These versatile, outboard-powered crafts provide smaller groups with fast, easy access to the dives dive sites. We finally figured out where the humboldt squid are and it’s quite a trek to get there! Along the West coast of Mexico you have several options to spot these magnificent creatures, with a day trip or liveaboard. 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. 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. Its body shape and the number of gill are similar to fossils of sharks which lived 350,000,000 years ago. 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. Another shark that also puts La Paz on the map in the '80s was the hammerhead shark. We are seeing hammerhead sharks at El Bajo and Los Animas and mantas at La Reyna although not as abundantly as before. Hammerhead sharks also show up in the Sea of Cortez during September. 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 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. The once thriving hammerhead population has been greatly diminished and now sightings are rare. 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. 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 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. We all like to indulge in a good fish tale. 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. If you are very lucky you might catch a glimpse on scuba. 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. The team explore how a unique ocean paradise, home to the greatest variety of whales and dolphins in the world, is under threat. References and Resources. Get a glimpse of these gigantic fish and watch them in their natural habitat, hunting and exploring. Mar 29, 2012 - Manta offers gordo banks diving and swimming with sharks in los cabos. 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. We started diving here many years ago when giant mantas were common and multiple schools of hammerhead sharks would swirl around El Bajo. Don’t let the name scare you—these beautiful Sea of Cortez sharks are nothing like the man-eating sharks in Jaws. Specialist. The Sea of Cortez. While in the shark family, you shouldn’t let the name scare you. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Shot in November of 2009 on the RED ONE M sensor using the Gates "Deep RED"… And there is an excellent chance of seeing bull sharks at Cabo Pulmo. … 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. Directed by Matthew Gyves. Commercial fishermen hit the place really hard in the 1990’s before the government of Mexico enacted exclusionary zones and marine protected area. Sea Of Cortez, Mexico. Cetaceans are commonly spotted and include vast pods of dolphins, porpoises, pilot whales, killer whales and even sperm whales and humpback whales. All else, though can be wonderful sites, are just second best. Enter and Book Now You might see hammerhead sharks in the Sea of Cortez or hear a variety of whales including humpbacks in the Pacific Ocean. Liveaboards will dive from their tender boats. El Bajo. A video shows a 14-foot-long great white shark in shallow water in the Sea of Cortez off Baja California. Locals have alleged the existence of a giant creature known as the "Black Demon" (Spanish: El Demonio Negro) of the Sea of Cortez. Since then, the population has seen a decline. 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. The decline in shark population in El Bajo is a worrying sign for sea life throughout the Sea of Cortez. - Scuba Diving in La Paz, Mexico August to November is the season for liveaboard diving in the Sea of Cortez. The Sea of Cortez is an interesting place. 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. Duration inc. flights: 10 days; Price inc. flights: From £ 2,295 pp; Trip type: Tailor-made trip idea It is also one of the best places on the Sea of Cortez for scuba diving and snorkeling. While schooling, hammerheads are not aggressive, and reassuringly enough they actually appear disinterested in divers. Hammerheads are vital to the health of the ocean; they weed out the sick and injured and help keep marine life in balance. A viral video shows a close encounter with an injured great white shark in shallow water off Baja California. 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. While the Pacific is cold, the Sea of Cortez is at its warmest so many boats change their itineraries during these months. In fact, their nickname is Gentle Giants. 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. In June of 2017 a 15-foot great white shark was filmed in 3 feet of water. The water is approximately 80°F (27°C) and these are the best months for hammerhead encounters in the region. They eat microscopic plankton—definitely not people—and … See Whale Sharks Up Close. Sea of Cortez and Socorro aboard M/V Valentina. Hammerhead sharks are gentle, curious creatures, and diving with them will be the trip of a lifetime. Dives i… 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. 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. 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. BBC © 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. TOP TIPS FOR DIVERS. Local boat and dive operators organise trips to the El Bajo seamount. 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 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. 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. Pangas (classic Mexican wood and fiberglass boats) are the norm for resort diving. 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. How to best dive the Sea of Cortez . The Sea of Cortez is home for part of the year to one of the world’s most gentle ocean creatures: the whale shark. Almost 20 years ago schools of hundreds of hammerhead sharks were seen at the seamount of El Bajo. The Pearson brothers spotted the shark as it thrashed around and noticed it had injuries consistent with a propeller injury. The seaside Mexican town of La Paz is the perfect base for an ocean of adventure in the Sea of Cortez. Hammerhead shark, video still by Walter Marti . Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so. In order; El Bajo, La Reina, Las Animas/San Francisquito. Dive the Sea of Cortez, one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet. 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. The SeaWatch conservation group's website outlines the possible fates met by the hammerheads of El Bajo. Some of the greatest changes threatening the world's oceans today can be seen in this stretch of water. Our Company; Shark Conservation; Reviews; Adventures. My dives there were fairly shallow (for diving), but I don’t know if they would work for … 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. 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. Hammerhead shark, video still by Walter Marti . Its body shape and the number of gill are similar to fossils of sharks which lived 350,000,000 years ago. Some Excellent Books. In order; El Bajo, La Reina, Las Animas/San Francisquito. Our Company; Shark Conservation; Reviews; Adventures. 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. Sharks typically have seals for dinner, so you’re not on the menu. 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. 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. Many hammerhead sharks live in warm waters fairly close to shore, although most of them are not considered much danger to humans. Several operators have larger, more "traditional" dive boats. 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 jacks are often joined by schools of tuna and the main spectacle; Hammerhead sharks. 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 … 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. Along the West coast of Mexico you have several options to spot these magnificent creatures, with a day trip or liveaboard. Discover the dive sites around Espiritu Santo and expect plenty of large marine life including sea lions, hammerheads and whale sharks. 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