Loreto, Baja questions

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

Thinking about a trip to Loreto, Baja in September. I hear it's a good time, and heck, it's warm water closer to home than Hawaii so that sounds worth a look

A few questions for anyone who is familiar with the area.

I have been pointed towards these two dive ops:
http://www.dolphindivebaja.com/
http://www.bajaoutpost.com/

Anyone have any preferences or others I should look at? How about accomodations? Both seem to want to do dive/room packages, but I haven't seen any dive only packages. I'm trying to cobble together a nice yet cheap trip, so if I can find a decent room cheaper elsewhere, I'd go for it.

Do I need to rent a car? (I'm thinking not, hopefully)

Does anyone do 3 tank boat dives down there? It sounds hot, so I imagine we'll want to be diving as much as possible.

Is there any shore diving? Dolphin Dive mentions that you get use of tanks and weight with their packages, but is there any shore diving worth doing? Snorkelling?

Anything else I should know? I'm thinking of doing 9 days or so down there. Is there enough diving to be done to warrant that long a trip? It seems like with the underwater park and the chance of big pelagics, it should be great.

Thanks for any and all thoughts on these questions (or others I didn't think to ask) Cheers!

Gregg

 

[pablovi]

Hi, Loreto is a beautifull place! I got certified there!

I can't recommend neihter of those dive ops, since I haven't used them, but since Loreto is not very crowded with tourists, don't expect to find good equipment for rental, so bring your own, and just rent weights and tanks. I can recommend a friend of mine, but I'm new to diving, so take it for what it's for. http://www.loretoscubadiving.com/

The visibility in Septemebr will be great and the ocean is warm enough so you don't even have to wear a wet suit! It's going to be very hot outside and since it's the desert take a very good sun block!

As far as i know there is no offshore diving, at least nothing good. But the islands and diving spot are very close to Loreto.

As far as acommodations, I stayed at the Camino Real, that it now haves another name, and it's great! the best beach in Loreto, but be ware of the sting rays! you can do some very limited snorkeling in that beach near the big boulder on the end of it, but don't expect to see much. You can find great beaches on the Islands or driving about an hour north on the main land, they look like the Caribbean!

Some pictures:

Camino real beach:
http://pablovillegas.com/Loreto/Playa Camino Real.jpg
http://pablovillegas.com/Loreto/Playa Camino Real 2.jpg

The hotel and golf course:
http://pablovillegas.com/Loreto/Camino Real Loreto.jpg
http://pablovillegas.com/Loreto/Camino Real Loreto 2.jpg

El Requeson beach:
http://pablovillegas.com/Loreto/El Requeson.jpg
http://pablovillegas.com/Loreto/El Requeson 2.jpg

Santispac beach, you can find a small but good enough site to scuba dive there.
http://pablovillegas.com/Loreto/Santispac.jpg

Coronado island great shallow(12m or less) sites to scuba dive:
http://pablovillegas.com/Loreto/Playa Coronado 5.jpg
http://pablovillegas.com/Loreto/Playa Coronado 4.jpg
http://pablovillegas.com/Loreto/Playa Coronado 3.jpg
http://pablovillegas.com/Loreto/Playa Coronado 2.jpg

My friend and first diving instructor Liberto on his boat "libertad" on Coronado Island:
http://pablovillegas.com/Loreto/Playa Coronado.jpg