Animal encounters
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In Cabo Pulmo, we are very fortunate to interact with some incredible sea animals who visit the area at certain times of the year.
Cabo Pulmo has been a Marine Reserve for more than 25 years now and it displays a wide range of species. Fishes have had a chance to reproduce in numbers and grow in size. In the Reserve, you will see bigger indviduals and more numerous fishes than anywhere in the region.
Sharks
Sharks are back in Cabo Pulmo and it's a great news! They started to visit Cabo Pulmo again about five years ago.
Mostly bull sharks are spotted in Cabo Pulmo, and they seem to have chosen to reside close to the wreck " El Vencedor" at a depth of 50 feet. We also encounter white tip, black tip and lemon sharks on the other reefs.
At the wreck, the sharks are not fed and strict dive procedures have to be followed. Our goal is to enjoy the presence of these creatures and learn from them.
They tend to stay at the wreck when the water is colder (December to May) and then they look for deeper and cooler waters during the warmer months.
Very rarely, a whale shark pays us a visit, maybe once a year.
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Sea lions
Sea lions reside in a small colony in the Marine Reserve towards Los Frailes Bay. There are approximately 50 individuals, mainly males. They put up a nice show underwater, they are very agile and swim close to the divers. It makes a great photo shoot dive!
They live year round in Cabo Pulmo, except for the months of June to September.
If you love sealions, we can organize a trip to La Paz and visit Los Islotes where more than 800 sealions reside. It's a great day trip and you are sure to interact with many sealions, including juveniles. Please ask us for information about this trip!
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Mobula Rays
Mobula Rays (Mobula Munkiana) are spectacular animals and we really hope that you see them in Cabo Pulmo during your visit. They are very unpredictible, and their presence cannot be forecast at all. They tend to come to the region in the colder months also, when the water is rich with plancton.
We have had some amazing dives with the mobula rays but the show they display during the surface interval is equally spectacular. They gather by the thousands and jump out of the water and splash.
Part of this video was filmed in Cabo Pulmo.
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Schooling jacks
Jacks (Caranx Sexfasciatus) are probably the most famous visitor of Cabo Pulmo. They form a tornado and gather by the thousands. Diving among this many fishes is very spectacular and any diver comes out amazed after this dive.
They tend to stay in Cabo Pulmo, mostly on the site "Los Morros" (60 feet), during the warmer months, when the water is clearer, which adds to the impression of seeing them.
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Manta Ray
For the last couple of years, giant manta rays have returned to the area. They are rarely seen in Cabo Pulmo as they are usually spotted in La Reina, which is a dive site close to Cerralvo Island, two hour boat ride from La Paz.
This trip can be organized from Cabo Pulmo, driving to La Paz and renting a boat locally.
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Whales
Whales are a distinctive animal of Baja California Peninsula and we have a fond appreciation of them. When winter comes, we are in the look out for the first whales to enter the Marine Reserve, which usually happens in mid December.
Mostly, humpback whales visit Cabo Pulmo and they are famous for their spectacular leaps.
In Mexico, it is not authorized to swim or dive with whales since they are under strict protection but we often see them from the boat during the surface interval. If you are interested in whales, visit the whale sanctuaries along the Pacific Coast of Baja California, about 4 hour drive North of La Paz. It's a fantastic experience to get close to these majestic animals. Ask us about whales and possible encounters, we are whale lovers and will be happy to inform you, and maybe join you to see them in remote areas.