Scuba Diving
How a Mexican beach resort became a marine miracle
Thanks to a drastic recovery plan from overfishing, Cabo Pulmo transformed itself into a refuge for hunted species and a lovingly protected marine national park that triggered an eco-tourism boom.
Cabo Pulmo, in Baja California Sur, on the Sea of Cortez, is a remote Mexican hideaway which would amaze and enthral even the most intrepid of travellers and adventurers. This laid-back fisherman’s town is a two-hour drive from Cabo San Lucas and well worth the bumpy ride.
Rewind to the 1970s and the commercial catching of sharks, marlins and groupers proved unsustainable here. Farewell to the sharks meant goodbye to tourism and hence economic disaster for the locals.
Fast-forward to 1995 and the local community made a bold and momentous decision. They banned fishing for a decade in a bid to save the eight unique hard coral reefs and dwindling marine life. Cabo Pulmo became a refuge for hunted species and a lovingly-protected marine national park.
Astonishing results followed. The fish population increased by over 425 percent within the 10-year period and the sharks returned, attracting tourists and breathing fresh life into the local economy. Nature and wildlife fans fuel the now booming eco-tourism in Cabo Pulmo, the world’s most robust marine reserve and magnificent ocean ecosystem. Marine scientists estimate the presence of around 800 species of fish in the waters of the Sea of Cortez.
In 2005, UNESCO declared 244 islands and coastal areas in the Sea of Cortez – Cabo Pulmo included – a World Heritage Site.
Cabo Pulmo Beach Resort
© Cabo Adventures
Its pristine white sands and calm waters with their many mesmerising, soothing shades of blue make Cabo Pulmo a truly stunning location. Colonies of relaxed sea lions, endangered sea turtles and enchanting swarms of tropical coral reef fish swim around peacefully. Grey and humpback whales, hauntingly fascinating manta rays and tornado-style schools of jack fish can also be seen.
Cabo Pulmo is now a vibrant and beautiful underwater world patrolled by impressive tiger, bull and blacktip reef sharks. A rendezvous with some of these creatures can certainly provide adrenaline junkies with their kick. However, adventurers who crave a dopamine-filled experience of wonder, joy and happiness will undoubtedly find it here.
Cabo Pulmo is located on the southernmost tip of the ‘Free and Sovereign State of Baja California Sur’, where desert meets the sea and the Gulf of California meets the Pacific Ocean. It belongs to the municipality of Los Cabos, which itself is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico, and paradise on Earth for lovers of beach resorts, golf courses, motorcycling, deep sea fishing, whale-watching, scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking and windsurfing.
Scuba diving in the waters around Cabo Pulmo
© Cabo Adventures