Page 307 - Mexico Diving From the Caribbean to Pacific Isles

Bahia de los Angeles

B Dahía de los Ángeles, home of the Bahía rifting through the deep blue water the
de los Ángeles Biosphere Reserve, is a colorful sea life unfolds – red, yellow,

well- known place to see whale sharks, game and purple sea sponges cling to the rocks

fish and barracuda. Bahia de los Angeles is a while green anemones and white feathery

small fishing village of 1,000 people that lies hydroids waved in the current. Red starfish

nestled between the rugged Sierra San Borja and purple sea urchins foraged on the rocks

Mountains and the Gulf of California. Located while trigger fish and Cortez Angelfish dart

approximately 8 hours south of the U.S. bor- through the sea. In season, finback whales are

der, Bahia de los Angeles offers a tranquil set- present in the Canal de las Ballenas between

ting with a wide variety of activities for every- Islas Coronado and Ángel de la Guarda. The

one in the family. Accomodations range from finback whale is the second largest whale (The

beach front palapas and moderately priced blue whale being the largest) approaching

motel to house rentals and luxury suites. The nearly 80 feet in length. Finback whales are

surrounding desert is part of the Valle de los baleen feeders primarily feeding on krill and

Cirios Biosphere Reserve and the 20-plus off- small fish. They can dive to a depth of nearly

shore islands are known as the “Galapagos 2,000 feet in search of prey. The second dive

of the North” for their unique species, some of the day usually is with a different kind of

of which are found nowhere else on earth. marine mammal – California sea lions. The sea

Home to seven species of whales, a colony of lion rookery in Bahía is located on the small

sea lions, whale sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, guano covered islet of Isla Calavera. Imme-

and a host of other distinctive marine animals. diately after rolling off the pangas deck into

the warm sea sea lions slip from their rocky

perches into the water and will surround you.