Schools of hammerhead sharks and encounters with manta rays, breaching mobula rays and magnificent whale sharks are also headlining diving attractions of the Sea of Cortez. Top predators such as sharks also returned in numbers, as did schooling fish and a whole plethora of marine life. The seaside Mexican town of La Paz is the perfect base for an ocean of adventure in the Sea of Cortez. The water is approximately 80°F (27°C) and these are the best months for hammerhead encounters in the region. The MV Valentina Liveaboard visits the abundant dive sites of the Sea Of Cortez from August to November where divers can hope to see sea lions, huge schools of sardines and hammerhead sharks, and the amazing diving of the Socorro Islands to look for humpback whales, manta rays and whale sharks from November to May. [PDF], Shark species face extinction amid overfishing and appetite for fins. All else, though can be wonderful sites, are just second best. Hammerhead sharks are extremely shy. Another shark that also puts La Paz on the map in the '80s was the hammerhead shark. Between them they offer exceptional whale-watching opportunities, plus diving with hammerhead sharks and sea lions. The decline in shark population in El Bajo is a worrying sign for sea life throughout the Sea of Cortez. The Sea of Cortez is a popular Mexico scuba diving destination, especially for whale fans. Thanks for the kind words. The jacks are often joined by schools of tuna and the main spectacle; Hammerhead sharks. Pangas (classic Mexican wood and fiberglass boats) are the norm for resort diving. All else, though can be wonderful sites, are just second best. The legend of El Demonio Negro, the Black Demon, has persisted for as long as people entered the waters of the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, between the Baja Peninsula and the state of Sonora. The whale sharks are one of the main reasons I’ve come to La Paz, the laid-back capital city of Baja California Sur, a Mexican state on the Baja California Sur peninsula. For now La Paz retains its splendid isolation; today the Sea of Cortez is a place where encountering hammerheads, sea lions, mobula rays, wild dolphins and whale sharks — all in just a … Schools range from between six to hundreds travelling in a clockwise direction around the seamount for unknown reasons. Hammerhead sharks also show up in the Sea of Cortez during September. There are over 25 dive sites near the shores of La Paz and diving can be done year-round. Whale sharks are plankton-eating sharks (not whales). swim with sharks cabo san lucas is a memorable dive experience. The Sea of Cortez is home for part of the year to one of the world’s most gentle ocean creatures: the whale shark. TOP TIPS FOR DIVERS. A video shows a 14-foot-long great white shark in shallow water in the Sea of Cortez off Baja California. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so. During the summer and fall, divers flock to the Sea of Cortez for a chance to swim with whale sharks. Swimming with Whale Sharks in the Sea of Cortez. See Whale Sharks Up Close. For those who tell the tale, the Black Demon is said to be a shark as long as a school bus, reaching lengths of 50 feet or more. Its body shape and the number of gill are similar to fossils of sharks which lived 350,000,000 years ago. Hammerheads are vital to the health of the ocean; they weed out the sick and injured and help keep marine life in balance. Here hammerhead sharks school in groups of up to 200 or even an amazing 2,000, colonies of sealions live undisturbed and Grey Whales come to mate, give birth and make their winter home. While the Pacific is cold, the Sea of Cortez is at its warmest so many boats change their itineraries during these months. BBC © 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Reef Fishes of the Sea of Cortez by Thomson, Findley and Kerstitch, The University of Arizona Press ISBN 0-8165-0984-0 Diver's Guide to Underwater Mexico by Michael and Lauren Farley, Marcor Publishing ISBN 0-932248-06-3 Sea of Cortez Marine Invertebrates by Alex Kerstitch, Sea Challengers ISBN 0-930118-14-6 Dive the Sea of Cortez, one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet. While all these species are in the area of diving in the Sea of Cortez, some dive boats will focus on encounters with whale sharks, the largest fish in all the oceans. As a seamount El Bajo is home to an abundance of sea life, mass schooling fish (amber jacks, tuna etc), octopus and the impressive Panamic Green moray; a colony of over fifty can be found in a small canyon. There are two main areas for diving: La Paz and Cabo Pulmo. In part one of our series on "Whale