Diving at Isla Espíritu Santo is nothing short of stunning. As part of a protected Biosphere Reserve, the waters surrounding the island are home to spectacular coral reefs, countless species of tropical fish, and playful megafauna such as sea lions, dolphins, and manta rays.
The best way to dive Isla Espíritu Santo is with one of the many local dive shops out of La Paz. In most cases, they will have small wooden pangas that divers can easily backroll from to enter the water, but some dive shops offer larger dive boats as well.
There are various types of diving that can be done in the area of Isla Espíritu Santo due to the diversity in underwater landscapes. Rocky reefs, shipwrecks, caves, and underwater pinnacles are some of the sights divers will come across in this part of the Sea of Cortez, which make for great reef-diving, wreck-diving, cave-diving, and deep-diving opportunities.
The best time of year to dive Isla Espíritu Santo depends on your preference for ocean conditions and what kind of fauna you are most keen on seeing. If you prefer diving in warmer water (27°C/81°F), August through November is when the Sea of Cortez is warmest. In October, there is a greater chance of divers coming across whale sharks. For divers hoping to encounter pelagic species such as hammerhead sharks, December through May is the time to visit.
Keep in mind that the island’s surrounding waters are closed to boats from June through August to respect the breeding season of sea lions.
As a protected area, the biodiversity of marine life at Isla Espíritu Santo is impressive. The vibrant coral reefs attract various tropical fish species, eels, octopus, and other invertebrates. These reef macrofauna in turn attract larger predators such as tuna, dorado, hammerhead sharks, and other shark species. Other megafauna that frequent this island are sea lions, manta rays, and whale sharks during the cooler months.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 200
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 7
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 300
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 600
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 90
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 100
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 130
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 250
