Cabo San Lucas/ Cabo Pulmo, Baja Mexico

John and I jetted down to Baja to dive Cabo San Lucas and Cabo Pulmo.  We opted for four days of diving, three locally and one to Cabo Pulmo for a total of 8 dives 10/24-10/27/07

Sights visited (in order):

Pelican Rock  60' 43" 82 degrees Suunto

Land's End     74' 46" 82 degrees Suunto

El Bajo de los Marco, Cabo Pulmo drift dive   55' 34" 81 degrees Suunto

El Cantil Coral Reef, Cabo Pulmo  53' 65" 81 degrees Suunto

Blow Hole       79' 50" 81 degrees Suunto

Playa Santa Maria  50' 57" 82 degrees Suunto

Middle Reef  147'  45"  82 degrees Suunto

Lands End 65' 50" 81 degrees Suunto

Shallowest dive:  50'

Deepest dive (and the COOLEST):  147'

Average Temp at depth:  82 degrees

It's been 5 years since I have visited Cabo San Lucas.  Boy, have things changed.  I wish I could say for the better.  It is soooooooo touristy now.  Resorts/ time shares are EVERYWHERE.  Not to mention the cruise ship terminal that wasn't there 5 years ago that now clutters the harbor.  What once was picturesque views of the fabulous rock formations/ dive sites is now obstructed by HUGE cruise ships in which I counted 4 on numerous days.  Fortunately, we were NOT staying in town, but at the picturesque and serene Westin Regina, about 20 to 25 minutes from town.  If you want quiet and beauty, it's a great place.  However, not very accessible for elderly people.  My 82 YO mother and her friend joined us, however they had a difficult time getting around the resort; dealing with steps; and getting in and out of the carts.

Onto the diving...I would say the diving was average.  Not great, not bad.  Just average.  The upside was water temps.  I dove in my bathing suit since the water was so toasty.  I had high expectations for Cabo Pulmo for I have heard alot about this site.  I was sorely disappointed with the exception of seeing a Devil Ray, numerous fish, and live coral on the first dive that lasted a mere 35'.  Even with that dive, we spent what seemed like an eternity over a long strip of sand.  The second dive was pretty boring with the exception of seeing a very large Moray and a Crown of Thorns.

My two favorite dives on the trip was to Land's End where we encountered litterally 1000's of Yellowfin Surgeon fish inter-mixed with large groupers that surrounded us.  What a awesome/ surreal feeling!!!  My second favorite dive was called 'Middle Wall' where we went down to 147'.  Viz was so clear, that I felt we could keep going...then reality struck...this so-called wall drops to 3000 FEET!  Incredible viz, incredible rock foramtions, incredible marine life; incredible deep 'abyss' like crevices with thunderous sounds bellowing up at us as we crossed over........AWESOME!!!

Don't get me wrong, we did see lots of marine life.  Those that know me well, know that my favorite marine creature is the eel.  I spotted 5 different species of Morays:  Green; white spotted; yellow spotted; Zebra; and one that I call a Molten colored Moray that looked like camouflage; oh, and I did see a green Moray with a brown face(?).  I was pleased by the abundance of eels.  I saw 3 to 4 different species of nudibranchs; two sea horses; spotted Toby's; Longspine Porcupinefish; Triggerfish; Spotted Puffers; Butterflyfish; Bluefish Snapper; Garden Eels; and Moorish Idols to name a few.

When we weren't diving, we spent our free time exploring Cabo Wabo, the Gigglin Marlin, El Squid Roe (My favorite), as well as The Office (also one of my favorites but $$$$).  I had wonderful conversations with some of the local townsfolk in my broken Spanish in which I purchased two footbags that an elderly grandmother had crochet for $2.50 each; we visted the Costco that was fairly new as well as the Mega grocery/ Target type store that has the BEST pan dulce!

A friend of mine owns a bar *Buzzard's Bay Sports Cantina* in a little coastal town called 'Los Barillos' in which we took a trip to visit.  On our way there, we were greeted by numerous animals alongside and IN the road that included Long Horned Steer; Burros; Mules; and Horses.  Mind you...no fences.  Wild animals here.  Ok during the daytime, dangerous and deadly by night.  Many shrines have been errected alongside the road where people have died.  We made it to my friends bar.  What a great place.  Small and quaint.  Great food and drinks, not to mention the company of my friend.

Overall, a nice trip.  However, I perfer the more serene and not so touristy type of places.  Unfortunately, Cabo has lost the charm that I once knew it had. 

Now...to plan the next trip.  Comments on the  Virgin Islands anyone???

Jan

8:27 PM - 10/24/2007 - post comment