Sharks, Sea Lions and Gray Whales: Adventures in La Paz", we head out to sea to swim with whale sharks, the largest fish in the sea. The chance of you seeing a great white shark while in the Sea of Cortez are slim. Sharks typically have seals for dinner, so you’re not on the menu. The plankton-rich currents of the Pacific along the western coast of California Sur and sheltered waters of the Sea of Cortez support whale sharks, dolphins, giant manta rays and schools of sharks such as scalloped hammerheads. The Sea of Cortez has a reputation for whale sharks. Dives i… To people who live here or visit, the Gulf is clearly a special place, where stark, rocky desert meets this inland sea's sparkling waters. In June of 2017 a 15-foot great white shark was filmed in 3 feet of water. These gentle giants generally move south as the season gets later. Although great white sharks have been known to visit the area in the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, which may be a nursery for the species. Sea of Cortez and Socorro aboard M/V Valentina. The Sea of Cortez is also home to the whale shark. In fact, their nickname is Gentle Giants. Read more. While schooling, hammerheads are not aggressive, and reassuringly enough they actually appear disinterested in divers. The frill shark, also known as a Frilled shark usually lives in waters of a depth of 600 meters and so it is very rare that this shark is found alive at sea-level. Type and press enter to search. Shot in November of 2009 on the RED ONE M sensor using the Gates "Deep RED"… Get a glimpse of these gigantic fish and watch them in their natural habitat, hunting and exploring. Hammerhead shark, video still by Walter Marti . Three days of diving with hammerhead sharks and manta rays in La Paz was unable to erase the rumor from our unconscious moments. Destination: Mexico; When to go: Sep-Nov; Duration inc. flights: 10 days; Price inc. flights: From £ 2,295 pp; Island Escapade. The ocean near Cabo San Lucas has the richest biodiversity of marine life for snorkeling and freediving including various species of rare sharks … In the spring the plankton rich water in the Sea of Cortez near La Paz, Mexico provide excellent feeding and breeding grounds for a variety of marine animals including whales, dolphins, sea lions and whale sharks. They dive in stormy seas to investigate how a giant predator, the cannibalistic Humboldt squid, is invading this sea, and search for the threatened hammerhead shark. Directed by Matthew Gyves. Few European divers have, as yet, had the opportunity to discover for themselves the amazing, unusual and adventurous diving that the Sea of Cortez has to offer. And there is an excellent chance of seeing bull sharks at Cabo Pulmo. Liveaboards will dive from their tender boats. Specialist. A viral video shows a close encounter with an injured great white shark in shallow water off Baja California. Read more. Especially when that fish is a shark. Aside from possible encounters with hammerheads frequent visitors to the seamount include; whale sharks and giant pacific manta rays. My dives there were fairly shallow (for diving), but I don’t know if they would work for snorkeling. Although great white sharks have been known to visit the area in the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, which may be a nursery for the species. Hammerhead sharks congregate in big groups at this time of year at offshore reefs such as Fish Rock, a popular diving spot 100km south of Coffs Harbour. The Sea of Cortez is protected on its western side by the long peninsula of Baja California (the second largest in the world at 1,200km) and to the east by the Mexican mainland – creating a huge, relatively shallow playground perfect for marine life and for divers. They're massive, gentle fish who migrate into the Sea of Cortez every October and stay until early spring, usually in the area called the Magote, just a short ride from the La Paz shoreline. Duration inc. flights: 10 days; Price inc. flights: From £ 2,295 pp; Trip type: Tailor-made trip idea Dive category: Specialist. Our Company; Shark Conservation; Reviews; Adventures. