Page 341 - Mexico Diving From the Caribbean to Pacific Isles

any of the tropical fish in the Loreto recognized, but their appearance in the Sea
M National Marine Park seem typical of
those that inhabit coral reef systems world-
wide. But there are also fish which appear
similar to California’s familiar temperate wa-
ter species. One fish species, the Cortez dam-
selfish, looks and acts like a garibaldi, except Although not common in the waters of the
that, despite being electric blue as a juve-
nile, it is a drab brown color in adulthood.
But the bright red blue-banded goby is at
home here, exactly the same as it is in tem-
perate California waters. Some eel species,
like the zebra moray and jewel moray, ap-
pear similar to the California moray, but they
have amazing spots, stripes and colors. There
are also a number of slender, free-swimming
eels, such as the tiger reef eel, which look
and act more like sea snakes than eels.
I t is the invertebrate marine life which
seems to reflect the transition between
tropical and temperate zones most clearly.
Sea cucumbers, sea stars, sea anemones, sea
urchins, and other organisms can easily be
winter, and over 100 during the summer.
of Cortez is radically different from that of Summer water temperatures in the Loreto
their temperate water cousins. The array of National Marine Park can get into the mid-
shapes, colors, and marking patterns of the 80s, with a thermocline that drops into the
many species of sea cucumbers, sea stars, 70s at about 90 feet. Water temperatures
and anemones is diverse. Sea turtles are dip into the mid-60s during winter. There
common in the Sea of Cortez, as are several is no “shore diving” to speak of in the Lo-
species of porpoises, dolphins and whales. reto area. Fast pangas serve as the primary
means of access to the fishing, diving, kay-
National Marine Park, there sometimes are aking, and all other activities of the Marine
seasonal visits by such larger animals as giant Park. There are a handful of resorts in and
manta rays, whale sharks, and blue whales. around Loreto that offer packages for divers.
V Bisibility is at least 25 to 30 feet, is usu- ig White Rock - a sea lion rookery. It
ally 40 to 50 feet or better, and is occa- is far south, almost to Kennedy Cove.
sionally more than 60 or 70 feet, depending
Con location and time of year. Currents can
armen Island - is 8 miles offshore and
be strong at times, but in most locations features a 125-foot-long fishing boat
they are not a problem, and can set up good wreck in about 30 feet of water. This island is
drift dives. Although occasional winds can also home to one of the largest salt mines in
whip up white caps and chop, the Sea of the world and has been a source of salt since
Cortez in the Loreto National Marine Park the first operation was licensed in 1700s.
tends to be like a giant lake. Air tempera-
tures tend to be in the 60s to 70s during