Scuba Diving in Baja California

Baja offers a wide variety of cultural experiences. Near the California border, one views and understands the extreme poverty that is the life of a vast majority of people in this area. The tiny crowded hillside homes, particularly in the Tiajuana area remind us that poverty is a fact of life in many areas outside the United States. As you travel further south along the Baja peninsula, you see Encinada and its environs and begin to feel the influence of the 'rich' Americans who have settled in this here (particularly near Rosarita Beach). The beautiful homes overlooking the Pacific, provide a sharp contrast to the tin-roofed shacks you have seen just a few miles north. South of Encinada you begin to experience the 'REAL' Baja. The Joshua trees, boojum trees and cactus flowers growing in an otherwise arid and empty desert. It is here that you meet the wonderful people of Baja and experience the flavor of the land. These people are strong, understanding and REALLY appreciate American visitors. They love their country and are extremely proud of their heritage. As you pass a hillside covered with bright red chilis drying in the sun or watch a farmer set out trays of dates below the forest of date palm trees, you begin to realize the true beauty of the Baja.

Quick Tips:

The Baja peninsula offers a wide range of cultural experiences. From EXTREME poverty one observes near the US border - to the riches and beauty of the beaches beyond Encinada.

Most North American tourists see only the top of the Baja Peninsula around the tourist areas of Tijuana and Encinada or else the fishing areas at the tip of the peninsula around Cabo San Lucas. There is a vast area of the Baja peninsula between these two tourist areas which still remains unknown to North American visitors.

The people of Baja are anxious to show us their beautiful homeland and share their culture.

Best Way To Get Around:

The ONLY way to visit the Baja Peninsula, particularly as a SCUBA diver, is by car. Distances are great and you will need to carry your gear.

Las Casitas (the little houses) is the perfect place for a casual stay in the town of Mulege, Baja, CA. Many scuba divers and campers in this area come to the town of Mulege and the Hotel at Las Casitas for a -break-! A chance to stay at the hotel and enjoy a hot shower after a few days of camping on the beach. A place to sit and have a few drinks/beers while your air tanks are being filled at the Mulege dive center or while your partner shops for groceries next door at the local grocery store, CASA YEE (can you believe this is a town in Mexico--and the grocery store has a Chinese NAME!!??) Las Casitas has a lovely patio for drinks outside--playing cards or just relaxing. Rooms are small (typical in Baja), And everything is VERY clean. We found Las Casitas a very comfortable and inexpensive place to stay! DON'T FORGET--we had been camping/diving on the beach for a WEEK (definitely, gives you a different perspective!) The owner of Las Casitas, is a diver and a wonderful person--he wanted only to know all about our local diving experiences and if we were having a good time. Las Casitas is definitely NOT a luxury hotel, but it IS a clean, affordable and fun place for a short stay.

The price for camping on many beaches of Baja is negotiable! Just talk to the local land owner. (If you speak even a little Spanish, you will have a definite advantage). We (a group of 9 American SCUBA divers) were able to stay on Cayote Beach (about 7 miles South of Mulege) for approximately $20 a night. We set up our campers, tents and laid out our gear without question! We used inflatable boats or royac boards to travel around the bay of the Sea of Cortez.

We hired a local Mexican Fisherman/diver to show us the BEST diving and underwater fishing spots (cost was about $20 a day--later the locals told us that was TOO MUCH, we should have only offerred $10 a day.)

The facilities are MINIMAL--primitive toilets, shower is an overhead hose -- if you are lucky! If you are in a cab-over camper, with your own water supply--YOU ARE in Business!! Otherwise--Bathe in the water--after all, you ARE a TOUGH old SCUBA Diver!! (at least that is how many see us).

On the weekend, drive into the town of Mulege and spend the evening at Las Casitas hotel (quite inexpensive). Enjoy the food, booze and Music -- have a wonderful HOT (!) shower, sleep well--and go back to the beach for MORE Diving!!

We highly recommend the Friday night 'Fiesta' at Las Casitas hotel in the tiny town of Mulege, Baja, California. The food is local (the local ladies help to prepare it). The place is usually packed with locals-- tourists and SCUBA divers who have come in off the local beaches for an evening 'in town' usually fill out the crowd. There is lots of local talent with marichi bands, singers, dancers and loads of typical Mexican music and entertainment. WARNING: If you have come in off the beach or from a campground--Stay the night in Mulege (sleep in your car/camper--get a room at a local hotel or--whatever, but DO NOT DRIVE!!) Roads have NO lights, and animals and people roam on the roads at night. Since everyone partys on Friday, and you will have had WAY TOO(!!) much to drink....TRUST Me on This one---DO NOT DRIVE IN BAJA on Friday Night!!

This dive site is absolutely wonderful!!! A good site for new, inexperienced, and seasoned divers. Talk to the locals and find out about current conditions before you go in the water. A fairly secure dive with maxmum depth of about 30 feet.

The closest Air fill station/Dive shop is in Mulege. A REALLY NEAT(!) little rural Mexican town about 7 miles north of Cayote beach.

This is the ONLY game in town--accept it!!! The people here are very friendly. Owners, Miguel (a local guy)and his wife Claudia (an American) are both NAUI instructors and VERY knowledgable of the area. They offer trips, tours of the local area dive sites.

A fairly secure dive with maxmum depth of about 30 feet. The beach is wonderful and we have camped on the beach in April and October. There can be lots stingrays and surge in this area so be careful. Northern California divers will find this area VERY nice and warm---Florida divers will find it COLD and a bit intimidating. Here, you will find decorator crabs, Sargeant Major fish, rays and if you are lucky, you may find a tiny octopus living in a can or bottle on the bottom. If you are not accustomed to diving in this area, always stop by the local dive shop for a chat with local divers--find out about its' perils and pleasures! If you are a certified diver, but have not dived in this area before, I STRONGLY recommend you talk with Miguel (owner of the local dive shop in Mulege). He will answer all of your questions, fill your tanks and suggest local dive sites. They also run boats to the best of the BEST local dive sites. They are WONDERFUL dive trip operators--trust them for the most current information!