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I can’t visit Loreto without spending some time exploring Parque Nacional Bahía de Loreto: Loreto Bay National Marine Park. There’s so much biodiversity under the surface, especially around Isla Coronado. Scuba diving in Loreto, Mexico is definitely my favorite vacation activity and always leaves me wanting to explore more! If you don’t scuba dive, this snorkeling tour is a great alternative.
Isla Coronado Scuba Diving
Our Experience Scuba Diving in Loreto, Mexico: April 2025
When we went to visit Loreto this past April, our main focus was scuba diving in Loreto Bay National Park. Even though the water is coldest in April, it’s still warmer than in Channel Islands National Park, where we usually dive. Plus, since it was off-season, it meant we had a private tour to Isla Coronado!
Come scuba diving in Loreto, Mexico with us!
Why We Chose Loreto Sea and Land Tours for Isla Coronado Scuba Diving
We ended up booking our dive day with Loreto Sea and Land Tours by chance. Since we had literally planned the trip two days in advance, many of the dive shops were booked up with other tours. We found space on a Isla Coronado scuba diving tour with Loreto Sea and Land tours, and it ended up being a fun and private experience with just us!
We felt well taken care of by Loreto Sea and Land Tours, and they were kind and flexible when Luke didn’t feel well and we had to reschedule for the next day. However, I’d also recommend Blue Nation Diving and Dolphin Dive Baja too as reputable dive tour operators in Loreto at the recommendation from good friends.
We were looking for "cool reef structure" on our Isla Coronado scuba diving adventure.
On the morning of our dive, our divemaster met us at the harbor and led us to the small boat that would be home for the day. As we motored out to Isla Coronado, he asked what we wanted to see, and we said “cool reef structure”.
We turned down the popular sea lion dive in hopes of catching a glimpse of some unique underwater features. We see plenty of sea lions while diving in Channel Islands National Park back home.
Although the current was strong and the water was chilly at depth, the large fish weaving through soft corals perched on rocky ledges was worth the effort. It was cool seeing all the different species interact.
I personally hadn’t experienced this particular ecosystem before. I’ve only explored the kelp forests of Southern California and the coral reefs of Hawaii. This seemed halfway in between!
After our dives, the divemaster showed us some epic scenery along Isla Coronado and prepared burritos for us for lunch. Both the captain and crew were really nice and knowledgeable, pointing out interesting things along the away including a friendly pod of bottlenose dolphins! They definitely made us feel welcome and made sure we had a great time despite the somewhat unfavorable conditions (wind and current).
I highly recommend spending a day exploring Loreto Bay National Marine Park like we did. We only barely scratched the surface and will definitely be coming back— but maybe next time we’ll wait until the sea temperature is a little bit warmer!
When to go Scuba Diving in Loreto, Mexico
The best time to go scuba diving in Loreto, Mexico is late summer or fall when the water is warmest and you don’t need a 7mm wetsuit like we did. We went in April when the water was basically as cold as it gets, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Since we were willing to brave the cold water, we essentially had a private Isla Coronado scuba diving tour which made the day even more unforgettable!
Planning a Trip to Loreto?
For more information and recommendations for planning a trip to Loreto, check out these helpful articles: