Los Islotes Sea Lion Colony

Los Islotes sits at the northern end of the Espiritu Santo archipelago off La Paz, in the Gulf of California, and is known throughout Baja as a sea lion colony site where divers and snorkelers get in the water with resident California sea lions, especially the playful juveniles. The rocky islets break the surface and slope underwater into boulder terrain that also draws reef fish and occasional schooling life typical of the gulf. Depth here tops out around 10 metres, and it's rated a beginner dive, which fits the shallow boulder slopes and the way the site is worked, easing in near the rocks and letting the sea lions approach. It is reached by boat from La Paz and remains one of the more commonly visited marine encounter sites in the region.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• California Sea LionZalophus californianusReported here · unconfirmed
• Razor SurgeonfishPrionurus laticlaviusReported here · unconfirmed
• Cortez Rainbow WrasseThalassoma lucasanumReported here · unconfirmed
• Panamic Cushion StarPentaceraster cumingiReported here · unconfirmed
• Panamic Sergeant MajorAbudefduf troscheliiReported here · unconfirmed
• Mexican HogfishBodianus diplotaeniaReported here · unconfirmed