Instant Reader Report
on Baja Quest & Baja Expeditions / Los Arcos Cabanas in
Mexico (Western) Pacific / La Paz, Baja on
2002/10
by
Tina Petersen , NE, USA
Report Number 030508135143772

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 Cozumel, Honduras, Costa Rica, Florida, Bahamas, Jamaica, & Nebraska! 

Dive Conditions

[Unspecified]  

[None]  

Overall Rating

Baja Quest – Caters to Japanese divers.  They had to bring in an
dive master fluent in English to dive with us  - we were the only 2
Americans that week.  Since they only had 5 divers that week they took out
only small boats.  We went to their shop to eat breakfast every morning
– then headed out on a small Panga.  Lunch was packed on the
boat – and often included the captain making a salad from a 1
gallon jar of unrefrigerated mayonnaise.    We had a different boat all
four days we dove, two of which were rented from the marina or another
dive shop.  Mario, our temp dive master was not impressive.  At El Bajo
the current was whipping and he didn’t go over the anchor line
decent with us.  Luckily I figured it out before I jumped off the boat
– I had never done such a challenging dive before –
but we saw 2 hammer heads off in the distance – only for a
second and then they disappeared.  Swells were 7-9 feet one day in our
20’ panga – and were were all praying to make it. 
Water temp got to you by 3rd dive in a 3mm suit – needed a hood
or another suit.  All in all the diving in La Paz was great –
got to play with 3 12’ mantas, loved playing with the sea lions.
 Schools of Mexican Baracudda, bait balls, free swimming morays –
wonderful!  Very little coral but if you want to see big stuff, La Paz is
the place to go.   We wanted to dive a 5th day with Baja Quest –
but they said they had already made other arrangements for the other 2
divers they had signed up.  Turns out they sent them to Baja Expeditions
for the day along with their Japanese dive master.  Be careful making
payment – a check they received and had to send back to me
becuase it was made out to the wrong person got “lost”
in the mail.
Baja Expeditions – Diving on the Rio Rita was great!  Breakfast,
lunch and snacks are cooked fresh in front of you on the boat.  The food
was awesome.  Full cooler to grab a pop between dives and beer after the
3rd dive.  Also served up margaritas and chips with fresh guacamole on the
ride home.  Camera table, gear rinse barrel right on the boat.  The Rio
Rita is a slow boat – but the ride was lots of fun.  Robert and
Alfredo were wonderful dive masters – catered to your skill
level.  We are going back this year to dive with Baja Expeditions again.
Los Arcos Cabanas – rooms were clean, maid service good.  Mini
bar – cheap - $2 beers – always fully restocked the
next day.  Pool was cold – it sat in the shade most of the day 
– but it was quiet.  Restaurant/Bar at Los Arcos was good
– and good prices.  Hotel is perfect location for strolling
through town and walking to restaurant for dinner.
 

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