Snorkeling in Baja

The Baja peninsula of Mexico offers some of the finest snorkeling opportunities in the world. Jacques Cousteau called this area “The World’s Aquarium,” and for good reason! The Sea of Cortez hosts 891 species of fish (90 endemic!) to observe. The Loreto Bay National Park, where we kayak, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. All of our Baja kayak tours include daily snorkeling opportunities, usually before lunch and before happy hour. You can bring your own snorkel gear or rent from Sea Kayak Adventures.  We suggest renting our shortie wetsuit from December through April. Even though daytime temperatures in this part of the year are warm, water temperatures in the winter and spring remain around 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit/21 Centigrade. October and November guests enjoy balmy water temperatures in the 80s F/28 C and will not need a wetsuit unless they want the added protection from the sun.  Swim skins (leotard/tights kind of clothing) is highly recommended.

Snorkeling tips:

• If you have never snorkeled before, you may want to practice breathing through the mask in the comfort of your own home – in the bathtub!  Then you can enjoy your Sea Kayak Adventures vacation and watch the fish rather than fuss with your equipment. However, our friendly, experienced guides are always ready to help teach you the ropes of snorkeling if you have never done so before your trip.

• Ensure your mask fits properly by sucking air in through your nose to create a seal, but not tight enough to cause painful pressure.  Clear all hair away from your face beforehand to prevent leaks. Wrap your lips around your snorkel but don’t bite so hard that your jaw becomes stiff.  Position your snorkel in your mask headband such that you can look down or slightly forward without water getting into the top end of the snorkel.  Breathe normally. Snorkeling fins should be snug but not too tight.  Walk backwards slowly into the sea wearing your fins, or sit in the shallow water, put on the fins, roll over and snorkel away.  The idea is to keep your arms relaxed at your sides while propelling yourself slowly by pumping your fins up and down underwater to avoid noisy, ineffective surface splashing.

• You don’t have to swim out very far to see a lot of fish – they are present in waters only one meter/3 feet deep. The Sea of Cortez hosts abundant marine life, even in the shallow waters of the sheltered coves in which you will camp.  Iin Baja’s crystal-clear waters you will encounter colorful creatures that will dazzle and delight.  Keep still and avoid making sudden movements and you will be rewarded by the appearance of shy fish who would tuck under rocks when frightened by a noisy intruder. Avoid trying to touch the marine life, as these animals are quite delicate, and some have spines.

• A foggy mask can inhibit your experience, so use this weird tip to keep your vision clear: spit into the mask and rub the saliva over the optical area. Briefly rinse the mask in the ocean water and strap it on. The saliva will keep condensation from building up on the inside of the lens, and your mask will stay clear.

• If you need to clear your mask of water, select an empty place on the bottom to stand, and gently probe the sand with your flipper before settling down.  The same technique should be used if you must stand on a rock, but try to stand on the ground if possible or use your fins to easily tread water in deeper areas. What you may think is part of the rock could actually be a camouflaged fish or stingray that wouldn’t appreciate getting stepped on!

• Most importantly, stay relaxed and within your comfort zone and always snorkel with a buddy. You will have much more fun for your first attempts if you gradually get used to the practice, rather than risking fatigue by trying to swim out to far areas. The buoyancy of the salt water and the help of the fins make snorkeling a fun, pleasurable activity at all of the beautiful beaches at which we lunch and camp.  You may want to bring an underwater camera to capture the magic!