Santa Maria Bay
Conditions & tides
Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model
Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
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About this site
Santa Maria Bay is an easy, protected reef dive in the Corridor of Los Cabos in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico, about a 30-minute boat ride from Cabo Marina. The shallow reef slopes gently down from the beach over sandy corridors with reef strips, to about 6 to 18 m (20 to 60 ft), and it is rated beginner.
Tropical reef fish, snapper and small macro life are the regulars, with rays and nudibranchs, and the occasional turtle or grouper. Surge can sometimes be felt, though currents are typically mild. Conditions in the Corridor vary with southern swells and north winds, so mornings are best.
Marine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
Moray eelMoray eelReported here · unconfirmed
Reef sharkReef sharkReported here · unconfirmed
Whale sharkWhale sharkReported here · unconfirmed
Sea turtleSea turtleReported here · unconfirmed
Jack / amberjackJack / amberjackReported here · unconfirmed
Panamic Sergeant MajorAbudefduf troscheliiReported here · unconfirmed
Sally Lightfoot CrabGrapsus grapsusReported here · unconfirmed
Cortez Rainbow WrasseThalassoma lucasanumReported here · unconfirmed
Razor SurgeonfishPrionurus laticlaviusReported here · unconfirmed
Common Bottlenose DolphinTursiops truncatusReported here · unconfirmed
Giant DamselfishMicrospathodon dorsalisReported here · unconfirmed
OctopusOctopusConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
SnapperSnapperReported here · unconfirmed
AngelfishAngelfishReported here · unconfirmed
ParrotfishParrotfishReported here · unconfirmed
Whale SharkRhincodon typusReported here · unconfirmed
NudibranchNudibranchReported here · unconfirmed
GrouperGrouperReported here · unconfirmed
DamselfishDamselfishReported here · unconfirmed
Nurse sharkNurse sharkReported here · unconfirmed
Eagle rayEagle rayReported here · unconfirmed
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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