Explore San Carlos
San Carlos is a coastal resort city in the state of Sonora, and is a tourist destination for mostly Americans and Mexicans. San Carlos is located on the Sea of Cortez, or Gulf of California, which is the body of water that is sandwiched between the main body of Mexico and the peninsula of Baja California.
Aside from being a resort, San Carlos is also a popular scuba diving destination because of its warm water, rocky coastline, and great underwater visibility all year round. The wind and waves have carved into the rocky coastline of San Carlos, which has created an interesting underwater landscape that divers can explore.
About 30km west of San Carlos, there is an island 15km offshore called Isla San Pedro that is also a diving hub. It is well-known for encounters with sea lions.
Dive Activity
Diving in San Carlos
Beginner divers or those who have not been diving in a long period of time may want to stick to the near-shore rocky and reef dive sites. They are more protected, and so the current/surf is much tamer. While ocean conditions are much rougher at Isla San Pedro, experienced divers find the encounters with sea lions well worth it.
It is recommended to dive with one of San Carlos’ dive shops, or one of the dive shops in the United States (mostly in Southern California and Arizona) that brings clients to San Carlos. These dive shops run daily multi-tank boat trips to offshore dive sites and also offer certification courses. Since all dive sites can be reached via short boat ride, liveaboard diving is not an option.
Top Wildlife Sightings in San Carlos
San Carlos boasts exciting encounters with both megafauna and macrofauna. While divers usually visit San Carlos for a chance to see sea lions, whale sharks, and Humpback whales, they are blown away by the thousands of species of macrofauna, such as garden eels, octopus, sting rays, stonefish, sea stars, and nudibranchs.
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
Alamy-WaterFrame
189 Sightings
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12
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34
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21
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31
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36
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11
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7
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
96 Sightings
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4
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24
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13
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8
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3
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8
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2
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 7
iStock-Michael Zeigler
Sea Lion
46 Sightings
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4
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7
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7
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14
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11
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
27 Sightings
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2
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4
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1
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3
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1
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0
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6
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4
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4
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2
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
18 Sightings
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2
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1
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1
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2
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6
Alamy/BIOSPHOTO
Ocean Sunfish
11 Sightings
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2
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1
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4
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2
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1
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 80
iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays
151 Sightings
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8
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8
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8
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9
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31
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12
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9
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29
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11
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11
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6
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 90
Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish
143 Sightings
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2
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6
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4
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5
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37
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12
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7
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20
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23
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14
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8
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 130
AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish
120 Sightings
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6
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4
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9
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4
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7
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12
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6
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16
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23
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21
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10
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2
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 100
iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish
68 Sightings
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3
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1
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1
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7
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11
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2
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11
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3
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2
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14
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7
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6
The best Months to dive in San Carlos
In general, the best time of year for scuba diving in San Carlos and at Isla San Pedro is August through November. This is when water is warmest in the Sea of Cortez (27°C , or 80°F), and also when divers may encounter hammerhead and whale sharks.
However, if you’re hoping to see Humpback, Grey, or Sperm whales, the wintertime is the time to visit. December to March is when waters are cooler, and pelagic species are attracted to this region. Aside from these whales, there is increased activity among sea lions, and divers may spot mobula rays and bullseye rays as well.
Ocean conditions are rougher in June and July and diving is limited to near-shore dive sites, so if you are prone to seasickness or are keen to go to Isla San Pedro, you may want to avoid this time of year.
