It can be challenging for divers who are traveling with kids or nondiving partners to find an underwater experience where both snorkelers and divers can have a killer time — together. Mexico’s Isla Espiritu Santo — off La Paz, Baja California Sur (or BCS) — tops the list of spots that cater to both types of water lovers simultaneously.
A 60-minute (depending on weather conditions) boat ride from La Paz will deliver divers and snorkelers to a massive rock that’s home to colonies of sea lions. And the playful pups aren’t biased when it comes to guests. Bobbing around on the surface grants snorkelers up-close encounters and serenades of friendly barks, while divers witness the action from below as the underwater lap dogs weave around coral heads, and even go in for a cuddle or two.
Up the adventure ante with a camping excursion on the nearby deserted Ensenda Grande Beach, offered by Fun Baja. But don’t let the word “camping” fool you. Outdoor showers, freshwater wash bins, and bathrooms so clean that they put many hotels to shame are just some of the amenities found here. What’s even better: Meals are cooked family style with quite possibly the world’s best tortillas. Don’t ask what makes them that way. (It’s lard.)
Work off the home-cooked meals (and the Mexican hot chocolate) with a hike, snorkel or swim — all just steps from your tent. In the evening, after you let the moonlight lead you back to your tent, you might decide
