Ok, I have finally gotten around to it. Got back and have been so busy at work that I nearly had time to breathe!

Cabo was great, diving was bad! We went to see our favorite dive shop owner, Kevin at "Amigos Del Mar" dive shop and got the scoop. They have had a very strange last few months. There is some underwater current/system that has made the water VERY cold (64 degrees, last year when we were there it was 85-90!) Vis has been 10-20 feet, swells up in the 6 foot range (really) and creatures are nowhere to be found. Talked to some folks coming off a boat and said all they saw were two octipus' on two dives!

Needless to say, all we had brought with us were our 3 mils, the heaviest suit the shops carry are 5 mils, no hoods. We decided to take advantage of other water sports!

Went jet skiing, and I went parasailing and saw 2 mantas skimming the surface. Asked Kevin, as I didn't remember seeing any mantas last year, and he said their migration is TWO months late! That is how odd the season has been. Santa Maria cove, a great snorkling and diving site had vis of 10 feet and no fish (one of the locals had taken a trip the day before and filled us in).

The swells were so big in the bay, and breaking on Lovers' Beach and the Cabo arches that 3 folks died...very sad. A big cruise ship came into the bay on Friday, and were told not to go on any glassbottom boat tours as the water and waves were very dangerous (Cabo's glass bottom boats are 10-12 feet long with a 1 foot glass box in the center...with drivers that don't speak English). Anyway, guess some folks were convinced to go ahead and take the boat, and it capsized and 3 of them drowned. Very Very sad.

In front of our hotel, we watched as drunk tourists were trying to swim in the surf. Very strong shore break in Cabo as the beaches are only about 20 feet then it drops off into oblivion. We were surprised that more folks weren't getting hurt.

We did have a very relaxing time though, weather wasn't too hot, and the resort we stayed at was five star, so other than the diving being disappointing...it was good.

Diving locally has been very bad too, due to the red tide that is currently covering our water...

http://www.ocregister.com/science/features/edgeofnature/dinoflag.shtml

http://siobiolum.ucsd.edu/Dino_what.html#1red

Looking forward to Bonaire!

geez cynde,

sounds like cabo san lucas was everything that bonaire is not...

and now with local conditions bad as well...bonaire will make up for it all

ps - thanks for the report - makes for easier choices in the future...

Cynde, Bob is a man of few words, but I like his style. Interesting report - sorry your dive was a wash out. Sounds like you made the best of it, however. How many days?? Something like 38, right?

Hazel, you are correct... I am officially beginning my countdown! We still had fun laying under the cabanas drinking rum and diet cokes...eating...generally relaxing!

Sounds great - and good planning - the diet coke cancels out the eating, ya know :-)

Cynde -

Thanks for the report. Interestingly enough, my husband, friends and I also just came back from Cabo - our first trip. I was so disappointed in the snorkeling because of the cold water and non-existent sea life. I'm glad to hear it was an aberration rather than the norm. I was beginning to think people were lying about the water there.

Funny, we're also going to Bonaire in 2002. Great minds, etc. Hope you (and we) have a great time there. Diving can't help but be better.

Watty

Cynde and Watty - oh my gosh will Bonaire be better. It is hard to imagine the treat that is in store for both of you! We've been to Bonaire x3 (nothing compared to many BonaireTalkers who go every year) - and it will always be on our dive destination list as a place to go every few years.

Cynde, thanks for the trip report. We have been to so many places in Mexico but never Cabo. Will plan that as a golf trip rather than scuba!

Pat, they weren't lying about the water...and lack of sea life. As I said, a year ago it was 85- 90 degrees and full of life! The dive shop owner of Amigos Del Mar was pretty disappointed. The season has been pretty bad for them. Oh Well...yes...wait...let me go countthe days on the calendar...35 MORE DAYS TILL BONAIRE!!!

Hazel yes, the diet cokes cancel out the eating! Ha!

Ginny they have some fantastic golf courses down there. The diving really can be quite good (OK, not as good as Bonaire) but better than So Ca...