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. As far as I’m concerned, there are three places to dive here. Type and press enter to search. Hammerhead sharks are unmistakable—they have a unique hammer- or shovel-shaped head. You might see hammerhead sharks in the Sea of Cortez or hear a variety of whales including humpbacks in the Pacific Ocean. Some divers spend their whole life to find the filter feeding Rhincodon Typus, and here he was waiting at the edge of a story from a stranger where a long dirt road touches the Sea of Cortez. ARKive gives a comprehensive summary of facts and figures on the great hammerhead. August to November is the season for liveaboard diving in the Sea of Cortez. How to best dive the Sea of Cortez . Home; About. Locals have alleged the existence of a giant creature known as the "Black Demon" (Spanish: El Demonio Negro) of the Sea of Cortez. Our Company; Shark Conservation; Reviews; Adventures. Highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, whales, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics ... July to November is the Sea of Cortez liveaboard season, although shore diving is possible year round. The once thriving hammerhead population has been greatly diminished and now sightings are rare. We discovered the stunning number of whale sharks at Bahia de Los Angeles in the northern sea of cortez. The decline in shark population in El Bajo is a worrying sign for sea life throughout the Sea of Cortez. We started diving here many years ago when giant mantas were common and multiple schools of hammerhead sharks would swirl around El Bajo. Down at the tip of the peninsula as well as near Socorro Island, you might be lucky enough to run across whale sharks and manta rays, in the correct season. Worldwide many tens of millions, possibly over 100 million sharks, are being caught each year. The plankton-rich currents of the Pacific along the western coast of California Sur and sheltered waters of the Sea of Cortez support whale sharks, dolphins, giant manta rays and schools of sharks such as scalloped hammerheads. TOP TIPS FOR DIVERS. Immerse yourself into the crystal clear waters of the Sea of Cortez and interact with mako sharks, smooth hammerheads, silky sharks and or even blue sharks. Mar 29, 2012 - Manta offers gordo banks diving and swimming with sharks in los cabos. You can also find starfish, angelfish and wrasse of various shapes and sizes throughout the region. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. We are seeing hammerhead sharks at El Bajo and Los Animas and mantas at La Reyna although not as abundantly as before. The Sea of Cortez (or Gulf of California) lies between the Baja California Peninsula and mainland Mexico. Enter and Book Now A great white shark that briefly stranded in the Sea of Cortez last month has been spotted again – and it's alive and well. Many hammerhead sharks live in warm waters fairly close to shore, although most of them are not considered much danger to humans. Some of the greatest changes threatening the world's oceans today can be seen in this stretch of water. La Paz is the gateway to the Sea of Cortez, where amazing creatures like the whale shark live in one of the most abundant and wonderful ecosystems in the world. How to best dive the Sea of Cortez . In June of 2017 a 15-foot great white shark was filmed in 3 feet of water. However, an underwater cinematographer once filmed a pair of Scalloped Hammerheads copulating in the Sea of Cortez, the sharks locked together and falling to the seabed in graceful slow-motion. It is usually considered to be a black shark, and less commonly as a whale, measuring about 60 ft (18 m), similar to the estimated length of the Megalodon. The frill shark, also known as a Frilled shark usually lives in waters of a depth of 600 meters and so it is very rare that this shark is found alive at sea-level. These versatile, outboard-powered crafts provide smaller groups with fast, easy access to the dives dive sites. The strikingly beautiful Sea Of Cortez is formed by the long peninsula of Baja California to the west and the mainland of Mexico to the east. To avoid disturbing them a "rebreather" is recommended, which requires specialist training. We finally figured out where the humboldt squid are and it’s quite a trek to get there! While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. La Paz and Loreto on the southern interior and Los Cabos (Cabo San Lucas and San Jose Del Cabo) at the southern tip are the staging areas for expeditions to … Don’t let the name scare you—these beautiful Sea of Cortez sharks are nothing like the man-eating sharks in Jaws. Diving trip in November 2016 to Baja California Sur, Mexico. Los Cabos - Dive with Fascinating Hammerhead Sharks at Gordo Banks (Mexico) There are a few places in the world where you can go on a scheduled hammerhead shark dive. Whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean. The Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California, is a unique corner of the Pacific Ocean. Baja’s tranquil seaside capital, La Paz, is one of the most charming cities for R&R on the Baja California Peninsula. Discover the dive sites around Espiritu