Water temps during the winter and early spring are in the 65-75F degree range. During summer and fall temps warm up to 80-85F degrees. This period is considered the rainy season, but is also the best time for diving. Occasional hurricanes and tropical storms called chubascos can occur usually from June to October.
Isla Espiritu Santo and Isla Partida
These islands are located 18 miles north of La Paz and together they are about 15 miles in length with Isla Espiritu Santo being much larger. Isla Partida sits just north of Espiritu Santo, and in one small section they are only about 15 feet apart.There are numerous wind-protected coves that line the west sides of both these islands. The rocky reefs around the coves appear barren, but a close inspection will reveal quite a variety of marine life. Snorkeling is good around the west side because of its shallow depth around 20 feet. The best diving areas are located along the north end of Isla Partida and east side of both islands, but they are more affected by weather. The rocky points along the east side have a greater variety of marine life and the drop-offs are deeper. The most eastern point of Espiritu Santo is Punta Lobos, which is a rocky bluff that drops quickly to deep water. Around the point, depths of 80 feet can easily be reached. A 600-foot submarine trench lies about a half-mile offshore. The rich nutrients from the deep-water currents provide a constant source of food that explains the large abundance of marine life. There are over 20 types of brightly colored sea stars here with large aggregations of the red cushion star reported in the summer months. Tropicals such as cornetfish, triggerfish, parrotfish, hogfish and grouper are plentiful around the point, so photography opportunities are excellent.
Isla Los Islotes
Located just north of Isla Partida is the small islet of Los Islotes. It is rugged in appearance with angular formations covered with white guano from the nesting bird colonies that call the island home. A tour around the island in a small boat is a must. California sea lions lie draped across the sun-warmed rocks, with adolescent sea lions biting each other playfully. They slither off the rocks, gliding effortlessly through the water. Underwater, these sleek, happy-faced creatures are the clowns of the sea. Their lively antics will overwhelm you, allowing divers and snorkelers to get very close, they somersault and blow bubbles in your face, only to quickly zip away. Inquisitively they gently pull at snorkels and fins. During mating season the big bulls can become aggressive when they are protecting their harems. They will come at divers head-on, occasionally baring teeth and bellowing a loud bark. Respect this warning and back off. These big males are much larger than the females and have a big bump on their heads. Females choose their mate partially on the quality of the shoreline that the male is defending, and the males are greatly outnumbered by their harems of females.
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