Sperm Whales & Advanced Diving at Tortuga

As Isla Tortuga begins to grow large in the horizon, all eyes continue to scan the smooth waters of the Sea of Cortez. Although we are all tired from a four hour crossing from the mainland of Mexico, we have seen many pods of dolphins, jumping sailfish, and even pilot and sperm whales warming themselves at the surface between deep dives.

Often our first sign of whales will be the burst of spray from their blow-holes as they breathe, or the sight of a massive fluke breaking the calm of the water surface.

The south point of Isla Tortuga is a steep and rugged cliff face formed by the lava flows of many eruptions of the nearby volcanoes. The entire Sea of Cortez is a strongly volcanic region, and is itself formed by the slow march of two of Earth's plates diverging.

Below water, the rugged volcanic face continues into a steep wall where scuba divers may encounter any of the treasures of the Sea of Cortez; from the tiny but beautiful Cortez rainbow wrasses, to the majestic arcing wings of manta rays with wingspans exceeding twenty feet. Drawn to the south tip of Tortuga by strong currents, they are much better equipped than humans to handle the conditions here. The south tip is probably the most advanced dive site at Isla Tortuga, and can only be dived when currents are at their most mild.