Santo and expect plenty of large marine life including sea lions, hammerheads and whale sharks. Log in, The story of the USS Indianapolis, the most famous shark attack in history, Fun fact: Sharks don't urinate like other fish, New study finds dangerously high levels of heavy metals in Caribbean sharks, Endangered Species Spotlight: Ganges Shark, The 15 worst shark-themed movies of all time, Viral video shows man smoking weed from shark carcass, New device could deter unwanted shark bycatch, Trump vetoes drift-net fishing bill in California, Researchers create new shark tagging software, US and Canada form new white shark research group, Shark Hero Talks: Melissa Cristina Marquez. Commercial fishermen hit the place really hard in the 1990’s before the government of Mexico enacted exclusionary zones and marine protected area. - Scuba Diving in La Paz, Mexico El Bajo. This stretch of the Pacific, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most diverse seas in the world and home to more than 3,000 marine species, including hammerhead sharks, sea lions, and sea turtles. This all went down in a shallow water bay on the Sea of Cortez. Several operators have larger, more "traditional" dive boats. Here you can learn about the 10 species of hammerhead sharks, which range in size from about 3 feet to 20 feet (1 to 6 meters) in length. The jacks are often joined by schools of tuna and the main spectacle; Hammerhead sharks. In the 70s, hundreds of hammerhead sharks were often seen at El Bajo, a sea mount and dive site. Hammerhead shark, video still by Walter Marti . Head to one of these exciting destinations to get up close and personal with hammerhead sharks, creatures that have been patrolling the deep for thousands of years. This all went down in a shallow water bay on the Sea of Cortez. Local boat and dive operators organise trips to the El Bajo seamount. In order; El Bajo, La Reina, Las Animas/San Francisquito. El Bajo. Los Cabos - Dive with Fascinating Hammerhead Sharks at Gordo Banks (Mexico) There are a few places in the world where you can go on a scheduled hammerhead shark dive. As far as I’m concerned, there are three places to dive here. References and Resources. Sep 4, 2015 - hammerhead sharks sea of cortez - Google Search Along the West coast of Mexico you have several options to spot these magnificent creatures, with a day trip or liveaboard. I dove the Sea of Cortez off a liveaboard dive boat, so I can’t speak to whether the nudibranchs can also be found near the shore or in tide pools. An enormous great white shark found itself trapped in shallow water after the tide went out, and one man with balls of steel decided to get really close to that shark. Most were a max depth of 40-90 feet. Hammerhead sharks are extremely shy. Its body shape and the number of gill are similar to fossils of sharks which lived 350,000,000 years ago. The Sea of Cortez. It is also one of the best places on the Sea of Cortez for scuba diving and snorkeling. Enjoy Whale Sharks Up Close. If you know of a destination which offers a great opportunity to dive with Sharks, or you have a story to share with us about diving in any of the places described in this page, please post your message in our Destination Message Board. Sea Of Cortez, Mexico. Dive the Sea of Cortez, one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet. Scalloped Hammerheads gathering at an underwater seamount in the Sea of Cortez. Since then, the population has seen a decline. Discover the dive sites around Espiritu Santo and expect plenty of large marine life including sea lions, hammerheads and whale sharks. Along the West coast of Mexico you have several options to spot these magnificent creatures, with a day trip or liveaboard. The Sea of Cortez is also famed for its encounters with giant Pacific manta rays, which like whale sharks are harmless plankton feeders. Hammerhead sharks are gentle, curious creatures, and diving with them will be the trip of a lifetime. Discover the dive sites around Espiritu Santo and expect plenty of large marine life including sea lions, hammerheads and whale sharks. It's a blazingly warm fall day as we load our scuba gear into a small boat at the Cortez Club, the epicenter of the La Paz diving and snorkeling scene.I'm about to head out into the Sea of Cortez in search of hammerhead sharks, that elusive creature I've been determined to come face to face with since my first dive experiences more than twenty years ago, and I'm trying to think positively. … This remarkable young sea is thought to be around five million years old and home to nearly 900 species of fish and the widest variety of whales and dolphins found