La Reina

La Reina is a small rocky islet just north of Isla Cerralvo with an offshore pinnacle, a lighthouse and a small California sea lion colony. The underwater terrain starts on shallow reef with colorful sponges, gorgonians and brain corals, then slopes into steep drop-offs, canyons, caves and volcanic pinnacles. The site is noted for seasonal large animals, including giant oceanic manta rays and schooling mobula rays passing in the blue water. Access is by boat, commonly a roughly 90-minute ride from La Paz or Los Cabos, and the site is exposed to open-ocean conditions so dives are normally planned as drift dives. Most activity is in the 10-20 m range, bottom canyons descend to around 20-26 m and the seafloor quickly falls into the deep channel. Channel currents are common and can be moderate to strong. Visibility is often excellent, up to about 30 m, and water temperatures range from about 22°C to 29°C seasonally, with warmer summer conditions. Dives are typically run in calm months (roughly May through December); Open Water certification is sufficient but divers should be prepared for current and blue-water drift. Main hazards noted are potential strong currents and the long boat trip, and divers should surface away from the rocks where only boats can retrieve them.