premium and require advance booking. You can drive to Cabo Pulmo in about two hours, or fly in on Aero California if you’ve got the bucks. There’s a dive operator that’ll pick you at the landing strip and whisk you off for a day of diving. Cabo Pulmo is a national marine park, and is the only true living coral reef in the area. Sites include El Cantil, The Rock, El Bajo and the more advanced abyssal Los Frailes Trench to the south. There’s a chance you’ll encounter whale sharks and mantas in this region in season. Plan on diving in the 90- to 100-foot range. At Gordo Banks, well off San Jose del Cabo, hammerheads hang out in season, and bull sharks and dolphin can occasionally be sighted. You can easily go to recreational limits and below.

Dive Conditions
January to May is the winter season. Look for air temps ranging between 70F and 80F, water temps between 65F and 75F, and vis between 30 and 60 feet. June to December is summer season, with air temps between 80F and 95F degrees, water temps between 80F and 85F, and vis between 50 and 100 feet.

Dive Operators
Dive ops in Cabo San Lucas include Amigos del Mar, Cabo Diving Services, Cabo Acuadeportes and Land’s End. You may stay at or dive Cabo Pulmo from the Cabo Pulmo Beach Resort, or go with an independent shop such as Pepe's Dive Center.

Where to Stay
There are plenty of accommodations in a variety of price ranges. Plaza Las Glorias is a nice resort right in town on the marina in Cabo San Lucas. The resort has a ferry to Playa Medano, where it has a hotel beach club. Those preferring to avoid the noise, bustle and incessant time-share sales pitches of downtown Cabo San Lucas will want to stay outside of town at places like the mega-resort Westin, all-suites Solmar, or a personal favorite, the small, intimate and not inexpensive Twin Dolphins."

Bet regards.

DocVikingo