anywhere on Earth. I dove the Sea of Cortez off a liveaboard dive boat, so I can’t speak to whether the nudibranchs can also be found near the shore or in tide pools. Although sightings have now become less common than in previous years, divers flock to El Bajo, about 27 nautical miles from La Paz, to see the schooling sharks. They eat microscopic plankton—definitely not people—and … Duration inc. flights: 10 days; Price inc. flights: From £ 2,295 pp; Trip type: Tailor-made trip idea With Mark Halliley, Lucy Blue, Philippe Cousteau Jr., Tooni Mahto. Few European divers have, as yet, had the opportunity to discover for themselves the amazing, unusual and adventurous diving that the Sea of Cortez has to offer. Mission Hammerhead Sharks: ON! This is one of the premier dive sites in the world for schooling Hammerhead sharks. Cross over the U.S.-Mexico border below the California state line and you've entered the great Baja peninsula. If you are very lucky you might catch a glimpse on scuba. A Guardian article about shark species facing extinction. While in the shark family, you shouldn’t let the name scare you. What happened to the hammerheads of El Bajo in LaPaz, Mexico? In order; El Bajo, La Reina, Las Animas/San Francisquito. The team explore how a unique ocean paradise, home to the greatest variety of whales and dolphins in the world, is under threat. Cetaceans are commonly spotted and include vast pods of dolphins, porpoises, pilot whales, killer whales and even sperm whales and humpback whales. Sailing among the scattered islands along the shore of the Baja peninsula, we will snorkel with young sea lions, walk along desert island ridges and palm-lined arroyos, visit a remote fishing village and kayak into a mangrove lagoon. The legend of El Demonio Negro, the Black Demon, has persisted for as long as people entered the waters of the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, between the Baja Peninsula and the state of Sonora. Some Excellent Books. My dives there were fairly shallow (for diving), but I don’t know if they would work for … During this 9-day Sea of Cortez expedition you will enjoy warm days and cool nights, kayak quiet coves, walk forest trails and explore crystal clear tide pools. As you can clearly see, this is one GIGANTIC great white shark so when the tide went out and the water level plummeted to just a few feet the shark was no longer able to leave the bay because it was more or less stuck on the bottom. In 2013 the 38m M/V Valentina Liveaboard underwent a re-fit to … Almost 20 years ago schools of hundreds of hammerhead sharks were seen at the seamount of El Bajo. Shark-diving with Shark Society at some of the most exotic and tropical locations with shark adventures, observing whalesharks in Sea of Cortez, Hammerhead Sharks, Great White Sharks in cage dives at Guadalupe Island / MEX, Ragged Tooth Sharks at Aliwal Shoal and Bullsharks, also called Zambezi Sharks at Protea Banks / RSA as well liveaboard excursions in Madagascar / Nosy Be. Here hammerhead sharks school in groups of up to 200 or even an amazing 2,000, colonies of sealions live undisturbed and Grey Whales come to mate, give birth and make their winter home. To our surprise, with plenty of luck and perfect weather we managed to get over 7+ silky sharks in flat seas and blue waters. Swim with the Big Guys-- The Sea of Cortez and Socorro are cornucopias of marine life.In addition to large schools of colorful fish angelfish, snapper, jacks and tuna, you have a very good chance of swimming with manta rays, whale sharks and hammerhead sharks. We all like to indulge in a good fish tale. Great White Shark Diving The Pearson brothers spotted the shark as it thrashed around and noticed it had injuries consistent with a propeller injury. Sea of Cortez is in general quite calm with the possibility of big waves, however, each liveaboard has their own minimum dive experience level, please always check this before booking and it is important to remember your dive logs/logbooks. In spring, the Sea of Cortez is a good place for sighting whales, including gray whales,finback whales, and the occasional 80 foot (24 m) blue whale. Given the annual shark ban in Mexican waters during the months of May through July we went to a well known seamount in the Sea of Cortez in the Baja Peninsula in hopes of finding large congregation of pelagic sharks once very abundant in the area. The most likely reason Scalloped Hammerheads school in the Sea of Cortez is "refuging": the seamounts serve as meeting places conveniently near a rich food supply. The Sea of Cortez is an interesting place. 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