Dive Sites

The bay of Cabo San Lucas encompasses several unique dive sites. The Cabo San Lucas dive sites were protected in 1973 by the President of Mexico and declared the second underwater national marine park after Cozumel. Inside the park it is forbidden to fish, spearfish or collect anything in order to maintain a healthy marine environment. All of the Cabo San Lucas dive sites are within a quick 10 minute boat ride from the marina and the conditions inside the bay are usually calm with no or little currents and a calm surface.

Pelican Rock

The reef starts at 10 ft. on a sandy bottom and gradually slopes to 70 feet before it drops off a deep wall down to 500 feet. One of the famous “Sandfalls” is located at the top of the submarine canyon in about 90 feet of water. This calm protected site teeming with a wide variety of tropical fish and invertebrates and as a result it is some good diving in Los Cabos. You may see large schools of snappers, sea bass, scorpion fish, porcupine and puffer fish. Moray eels and devil rays along with electric and cortez rays and many more call this site home. This dive site is perfect for divers of all levels, night dives and snorkelers alike.

Land’s End

Where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean, creating great reef, pinnacle and wall dives. SAND FALLS OF LAND’S END
One of Cabo San Lucas’ premiere dive sites, Land’s End features unique sand falls off the cliffs where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean. This dive site is unique because you dive in both the “Sea of Cortez” and the “Pacific Ocean” at the same time. Large schools of barracudas, tunas and baitfish make this an unforgettable dive. The flat rock inside the cove is home to a small colony of California sea lions which dive and play with the divers. The “Nürnberg” shipwreck sits at around 40 feet and was nearly completely covered for many years. Hurricane “Odile” uncovered most of it in 2014 and as a result the shipwreck can be explored by beginners and advanced divers alike. Large schools of cow-nose rays and devil rays (small mantas) can be seen during the summer months.

Neptune’s Finger

This dive sites consists of two coral reefs. A beautiful vertical wall and the biggest sandfall of the Cabo San Lucas Marine Park. The top of the reef is only 15 feet deep and the vertical wall drops down to more than 500 feet. Turtles, groupers, machetes, goatfish and a lot of other tropical fish have made this reef their home. Neptune’s Finger is also a good place to see big fish like manta rays, schooling devil rays, yellowtails and amber jacks. Even Mola Molas (sunfish) have been seen here.

Middle Wall

The middle wall is a vertical drop-off from 75 – 500+ feet. The average depth for this dive is 100 feet. Diving next to the wall without seeing the bottom gives you a sensational feeling of freedom. The rocky cliff face continues to the west until it connects with the sandfalls at Pelican Rock. Enormous groupers and large schools of pigmy mantas as well as sharks and even whale sharks can be seen here.

North Wall

The North Wall is a great dive for beginners as well as for more experienced divers. The rock-covered slope goes from 15 to 70 feet and makes a great home for moray eels, puffer and porcupine fish. Flute fish, scorpionfish, spiny and slipper lobsters also call this place home. During the summer months even seahorses can be seen.

CABO PULMO

With multiple dive sites count on seeing schools of fishes, huge green moray eels, boxfish, octopus, ballonfish and sometimes when it’s season, humpackwhales and whalesharks. Located northeast of Cabo San Lucas on the Sea of Cortez, Cabo Pulmo National Park is home to one of only three coral reefs in western North America.

Cabo Pulmo National Park has been deemed the most successful marine park in the western hemisphere. Established in 1995 to protect one of only three coral reefs on the west coast of North America, this national park is currently home to 6,000 marine species. Continual coral growth projects ensure a steady rise in fish levels.

Both beginners and advanced divers are welcome. Beginners remain closer to shore while advanced divers will spend more time in the open ocean where drift dives are more prevalent.

El Cantil is a large reef with sheer walls that drop beyond sight. Here marco-lovers will rejoice in the nooks and crannies where all manner of nudibranchs, shrimps and crabs await. This area requires more than one dive to explore fully.

El Bajo is an amazing reef at advanced depths. In addition to fish of all shapes and sizes, this is where divers occasionally report Whale Sharks, Mobulas and Humpback Whales.

GORDO BANKS

The most specialized dive site is “Gordo Banks”. Sharks at Gordo Banks on a good day can be in their hundreds. Dive features a seamount with a submerged plateau where you’ll find scalloped hammerheads, groupers, mackerels and a variety of rays.

Gordo Banks is located 8-10 miles off-shore from San Jose del Cabo. There are different seamounts, while the top of one is approximately 120 feet, the other is at 180 feet.

This is a unique location where the hammerhead sharks gather in large numbers, but please be aware that the sightings are not guaranteed. Schools of jacks, mackerels, tunas, snapper, groupers, eagle rays, cow-nose rays and mobula ray are also common visitors at this offshore reef. Silky sharks and whale shark may be seen with a bit of luck in the cooler month from April – June.

 The dive conditions at Gordo Banks can be quite challenging, due to the depth, strong currents, visibility and heavy seas. 

Explore Your Adventure Destination

Your vacation in San José del Cabo is sure to consist of plenty of fun and excitement, but how about adding a touch of adventure as well? For those who can’t shake that adrenaline bug, consider booking exciting excursions, such as zip-lining, setting sail on a catamaran cruise or snorkeling and diving, to make the most out of your adventure destination.